The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-10-26


ing the specific gravity of the materials
elected from its crater to be two and five
tenths times that of water. the weight of
the mountain is 192,O00, 000,C coo tons, but this
represents only a small part of the ma
terial that has been emitted from the
volcano, for there are vast deposits of
lava extending in all directions, and the
deserts for many miles distant are COM
posed to unknown depths of volcanic ash
and rock
During the wet season the storms leave
MIST covered with snow down to 1000
feet and sometimes to 14,C0O but IL the
following day chances to be clear the
fresh snow will disappear before night.
The snow always lasts longer on the
southwest side of the mountain and on
the north side it disappears very rapidly
which is due to the fact that we are
south of the equator and that during the
clear months of the year the sun is north
of the zenith. 1t Is a fact, however, that
snow extends to a much lower level on
the nighboring ranges of the mountains.
This Is attributed to internal heat. as
the Misti is a volcano in state of con-
siderable activity, and the exhibitions Of
hot vapor, sulphurc fumes and other phe.
nomena are apparent to all observers
THE cone of the mountain Is composed
of rugged masses of rock. the remains OF
ancient lava flows. whose angle varies
between 80 and IS degrees. The few per-
sons who have been fortunate enough to
reach the summit have been surprised at
the extent and gloomy grandeur of the
scenery. The crest Is Enthusiastically a
crater formed by the original upheaval,
and the maximum diameter is about $500
feet. The diameter of new and compar-
atively modern crater Is about 1,500 feet at
the top and 500 feet at the bottom, which
is nearly level and composed of yellow
lava and sulphur. The vapors playing
upon this produce the appearance of boil.
ing sulphur. and in former times people
reported flames which, If it were an es-
tablished fact, would be of great inter-
est.
.tThe first ascents were undoubtedly
made before the arrival of the Spaniards
and are beyond the reach of history and
even tradition. Within the crater are
remains of walls and firewood, which
must have been left there by human
hands and the old writers report that
pagan sacrificial rites were celebrated
there, or perhaps it may have been the
custom among the Indians to bury their
chiefs at this great altitude The first ex-
petition, in 1877, found vestiges of a stone
structure marking the form of two or
three rooms, which still existed two CEN
turtles later, and are matter of great in
terest. The expedition is said to have as
cended the volcano by ecclesiastical and
Ivy 81 duliiollly " tStlSdlt the cause Oh
dense column of smoke seen rising from
the summit. and a other times during the
same period similar phenomena appeared
but nothing definite or authoritative ex-
lists on this subject, and for two centuries
at least Ell Misti has been semi-quiescent,
emitting only vapors in varying quaint
ties.
during the last two centuries, but no one
has descended into the crater. With prop
ell appliances this would be by no means
impossible. but for the sulphurous yapors
which abound there and which would
probably be fatal to life. For awhile there
was great enthusiasm for ascending the
Misti. but this interest was terminated in
1878 by the sad fate of two English tour
ists-Messrs. Rider and Bothwell-who as
cended and in attempting to make the
circuit of the crater lost their way, be-
came exhausted by hunger thirst and IA
tigue and persisted among the cliffs on the
north side of the mountain near the pres
ent mule path.
"At an altitude of 1900 feet there is a
wretched little hut known as the 'Tambo
del Alto de los Huesos.' where we found
an old woman, with a grandchild of 6 or
Z years. who furnished the poorest kind
of accommodations. During the first
evening we spent upon the mountains in
August, 1893, she RECALLED us with stories of
ilNi SNptlltl u 20 years III tIldl uI6dIy
spot, and So that many people priests
and officials, Arequipinians and foreigners
had tried to climb the mountain, but
most of them had died, and those who
died were foreigners, which was rather
discouragng under the circumstances.
AT the height of 1880 feet there is
another tambo, or hut, of rough stones,
with a roof thatched with straw, known
as the Inn of the Water of Miracles
from the fact that according to tradition.
a long time ago the Lord appeared and
ordered water to flow from the ground.
Near the hut is perennial spring of good
water. yelling out Of the dry sand which,
curinusly enough, only flows during the
daytime. The water begins to run about
in the morning and ceases between 4
and in the afternoon.
IN 1888" continued Professor Bailey.
with great difficulty We built mule trail
to the top of the mountain and estab-
lished our meteorological station there.
Since then We have visited the place fire.
quently, and the mountain is always the
source of awe-inspring phenomena as
well as of scientific interest. "-Chicago
Record.