Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1899-11-23
IN THE TROPICS.
Arthur Hurd Tells Of Climbing San
Lorenzo.

10ronz0'
The following letter from Arthur
Hurd just received will be Of much
interest.
LAS NUBEs, U. S. Of Colombia,
South America, Oct. POL think
have written Of San Lorenzo in some
of my other letters. 1t is the highest
mountain in this range, having an al.
titude Of nearly ten thousand feet,
and is interesting for the reason that
within the memory Of man no person
has ever been on the extreme top Of
it. From Las Nubes it appears to be
a rather large bill with an easy ridge
running from the west side Of the
peak down toward the sea. From
Santa Marta the top Of this ridge
looks to be saw.edged, which we
afterward found to be true, the teeth
being rather husky individuals Of
their kind. Above the timber line
the mountain presents nice smooth
appearance, give one an impression Of
grass lawns and hillside pastures.
Appearances are deceitful in the
mountains and those gentle slopes
we're the ultimate cause Of our down
fall.
Mr.. Blair and used to pass hours
gazing up at the old hill, fgur-
ing upon the best way to make the
ascent and finally we decided to make
the attempt. With that intention we
went down to Santa Marta a couple
weeks ago and prepared ourselves for
the trip. We bought good supply Of
rice, salt meat, coffee, etc., and with
these rolled in our blankets and
strapped behind our saddles we left
Santa Marta early one morning for
the valley Of the Cara river, which
we intended to follow until we reach.
ed the ridge.
The first stage Of our journey
should have taken us to Aqua Dulce,
coffee plantation, which is about
four hours from the town, but at q
fork in the road Fate, In the form Of
four malicious Mozos, directed us
upon the. wrong road. We toiled for
hours over one Of the worst roads l
ever saw and TO our additional misery
the rain came down in deluge. But
the scenery was very wild and beau
tiful and, for my part, | rather en-
Dyed it all. Early in the afternoon we
arrived at plantation which we
fould to be SanJose and about half a
days journey from Aqua Dulce. You
can imagine our feelings! We were
soaking wet and had had nothing to
eat, excepting piece Of bread and a
cup Of coffee, since the previous day.
1t was while we were returning
over that miserable road that we had
our first serious disaster. Going up
we had crossed the Cara, which was
then shallow stream, the water
barely reaching up to the mules
knees, but on our return we found o
raging flood. Under ordinary cir.
cumstances we would have waited for
the water 10 subside, but 1t is slow
work sitting In the rain with an
empty stomach and we decided to 20
on. One must see a flooded mountain
stream to realize what ugly things
they are and he must be in one to
know>with just what branch OF the
asinine family we should be classed.
We thought the mules could get
sufficient footing to hold themselves
against the current-the water had
been so shallow a couple hours before.
Blair had the larger mule and went
first. Before he had gone ten feet
the mule was out Of sight bnt when
he came up be beat against the cur
rent in fine style and soon reached the
other bank. Whew! How | envied
Blair! He was soaking wet and lit
tie breathless, but he was on the
other side. l wanted to sell out i'm
mediately. Why couldn't my animal
die suddenly or the saddle break or
tree fall and smash my headP When
my mule felt the bottom drop he re-
fused to obey the reins and tried to
go straight across. We had only
about twenty feet margin to where
the river went straight down for
few hundred feet, and be took nine.
teen Of them. could look over the
edge Of the world. All Of our sup.
plies, with the exception Of the bot.