San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1890-05-13
THE VOLCANO OFJORULLO.
Its Ascent Made by Professor He'll
prin and MIR. Baker

Its Ascent Made by Professor He'll
prin and MIR. Baker.
The volcano of Jorullo, made ia
| criptiOn of Nal Pals, has been made
the subject of recent investigation by
Professor Angelo Heilprin and Mr..
Frank {. Baker, representing the
Scientific Commission of the Academy
observation-disclosures of Philadelphia. The
journey was made by way of PatZcua-
70 and Ario de Rosales, descending
int the TERRA Caliente through the
pines of Buena Vista. The volcano.
with an absolute eleva ion above the
sea level of some 1900 feet, has
changed in aspect much since Hum
boldt's time, no longer presenting that
barren and desolate aspect which had
been so forci oily delineated by the
German naturalist. A dense but low
jungle-growth, largely made up of
acacias, has invaded much of the
western and southern slopes, and
even occupied much of the craterial
hollow. The same is true of some
portion of the great lava-stream, al
though most of it still presents re-
markably fresh appearance, seeming
ly as though elected but yesterday.
The ascent was accomplished with
out much difficulty, although the
scraggy and scoriaceOus covering
told sadly on the wearing APP
parel. No trace of liquid lava was
visible in either the principal crater
or in the craters of the minor cones
(hornitos), the latter being now prac-
tically dormant. Vapor was, how
ever, found issuing from the very apex
of the principal volcano, and with
temperature of 1919 f. The ther-
mometer thrust into the inner wall
of the crater marked 1909, or Is de-
grees above the highest mark that
was found by Leclerc few years
ago, and some 80 or more above that
which was recorded by Conkling.
The volcano is manifestly in semi
active condition, and the inhabitants
of La Playa, the small hamlet lying
near the base of the mountain, record
that a more active condition mani
tested itself during the recent erup-
ton of Colima. What the future ac-
ton of the volcano may be it is inn
possible to say.
Professor Heilprin records the de-
scent into the TERRA Calienta as an
event in travelling. From region of
pines, with an entirely northern as
pect, the traveller drops suddenly into
a world of tropical vegetation. Palms,
bananas, mangos and giant figs
cover the lowlands, advancing far on
to the heights which face the south
ern sun. The upper limit of the palm
palmettO) lies above that of the low
or limit of the pines, so that there is
a true overlapping of those forms of
which may be considered |
southern and bOreal regions. A con- |
Meeting zone is formed by the legu-
minOus plants, some of which rise as
giants in the vegetable world.
Not less striking than the aspect of
nature presented by the vegetation Is
that looking upward from the low |
land to the great Mexi can plateau or
mesa. The giant volcanic architecture |
of this table-land is made manifest at |
a glance. The great Outwellings of
lava which at different periods, posi- |
bly, nearly cOnsentaneOus, pour forth |
from hundreds of openings, volcanic |
vents and crystal assures, stand |
like a wall against the no thern
sky cut and rent into an end
less variety of form and structure
peaks and pinnacles, palisaded preci-
pices and deep gOrges. A few out
laying isolated volcanic peaks, like
JOrullo itself, lie without the base of
this vast elevation, but beyond the
country descends to the base of the
Sierra Madre, true system similar to
the Rocky mountains of North
America, and the Cordilleras of South
America, an axial elevation to the
continental track. This view is said
to be one OF the most imposing seen
by travellers in Mexico.