New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-11-15
POpOcatapetD.

Some weeks since it was announced that
the fatiguing and perilOus ascent to the
brow of the slumbering Mexican volcano,
Popocatapetl, and descent into its crater,
had been made by party of American
ladies and gentlemen, some OF them from
New Orleans. This vas the first instance
on record of such feat being accomplished
by the bello se1o, and was therefore worthy
of special mention. Mrs. DIR. Richardson,
one OF the ladies in question. is the accom-
plished lady of DR.. T. G. Richardson, of
this city. She is teacher of . class Of young
ladies in the Sunday school Of Christ
Church, and has written them pleasant let
ters of beg travels. Her husband. Or.
Richardson, furnishes the following letter
TO the Louisville Courier Journal, which
will be read with absorbing interest:
CITY OF MEXICO, October 3, 1874
The party consisted OF Mr.. George Skill
ton, John Blackmore and John Wilson, of
this city, Miss Sawyer, OF Massachusetts,
Mrs. Terry, of New York, Mrs. Richardson
and myself. We left the city on Saturday,
the twenty sixth ultimo. some in the dill
gence and some on horseback, and arrived
miles distant where we spent the Sabbath.
The following morning the clouds which
for several Gays previous had filled the
beautiful valley and completely Obscured
the surrounding mountains, parted asunder
in the east, and as We looked out of our
window the monarch of North American
mountains stood revealed before our eyes in
all his majesty of form and purity OF ap-
parel. Thus encouraged We began our
fnv,v 20 tI..s Ron t,n
rudely constructed frame house, situated
about twenty miles distant, high up the
mount ain side, where We prepared to spend
the night By breakfast time, however, the
clouds had again collected, and serious
doubts as to the propriety of starting filled
our minds. Nevertheless, horses having
been procured, guides engaged, and provis-
ions packed, we set of a. early rs possible
in order to reach our destination before the
rain should Overtake us. Senior Llanos, the
administrator of the sulphur works, went in
advance, and the four guides on foot, bear
ing the eatables, etc, on their backs, brought
up the rear. For q short distance tho route
lay along the valley between cultivated
fields, but very soon We reached the smaller
mountains, which cluster like half.grovn
children around the feet of their venerable
sire, and began our ascent through the pine
forests which cover all the adjacent slopes.
Toiling slowly and cautiously along the
devious road, rendered slippery and uneven
by the heavy rains, and stopping from time
to time to rest our poor, painting beasts, we
succeeded in four Or five hours in attaining
the Rancho" the highest habitation in
North America. Here we had hoped to re-
main only until midnight: but scarcely had
we gotten safe beneath the friendly roof
when the threatened rain began to fall. and
continued ite unwelcOme station for
nearly twenty-tOur consecutive and dreary
hours.
The house itself deserves passing notice.
not only in consequence of its remarkable
situation, more than II. 900 feet above the
level OF the sea. but OF its peculiarly un.
comfortable appointments. 1t was origin.
ally designed. and is still occasionally used,
TOR smelling the cruder portions of sulphur
obtained from the crater Of the volcano,
and consists of one large room for the clay
turnices, in which the operation is effected,
ana two adjoining teDements for accommO-
dating the laborers and superintendent.
The whole is constructed of pine boards OBJ.
tanned from the surrounding forests. and,
the cold winds to which
the inhabitants are subjected at this high
altitude the joints Of the wall are left un.
covered, and the windows, innocent of glass.
are provided only with sliding shutters. to
be opened or shut, according to the state OF
the weather without and the smoke within.
The tenement in which we were lodged was
divided into two apartments by frame par.
tition, the only difference between the two
being that one has wooden floor and the
other has none. There is no chimney in either,
but the house is supposed to be heated and
all the cooking is accomplished by large.
pinewood tire III the centre Of the ground
floor. The smoke finds its way out as best
it can through openings in the roof. and by
the windows and doors, but this seems IN.
willing 10 do until it has filed every crack
and Granny OF both apartments. No beds
or bedsteads grace the establishment, and
those who are sheltered by its roof are ex.
pected to take their rest upon palm leaf
mats. called pe'ates. laid upon the floor.
This is certainly very wise arrangement
in one particular. for the nearer the floor
the thinner the smoke, but in other re.
spects it does not commend itself to those
to higher and softer resting
places at night. AS for covering. every
one is expected to provide for himself &C.
cordins to his individual feeling and tastes. |
Pillows are unheard Of luxuries here. but !
saddles or sticks of wood are thought to
be soft enough for the heads Of those who !!
can sleep upon a petae. and the suppose. |
ton is certainly not without truth.
In this abode OF discomfort we were most I
tospit ably entertained by the superin. !
tendent. Signor Don Martin Conchado: and. |
as we lay upon the floor with our feet to the !
tire. listening to the pattering rain upon the I
roof. and anxiously strainlng our eyes
through the smoke in the direction of the !
open window to ascertain if the moon were |
shining, we could not but feel grateful for
he kind protection and shelter which we
enjoyed. The night passed without any
decided change for the better upon the part
If the weather; and as We arose from our
lard beds, with the usual pains and aches
.fter such experience, it was with sad
we yielded to the necessity of
pending another day and night in tbs