San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1896-08-16
POPOCATEPTL'S ASCENT.
DESCRIPTION OF HOW THE ASCENT
Is MADE.
Cigarette Manufacture in Mexico, Swell
Society and General News and
Notes of the Week.
|pecial corrSpondehce.

City Of Mexico, Aug. 6.-The most
prominent view from this city that en-
braces the great twin volcanoes, PO-
pocatopeu Smoking mountain) and
Ixtaccihualt (the white woman), but
often these are invisible by reason of
fog, haze or dust. They are miles dis
tant from the city, but on a clear day
their snow-capped heights stand forth
in all their natural beauty, and seem
to invite men to come unto them.
Popocatapel is the highest elevation
in the Americas, being $4,000 feet
above sea level, and therefore it is one
of the scenic wonders of the world. 1t
is often assembled to the crater and
there is no more exhilirating trip to
be found in the world, but none should
attempt the ascent unless they are
strong and healthy. Those that are
invalided or have any affection of the
heart should never attempt to ascend
to the craters of Popocatapetl.
! decided to ascend the great volcano
and Joined party for that purpose.
Usually the explorers 60 to Ameca-
MEGA, but we decided that we would
go by the new route of Santa Maria.
Our party consisted of four, and the
first thing we did was to arrange for
provisions, for you can get nothing but
tortillas and chile after you leave
Pueblo, and you can buy better and
cheaper here. We first secured half
dozen bottles of whisky and cognac
(brandy) and liberal supply of bot
tied beer, cigars and cigarettes. and
then we filed a good-sized hamper
with bread, ham, boiled eggs, and such
canned goods as we thought we would
need. We provided literally for six
days, though we knew we would only
be four days out. The next thing was
clothing, an important point, for the
crater lies on frozen regions. Each
man had wooden suit, three suits of
woolen underwear, two pair of wooden
socks and an oyercoat. We also Sc
cured blankets, for they are very nee.
essary. 1t is, however, well not to
burden yourself with more than what
you need. All being ready we started
on the morning for the. San Lazaro de.
pot, where we took THE Inter-oceanic
trpin for Puebla. The journey was
listing, as the scehery was mag.
~ ut it was ght ere we ar.
nat RoinI DC hdu a uue
e volcanoes>in all the lights
K sun that was indeed grand
view of the volcanoes as the
lawns and the sun reveals their
ondrous natural beauty, is such as
: no pen can describe or artist depict on
canvas with any hope of realism.
We left Puebla next morning for
Santa Maria, and en- route passed
through Choluca, catching a glimpse
of it's famous ancient pyramids that
Were erected by the Aztecs. We
reached Santa Maria about 8 o'clock,
and, having secured guides, horses,
ETC., we commenced that part of our
trip that must hereafter be done on
horseback or muleback, as the case
1nay be, and is preferable to foot. We
soon reached pretty little Indian vii
lage, Buena Ventura, that is situated
on a hill, at the foot of which is a pic
turesque river. OF course the seen
cry was grand, but there was nothing
else of interest, so, after q brief rest,
we pushed on San Nicholas de los
Ranches. This is a pretty Indian vii
-lage, and differs from all others we
have seen, because everything seems
new, even the parish church and the
.plazas, which are usually antique.
~ ride and mountain air had given
awful appetite and we lunched
~ " here washing down the sub