The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-05-24
From Il Augusta fGa., Gonstitntsonallst, May ID.
I'm the Crater-Fearfni Adventure OF
Two Americans

| descent last December into the crater Of the
volcano Of Popocatapetl. Colonel Grassy,
who is citizen OF Virginia, was accompa.
MED in his descent by Mr.. Harry Stevens, oil
| Cleveland. Ohio.
The gigantic crater is about one mile in dia-
meter and $500 feet deep, and, almost incred-
iblc TO believe, bnt nevertheless true, there is
a settlement consisting Of forty sulphur mi
| uers in the bottom Of this awful cavity, their
only mode Of ingreSs or egress from this in.
fcrnal region being by the meins Of a wind
lass and 1000 feet OF rope, by which they are
lowered down to shelf in the side of the
abyss, the rest of the journey downward be-
ing performed on foot over long and steep
descent. The thoughts Of Grasty and Ste
yens were now turned to the horrible gull
that yawned before them, for in it they must
pass the night, which would fall in The course
of two or three hours; for it was alike i'm.
possible to spend it on the mouniain-top or
TO return down TO the climber line" An
Indian empIoye Of the sulphur mine had
preceded them up the volcano bearing their
letter OF introduction TO S(nor Corchado.
the superintendent of the mine, who imme-
diately repaired to the summit, where he met
| them hIlf- or three quarters Of an hour alter
| their arrival.
Corchado, "the Old Man Of the Noun
tain," is singular character. Born at TIL
macas, he has always lived on the mountain.
or in his pre- cnt birthstone home, where his
father lived aud died before him. He has
been intimately connected with Popocatapetl
and everything associated with the great vol
cano for over a haIf.ceDtury. He now lives
at the bottom of the crater, $500 feet below
its rocky ruin. To this strange abode he
welcomed Grasty and Stevens with hearth
ness and real hospitality.
! ENTERING TIE VOLCANO.
They Zgzlggcrcd down the blearcd and
backened rocks about two hundred feet, and
camc to u windlaS> called Sci Malacate.'
From this was suspended a cable about an
inch and 4 half in diameter and i thousand
feet long. From this point they obtained
| magnificent view Of the crater. whose walls
rose in all directions in frightful wIldnrss
ard sublmity. They at once appreciated is
enormous dimensions. Nearly Il mile below
tncm was the bottom, almost lost in the
darkness and distance. TO illustrate the
great depth, it would be no eXl.seration to
5 ,y that if you were to take Mount Vcsu-
yi1S, which is four thousand five hundred
| f ct high, and turn it upside down and stick
l. into the crater, it would about bill It.
TniS gulf presents one Of the grandcst sights
! Il
the behoIder. The most slod are greatly
impress d, while the susceptible are com.
pl"telv overwhelmed by lis awful Sublimity.
t;rps,7 and Stephens peered over the ledge
where stood the wlndlass, and saw far, far
below them level rock that formed the top
OF long. steep decl,vity, at the foot Of
which was black spot. This they were
told was the miners house. They were t.
descend 10 the dcclvity by the rope, having
acscptcd CorchaGo'S invitation TO spend the
lpiyht below. Corchado and Stevens went
first. They were tied to the cable in such 4
manner that they sat side by side.
For about the distance Of one hundred and
fifv feet the ledge from which they made
their wild leap projected out over the prcci.
Dice, and consequently they hung free and
daooIrd in mid air. 1t was only 4 minute or
two. however, before they came TO place
where the cliff bellted out further than the
Windlqss rock, and they were compelled to
kick against its strong front to keep clear
Of it. Immense clouds Of Sulphurous steam
and gases rolled sky~ard frcm beneath
this projection. These nau$catcd Stevens
and set him 10 vomiting badly. They were
now ont of sight of the people above
them. Stevens aftcrward said he felt that he
was going straight into the jaws Of hell. On
every side of them was gigantic and hide
ous ruin of cracked cliffs and bliStered cragS.
Beneath them were pools Of liquid and burn.
ing SULPHUR that trickled in little riYulets
| from the gaShed and ti:e-marked walls OF the
crater. Noyous vaporS floated through the
4ir-all seemed horrible nightmare. They
reached the scclivty in safety after fearful
Journey of ten minutes, and united them.
selves. The rope vas then pulled up.
TIE FUMES OF AvERSUs.
The Colonel proceeded to tie himself on
Tnrough some mistake the rope that went
round his back slipped down too low. he
dropped from the cra@, still weak from the
suffering he had experienced in the ascent.
| Everything went Well TIL lie got to the place
where the precpice bulges out Here disas.
ter overlook him, and he tainted away with
vet seven hundred feet to descend. Cor.
chado and Stevens saw him let 20 the rope,
throw bis arms out, gra.ping at The air.
fall back until his head was lower than
his heels, then spin round and round,
striking the sharp rocks in fearful man.
ner. Stevens said it fairly made his
blood run colo, and he turned bis head
from the awful sight. Meanwhile Corchado
bad given the man at the wii1tIa>S sign to
lower faster, and Gra>tl'S apparently llelesS
aud mutiia,cd body soon reached the spot
where they stood. His face was severely
bruised. and his cothius badly torn, lille
the blood was trickling from his nose and
ears. but he still breathcd. After an hours
rubbing and throwing Of snow in his face
he came to, and the whole party, now
augmented by the arrival OF q number of
peon mucrs from below, descended the
sleping side of the crater. Corchado and
his Indians led the way, slowly fol-
lowed by Grasty, who was supported by Ste
yens and peon. After they had got about
halfway down the steep they experienced
from the ice and stones great difficulty IN
travelling. The'most annoying thing, how
over WAS the constant danger they were IN
nj hcinr crushed by the huge hunks oil ice
and rccl, that were continually rolling down.
rhe [1kbris is the matter that Is loosened
d,iIv hy the sun, whose warmth strikes OH
;ts icv fptters and suffers gravity 10 have lis
way. After two hours slippery descending
they reached
TIE BOTTOM OF THE PIT
ahont half after four in the afternoon Of
Thauksgiving-Say. 1t was now more tnan
f,nrtcpn honrs since they had left the rancho
on the timber line. During this till" tnes
had assembled over 5000 feet TO the summit.
and then descended 800 feet into the bow
els of the volcano. That j., they were about
eleven hours going up 5000 feet, and three
hours going down, including stoppaGes at
the edge of the crater. Here they found a
hut made of stones Inhabited BY the sulphur
miners. On arriving at the hut they lmme'
diateIy threw themselves upon pile OF mats
and sought slumDer, but they lay all the long
niyht wearied and worn, rolling ana tossing
=, ;,on.ctnol attpmDtS TO gam llLtlh