Los Angeles herald., 1905-11-05
MEXICO MARvELS OVER
MYSTERY OF MT. J0RULLA
FIFTEEN PERSONS HAVE BEEN
SWALLOWED UP
Are All Dead, Killed by Noxous
Vapors Of the Volcano, or Held
by Bandits Who Lured Them to
the Spot2
Special to The Herald.

Special to The Herald.
CITY OF MEXICO, Mex, Nov A.
Mexico is marveing over the mystery
of Mount Jorula.
Within a few months fourteen men
and one woman have been swallowed
up. leaving no trace I'm or near the
crater Of the volcano.
Each one Of these fifteen left will,
written Just before starting on the ex-
pedition, which leads to the theory
that they had a purpose in visiting
the crateri and that, while they may
not have feared death or captivity,
they were led by the expectation of
perils to provide for the care Of their
families and property in case anything
happened.
The fact that fifteen human beings
have vanished has caused less excite
ment than has their strange errand.
All save four came from distant places.
One after another, at irregular inter-
walls, they appeared in Las Balsas or
Morelia, obtained animals and the dom
key drivers at the same spot at the
northern side of the mountain, ascended
by foot as If by directions-and never
returned.
That eleven Of the fifteen persons who
disappeared came to the mountain by
previous arrangement and with some
other four, 1t is believed, were followers
who attempted to discover the secret
| of the pilgrimages of the others.
These were residents of Mlchoacan,
the state in which the volcano is
located.
Whether all fifteen are dead, killed
by noxious fumes in the crater, or
held by bandits who lured them to the
spot or whether the crater that once
1tgtt. s~,4 49,,
of some strange organization no one
has been able to say.
1t was April that there came to
Las Balsas a man on horseback who
had ridden from Orilla, on the Pacific
coast. He was attired in Spanish cos
tune except that he wore a light
Panama hat, not the kind made in that
section of the country. but of finer
make. He gave his name at the Inn
of Las Balsas as Senior Jose Mssassa,
and he spoke of being at Vera Cruz
a few weeks before. He seemed to
have no secrets and his only baggage
was a satchel
He remained at the inn two days
and then started at daybreak with two
Indian mule drivers, after inquring
carefully as to the route to the noun
tain. The following day, near noon,
he, with his Indians, arrived at spot
III IIt dlley VI the leNll, on lne nOrCn
side Of the volcano, which was formerly
the bed of one Of the rivers. After an
hours search he found a tall pine
tree. He stood at this for few mo-
ments, gazing toward the mountain
as II seeking something, and then,
turning to the Indians, gave them
a small bundle of papers and said -
IF do not return by tomorrow night
you are to take this back to Las Bal
sas and give it to the innkeeper."
The man then started directly toward
the summit, climbing over the lava
blocks and ash beds. He never re-
turned.
The Indians took the package back
| opened it, discovered money and some
papers, which he was instructed to
send to an address in Vera Cruz
Another guest reached the House of
Comfort on April 1 and gave his name
as Samuel Mindenhall of New Orleans.
He inquired his way to Mount Jorulla,
heard the story of the disappearance of
Missassa without evincing any in
| terest, employed two Indians, and be-
fore daybreak next morning started
| out Before he departed he left a
package with the landlord to be mailed
to his wife In case he failed to return.
There appeared at Morelia that same
day a stranger who called himself Ike
WellSer, who gave no address, but had
| Travelled down from the City of Mexico.
He inquired the way in the mountain,
started with Indian guides, but on
foot. and approached the mountains
from the south.
Welker, before starting mailed a let
ter to some person in Mexico City.
Mindenhall came to the mountain from