The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1838-08-21
,TaQE CALIFORNIAN.
WRITTEN FOR THE cALEDoNIAN.J
WHITE MOUNTAINS.

GLIB of whom we need say nothing Landlord,
for his works praise him. AT night we took up our
quarters at Denison's, where well accom-
modaled, well supplied with every thing needful to
make us happy and at home On Tuesday, 9Th
we rode to Thos. Crawford's, about four and half
miles and from thence footed il through the notch,
down the valley to the Wiley house, here we spent
an hour or two in beholding what dessoaon the
Lord had made, and wondering and admring that
Providence which should send this unfortunate fam.
lily from a house Of safety to of destruction and
deaths for it is supposed from circumstances con-
nected with the bodies found that the family had
all arrived at temporary hut, which had been, this
very season, QS26) erected by Wiley place
of supposed security, in araanch should
occur, of which he had some apprehension. Tho
The spot selected was something more elevated than
his house. yet here was the destruction most com
pIetc while the house from which they fled remains
to this day-a monument of The short sightedness
of man. Here let me remark, that history ofthe
Wiley family, so FAR as facts known in relation
to The event of their death, when and where found
and all the details in relation to that season which
has SO much altered, not only the mountains near
the Wiley house, but Mount Washington itself,
should be published and kept at the houses in the
vicinity of the notch for the benefit Of visilers and
travellers. This walking two three miles and
back agan is pretty good exercise especially for La
dies-il tends to prepare them to ascend tie noun
tam satisfy them that they had better not make
the lria
"Wednesday, the SUI, a an eally hour, the din Of
preparation was heard for ascending Mount Wash
ing. Horses and saddles, old gowns and bonnes,
thick boots and walking sticks were all put in e.
QUESTION, and at early seven were on the move
towards tie mountain, numbering eight gentlemen
and three ladies, including gentleman from Lowell,
Mass, by the name Of Douglass.
fine company of troopers, led by the best Of
guides. ID. Crawford, who when caparisoned aud
mounted looked much like any body else you
may chance think Of, as he did like yankee,
but he is the very creature after ALL to take you safe
to the mountain and back again. He will carry
on his back all ncndfll REFRESHMENTS implements,
extra clothing &c. &c. and if needs be, will just
tuck you under arm aud bring you up down
safe as his Black Betty. Now then, we are
off through poor meadow, over noosock, through
the woods over bad roads, and break neck-lane all
The way to hitching ground, full seven and half
miles. Ladies that can sit firm on their saddles
over this way need fear but little of failing to
the height and gentlemen who can keep their seats
will do better than did some of ours-never mind
of incorporation IS already Obtained and there is
abundance of the hard currency at hand,
any and every one can testify has stood on
Mount Washington. Now whether this currency
be at par with the V. B. inpaster currency not
it must he acknowledged by ALL that is solid capital,
and safely deposited.
We will Just call a moment at the camp, as we
are about to ascend the hill Difficulty, bu: mind you
last sLO iltp I.ot's wife he
led to look back. We begin in good earnest
10 go up, up, up until arrive Jacobs ladder,
now mind your foohold, and your fast hold, and
took only ION step to step, for if you look to the
Top of the ladder at once, you may be discouraged
one thing be ever mindful oC-be in haste to be
at your journeys end; ifyou are in hurry, ten to
one, you find the end of your journey foil one mile
from The monument. As we ascend little higher
begin to look back with astonlshment and de-
igh, on things below; hope and expectation now
cheer US on to the work we mount the table rock
drink water from its summit, crossing Abraham's
plains, we soon found ourselves on the summit of
Mount Washington here what others.
who have visited the mountain in as fair day, have
seen and described before us, some fourteen lakes
or ponds, several villages, rivers Sc. &c. in fine
we saw most grand display Of that Almighty pow
er which spake and it was done, who commanded
and 1t stood fast. To attempt to describe the beau
ties the sublimiy, the grandeur of The scene to one
who has not beheld it, would be like describing the
beauties of the rainbow 10 one born blind
We tarried about hour on the height and
then retraced our way down to lower earth with
out any very extraordinary occurrence, although
one our Indies had the misap to mako misstep
and fall from the height of more than five thousand
feet she lodged safely thetop of the trees, came
off without the final loss ofso much script staff
We all arrived in safety at the house four good
host, about seven o'clock when were welcom
cd to good tea and good cheer, and found that dur
ing our absence two parties had arrived of some
twenty or thirty, some from New York city, some