Idaho tri-weekly world. (Idaho City, Idaho) 1875-1875, 1875-06-11
A NIGHT IN THH CRATER,
Tho Fearful Adventure Of two Daring Americ-
ans in penetrating the volca-
no Of Popocatapetl.

from which had not fully recovered,
and was compelled to return to a
ranch down on the timber line
Here | awaited the return of the par
ty, which was composed of Col. Gras-
ty Of Virginia and Mr.. Harry Stephens
Of Cleveland, who had accompanied
me from home.
The gigantic crater is about one
mile in diameter and $500 feet deep,
and, almost incredible to believe, but
nevertheless true, there is settle
ment consisting of forty sulphur mi
ners in the bottom of this awful cavi-
ty, their only mode of ingrcss and
egress from this internal region being
by the means Of windlass, and 900
feet Of rope, by which they are low
cred down to a shelf in the side Of the
abyss, the rest Of the journey down
ward being performed on foot, ever a
long and steep descent. The
thoughts Of Grasty and Stevens were
now turned to horrible gulf that
vawncd before them, for in it they
must pass the night, which would fall
i'm the course Of two or three hours;
for it was alike impossible - spend it
on the mountain top or T. return down
to the timber line" An Indian en-
ploye of the sui phur mine had preced-
cd them up the volcano bearing their
letter Of introduction to Senior Corcha-
do, the superintendent Of the mine.
who Immediately repaired 10 the sum-
nit where he met them half or three
quarters of an hour after their arrival.
Corchado. "thc old Man Of the
Mountain is singular character.
Born at Timacas, he has always lived
on the mountain, or in his present
birthstone home, where his father lived
and died before him. He has been in
timately connected with Popocatapctl
and everything associated with the
great volcano for over half century.
He now lives at the bottom Of the era
ter, 1900 feet below its rock rim. To
this strange abode he welcomed Gras'
ty and Stevens with hcartincss and re-
al hospitality.
ENTERING THE VOLCANO.
They zigzaggcd down the bleared
and blackcned rocks about 200 feet,
and came to windlass called "El
Malacate.' From this was suspended
a cable about an inch and half in di-
amcter and thousand feet long.
From this point they obtained mag
nificcnt view Of the crater, whose walls
rose in all directions in frlghtfll
wildness and sublimity. They at
once appreciated its enormous d'men-
sions. Nearly a mile below them was
the bottom, almost lost in the dark
mesa and distance. To illustrate the
great depth, it would be no exagger'
alton to say that If you were to take
Mount vcsuvius, which is 4,5OO feet
high, and turn it upside down and
stick it into the crater, it would about
fill It. This gulf presents one OF the
| crandcst sights on earth, and has .
terrible fascination for the bcholder.
The most stolid arc greatly impressed,
while the susceptible arc completely
overwhelmed by it's awful sublimity.
Grasty and Stevens peered over the
ledre where stood the windlass, and
saw far. far below them a level rock
that formed the top Of long, steep
declivity. at the foot Of which was a
black spot. This they were told was
the miners house. They were to de-
scend to the declivity by the rope,
having accepted Corchado's invitationI