Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-10-05
VOLCANO STUDIES,


Hidden Crater. Of the Central Andes.
IN, d Warner In Atlantic Monthly for October |
The Central Andes contains number of
hidden craters, which now ani then become
vicarious, to : the DISTRACTED vents of the
regular chimneys. All Northern Ecquador
seems, in fact, to arise from the workshops
of Turtarus. and scarcely day passes that
the Titans do not scrt that activity In some
way or other. Every now and then the
stiffness of the upper PdramDs is broken by
the crash OF an avalanche. The conclusions,
which, like fever trcmors, vibrate through
the bones of the mountains shake down all
loose rocks aud loosen others, aud the high.
land streams have TO force their way through
such mountainous heaps of gravel that the
rain-iloods scarcely suffice to keep their
channels open, and many of them, like the
Rio Esmcraldas, run for miles below piles of
bouldcrs that defy the dislodging ability of
the current. These avalanchts make the
Paramos rather unsafe. The crash OF their
descent often slaftcs the explorer Of the
highlands on slopes where neither tree nor
cliffs afford shelter and where life or death
moments herd OF Andes cows would be n
| study for palnter. Swiss cattle would be
sure to stampede, but in Ecqrador experience
has taught them trick or two Instead of
running away they stand stock still and
watch the slope with .straining' eyes. If the
Cann0nade Games down Il little to the left or
| right they move slowly in the Opposite
direction; but if it comes right towards
them, they know better than to risk broad.
side, and generally manage TO save their
lives by facing the voey and irwin, to
dodge the individual bombs. The herder
looks out for a tree, and that failing filings
himself flat upon the ground; as the larger
rocks come down in wide bounds, the odds
are that they will not touch him. II il the
safest plan hut teplerity is Us Capraciou5 as
the code OF honor; there are meu who would
| rather charge battery than touch stake,
| while others surround themselves with a
| whole menagerie of venomous pets, but
b'anch a. the sight of pocket pistol. Be-
tween Loxa aad. Onto | once followed he
example Of ny travelling companions two
turloughed- United States m,ashibmen,' who
| had got oil the stage caach to help Tie
| mules across a steep hluR We had hardy
| alighted when the driver lad 70 upply hi
whip 10 dodge q stone yOllcy that came ctas.
| ing through the brambles Of the upper SLOPE
1t was cusious how, even in full tro,, lie
! mules prickcd up their ears and watched Il,
| advent Of the volley; but still mo.c amusiu
was the behavior of the two cadets. The |
| stood bolt upright, and cheerod each bonn
rs il they were standing ON the iarget-beach
OF Annapolis, while our equatorial fellow
| travellers were crouching down in the most
deferential attitudes. Bodily ptos,ratiod
somehow suggests the idea Of establishment,
but It is all custom.
BY the special mercy Of Provide, c. the
! perennial nshrains OF Mount Singay are
cold, but the northern volcanoes often heat
the atmosphere with burning cinders, and if
a strong wind blows those firc.ncs against
the plateau OF the neighboring highlands the
| effect is apt to burn itself into the memory
| of the surprised traveller J. is like
Passing through the spray Of flaming con-
oil tank, or through cloud Of the tse,sy
gnats that pierce shirt AMI jacket for, like
the steel-chps of Besscmer hammer work,
the sparks ifrom the smithy of Vulcan
preserve their caloric for minutes together.