The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1878-08-01
A Fatal Ascent in Peru.

The Panama Star and Herald quotes
from a letter from Arequipa to the South
Pacific Times the following account of
fatal accident to two gentlemen who had
made the ascent of the Misti, volcano
about 1880 feet above the city of
Arequipa, in Peru, and 2O,230 feet
above the level of the sea:
On Saturday, the 11th of May,
party of three gentlemen started from
Arequipa to make the ascent-Mr.
Stephen Ryder, of the house of Fletcher
& Co., of Arequipa; Mr.. RothwelI,
young man of nineteen, who only re-
Gently arrived from England as clerk
in the same house; and Mr.. Bulpett,
lately arrived per Cotopaxi on a tour to
the West Coast with friend. On Sun
day, the 18th, Mr.. Bulpett returned to
Arequipa alone, having made the ascent.
He had gone on ahead Of the other two.
He returned the same way he went, and
having seen nothing of the others after
his first separation, he concluded that
they had given up the idea of going to
the top and gone back to Arequipa. On
Monday, the 18th, Mr.. Ryder's horse,
which had been tied up at about six
thousand feet from the top, returned to
| Arequipa without a bride, which at
once aroused suspicious that something
must be wrong, and parties Immediately
went in search of the missing pair. For
several days nothing was heard of them.
They had taken neither provisions nor
however, that they had reached the top
Of the volcano, as they had hoisted a
flag, which was found floating in the
breeze. The prefect of Arsqdipa sent
an officer and troops to scour the noun
tain, and innumerable private search
parties followed. Atten p. m. ON the
18th of May news reached aArequipa
that the body of Mr.. Ryder had been
found far down precipice in a small
recess, where the Indians could hardly
get to him, even by the help of e rope
and at the greatest risk. He was found
in a sitting posture, with his feet jam
med into small opening. How he got
there is a mystery. 1t was point
where he could neither get down further
nor yet get up again. It is thought be
had been dead about three days when
found. He had taken off his coat, hat
watch and chain, and placed them with
his pipe at his feet. His pants were
torn, probably in rolling down, for he
must have rolled long distance, and
one boot was off, evidently in the effort
to get his foot free. From the traces ali
about, the poor fellow must have wan.
dered about for days, probably at the
last raving mad Another expedition
with ladders, ropes and all appliances
went out on the 18th in order to recover
and bring in Ryder's body, as the In
dian who found it could not move it
and had to leave it covered over with
stones until he could procure assistance
The expedition returned on the evening
of the 21st, bringing the body, and OF
the 22d it was buried in Arequip.
amidst the general regrets of both ma
tives and foreigners, by all of whom
Ryder was greatly liked for his kind
ness of heart and gentlemanly bearing
Up to the latest account the body o
! Rothwell had not been found, but from
! traces it is believed that he must hav
gone over precipice in another direc
ton. No doubt Mr.. Ryder met hi
; death from extreme cold, and it
probable Mr.. Rothwell shared the sam
, sad fate. This opinion is strengthene,
. by the fact, as stated above, that the un
fortunate party was unprovided wit
blankets and other necessaries for sue
a dangerous and, we might add, useles
expedition.