Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-03-28
THE TWIN VOLCANOES
Ascent of Popocatepetl is Not
Difficult.
THAT OF "lSA" IMPOSSIBLE
Title of the Former Mountain Now in
Litigation.
THAT OF "1SA" IMPOSSIBLE
BOUGHT BY NEW YORK PEOPLE
Gen. ochero Defends His Claims
Climbing "old Popo''-None Killed,
Many Blistered-Ice-C Cutting.
By WILLIAM E. CURTIS.

By WILLIAM E. CURTIS.
Special Correspondence Of The Star and Chicago
Record Herald
AMECAMECA, March 25 1905.
Aanecameca used to be the starting place
To- people who made the ascent Of Popo-
catepetl and the shipping place for the sui
pAur taken out from the crater. 1t Is
pretty town Of about 2.500 inhabitants, the
center of the richest agricultural section of
Mexico. and portion is irrigated by water
from the melting SHOWS of the twin vol
canos. Those who irrigate their land can
raise two crops year of whatever they
want. but those who depend upon the nat
ural rainfall can expect but one crop, be-
cause the year Is divided into two seasons,
the wet and the dry, and during the lat
ter. which extends from September to April,
there is no rain whatever The plaza,
which is always found in the center of
these Mexican towns just like those of
Spain, is laid out in a picturesque manner
and Is well kept, and in Tic center are a
band stand and a new shining bronze bust
of some local celebrity. The houses are of
the typical Mexican type, and some of them
are large and sumptuous. They belong to
wealthy people who own haciendas plan
tatolts IN the vicinity and others who come
here foi the climate. The altitude is s,57l
feet above the Gulf of Mexico and the
atmosphere Is particularly pure
odd Popo,' as the noble volcano is ia
mtliarly called, formerly the property
of the municipality of Amecameca ana the
crater was worked for sulphur for centu-
ries, the royalties and other profits being
deposited in the city treasury. No one re-
members when sulphur was first taken out,
but every one agrees that Spanlards began
to get their supply from that source shortly
after the conquest.
Title to Mountain in Dispute.
The mountain is now the subject of litiga-
ton. For many years General Ochero,
hero of the revolution of independence,
was administrator for the town during
the middle OF the last century. He collect
ed the rents from the rancheros who pas
tured their cattle on the mountain side,
the toll from those who took timber from
the forests ard the royalties due to the
city from the sulphur miners, and his son,
also q general. inherited from him the Of
fee, the honor and the responsibility. But
the sulphur business was discontinued If
teen or twenty years ago because 4 purer
quality could be brought In by the railroads
for less than 1t cost TO mine It, ana tie
occupation of Gen. Ochero was exhausted.
Since that time, by some process vi rea-
sOning. he assumed the ownership of the
mountain individually, and a few years ago
sold tract about ten miles square to a
New York syndicate. Of which he late Ash
Bel II. Green, rapid transit commissioner
and father of Greater New Io.k, was the
most conspicuous member.
the New York people had laid out a
park of one hundred acres. built hotel of
seventy OF eighty rooms and other build
ings, representing a total investment of
about $500 600, when they discovered that
Gen. Ochero's power to give a title was
questioned. Lyman S. Andrews of New
York came down to straighten out the
complications. and the purchasers have
refused to make any further payments.
They are still running the hotel, however.
Capt. Charles Holt. New York man, Is in
charge of the property and Is making 1t
quite successful as a mountain resort. 1t
stands among the timber on the western
slope at elevation OF about 10000 feet.
Gen. Ochero is living in the .ity OF Mexico,
stoutly defending his claims TO the prop
erty. He has been prominent in public life
and military affairs for nearly half y cen
fury.
Mining of Sulphur.
"Old Popo" is sem-dormant. He does
not roar or erupt, but something Is always
going on inside of him. a heavy vapor
constantly arises from the depths of his
diaphragm which is heavily loaded with
sulphur, and the precipitation causes yell
low crust to adhere to the walls below the
rim. The crater is about 600 yards in diam
eter at the top, almost a regular circle, and
Ii IS possible TO climb down the sides, which
are lined with rock, lava and ashes, to a
depth OF about 500 feet The steam and
fumes OF birthstone make it dangerous TO
go any farther The sulphur miners broke
OFF the sulphur which formed ike a crust
upon the lava and the rocks packed IL IN
bags and shot 1t down the side OF the noun
tain through a chute in the snow. The
vapor or steam arises from al Invisible
stream of hot water that can be heard
pouring out from some subteTrancan source
into the crater. 1t cannot be seen. but can
be easily heard. In many places 1t creaks
through the sides of the mountain, and has
been conducted TO Puebla, AtllXco and ether
towns In the neighborhood through aque
ducts and tunnels for centuries. = is used
both for irrigation and Tor domestic pur-
poses When it reaches the nearest cities
the water is still warm and mas a slightly
! mineral flavor.
Ascent of "Old Popo."
Tourists who wish to climb odd Popo"
can get complete outnt at the Park Hotel
guides, horses, bedding, overcoats food
and everything they can possibly need-for
$50 Mexican silver net, which is about
So 81 In American gold. The trip takes
parts of three days. Parties usually leave the
hotel after luncheon and ride on horseback
TO the Halfway House at the foot OF the
snow line. about 1900 feet where there
ia a cabin with comfortable beis a big
fireplace and good supper. In the morn
ing the aspirant, after breakfast at day
Ughl. starts TOT the summit ON loot, be-
cause horses can go no farther: There is
a regular trail. but II is a hard climb The
guides use ropes 10 haul people up the
steepest places. and 1t seems a dangerous
undertaking, but nobody has ever heen
killed. The snow Is about the same depth
all the year around and is usually covered
with thick crust, because the heat of the
sun meits the surface during he day and
the low temperature OF the night freezes it
over again. AS long the crust holds it
Is comparatively safe and easy climbing,
but when IL becomes soft and rotten the
ascent Is difficult and dangerous. J.. takes
longer 10 make the last 100 feet than all
the rest OF the climb. because the cliffs are
almost perpendicular, and inexperienced
climbers have literally TO be holsted with
ropes.
One can stay up as long as he likes. but
few peopte can long enduce the exposure
20 the and wind. Hardy ones can STAY