Eighty-five years ago, the cover of the April 1933 issue of Popular Science shows cameraman Arpad Kirner being lowered by a fireproof rope 800 feet into the mouth of an active volcano in Italy. He explained that while his colleagues contented themselves on looking down into the volcano, he was able to view phenomena unseen by any human before.

Accompanied by friends (selected for strength to work the winches), he went down and studied the walls with an electric light powered by a wire running alongside the rope.

Of course, it is quite apparent that this stunt was dangerous and should never be repeated. This, of course, is because both the rope and parts of Kirner’s suit were made of deadly asbestos.

Despite the danger posed by the asbestos, Kirner was lucky and lived to the ripe old age of 78, as documented by his grave in Slovakia.