Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1888-08-03
MEXICAN VOLCANOES.
Mount Airy, Popocatcpti, aud Iztnc-
cihuat More Than 5000 Feet High.

Of POpocateptl and lZtacciLuatl. the
great white giants which dominate ia G
superb landscape of the valley of MeXi-
GO. have rendered of interest every
fact CONNECTED with those wonderful
mounia a., says City of Mexico letter
TO the Boston Hcraid. 1t was but a
few weeks ago that party OF Germans
attempted the ascent of lZtaccihuatl.
or the Dana Blanca (white woman).
regarded as "A mountain defying expert
climbers, on account of its dangerous
ravincs, made extremely perilous bg
the fact that at times the huge and
profound gorges are apparently cover
ed with snow. which yields under the
foot of the adventurous 'trcpador'
and menaces him with horrible death,
sutlocated under masses of snow. The
German party found it possible.
though extremely difficult and danger
Gus. TO make the ascent. although it is
true they were prevented from reach
ing the extreme summit OF the volcano,
Their failure. of course. confirms TIE
popular opinion that Iztacchuatl can
not be climed. But | am of the opin
ion of the Germans, that, given favor
able conditions of hard snow and tenn =
perature this lofty mountain can be as
cended to its topmos; part.
Popocateptl which is Il conical peak
rising superbly for more than IS. 600
feet into the blue ether is comparitive-
~ easy OF ascent, although at times
the snow offers an almost insuperable
obstacle from softness. Last year a
lady we'll known in Boston society and
in Newport nearly lost both feet from
freezing while making the ascent. For
days she suffered greatly. but her feet
were by good care. saved. Friends of
mine have got half way up the snowy
portion and been forced to descend by
reason of profuse bleeding from the
nose and extreme faintness.
A wonderfully beautiful view OF the
volcanoes is to be had from the little
Indian capital of the state of TlaXcala.
where the mountains loom up in mex
pressible grandeur. dwaring the great
hills at their base into utter insigniii.
canoe. quite rs does the Great Eastern
the tiny sloop at her SIDE. 1t was
from ChOlula. near the town Of
TlaXcala, that the Spanish conquerors
got their first near view of these for
midable SUBMITS, crowned with ever
lasting SHOWS These mountains are
part Of the great range which divides
the plains of Hutzilapan from the val
ley of Mexico. In the old traditions OF
the Aztecs. lztaecihuatl was the wife
of Popocatepetl. VIII ch in former times
gained its name, signifylng smoking
mountain" from its great activity. AT
the time the little army of Cortez was
at Cholula. Popocatcpetl was N crup-
ton, which the Indian priests declared
TO be a sign OF coming national disturb
ances. 1t was also the belief of the Az
tees that tyrantS on their death were
carried into the crater of Popocatepetl.
where they remained in sort Of pur-
gatory before being allowed to ascend
TO heaven.
Cortez was DESTROYS. as he wrote 10
the king of Spain. 10 ascertain 1.-THE Sc
cret of the smoke. which filled the
little army of Spaniards with awe and
terror. Being possessed with this de-
sire it was not difficult for OrdaZ, a
plucky follower to secure his command
er's permission 10 make the ascent,
w lllcll, INC lHhliuN lOl'l wi AtLs W AZ
impoSs bic. no one ever having climb
ed the sacred mountain. Taking nine
men with him OrdaZ set out in an un-
dertaking which. if successful would
bring him great renown. He secured
Indian guides for part OF the trip,
but they could not be induced TO ascend
to the top. Near the snow line the
earth was felt 10 shake and tremble
with the force of the internal fires,
and tho terrified India ans hastily began
their descent. leaving Ordaz and his
companions to 60 on alone. Ashes
and hot stones fell around the cour-
ageOus part who at one time were
forced to seek shelter from the danger
Gus shower, but gaining breath and
plucklng up courage they continued
and succeeded in reaching the top.
Gomara. contemporary chropicler
says that they found the crater two
and a-half leagues wide. though not
deep, and that ii presented the APP
pearance of caldron Of boiling glass
which shows that there has been much
change since that day. When the
Spaniards got down from the noun
tains the Indians came and kissed
their garments and regarded them rs
gods. by reason of their having ac-
complished what was impossible for
mere human beings. No doubt Ordaz's
exploit helped ontirm the idea OF the
Ind ans that the Spaniards were super
natural beings. The eXploi. OF Ordaz
brought him fame. as the emperor
permitted him TO use coat-of-arm
on which was a blazing mountain.
Montana. another of the conquerors.
made a subsequent ascent, and is even
believed TO have descended into the
crater. During the time OF the Spanish
domination many ascents were made.
and after Mex co gained her independ-
ence the crater of Popoca tepu was
made useful rs source of supply for
sulphur. the quality being excellent,
rs is also that from the crater of the
volcano of OriZaba.
During the time of Crotez the vol
cano was in nearly continual eruption.
and i'm 1Sj9-i0 shower of ashes
covered the neighboring towns. An
eruption in 1864 created much con-
sternat on in the city of Puebla, and
there was also heavy discharge of
ashoo opI rncEs In 1907