The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1845-07-28
Miscellaneous.
From the Rural Repository.
The Bandits Daughter.
ATALE OF THE WHITE MOUNTAINS.
CHAPTER /.

s ann. If mountains-the Green Mountains extend
x :, through the whole State Of Vermont, and, the
white Mountains stretching themselves through the
s .,sho,u part Of tho state of New Hampshire
Az ,loOy and beautiful ranges of mountains as can
I =. oond in the United States. The scenery Of both
. .,.,d and sublime in the extreme, and whether
.ovoredsw with the verdant cloak of summer, or viii
ud with the SHOWS OF winter, present to the eye, "a
,,,ue of attractions and scene Of grandeur The
Incidents upon which the following story is founded,
,.oued on and in the vicinity OF the White Noun
VI nius range which contains some Of the highest
ueak to BIO found in country; that of Mt. Wash
raOn which is the highest, being 6 ,6s4 feet above
AZ tbs level of the sea- Imagination may form some
thing o. an idea of the beauty Of the scenery COM
y ,urehendcd in the almost boundless view from the
summit of the highest points of this lofty range Of
mountains but to be appreciated according TO their
n worth they must he seen with the naked eye. The
green foliage Of the mountain-side extending to the
very base, where it meets the plain, covered with the
nme uxuriant dye Of nature and spreading far away
n the distance, here and there spccked with the
BEAUTIFUL silvery lakes, and puring streams with
" which New England abounds-s spotted with neat
"A nestled quietly down in some romantic spot, is a
Y it subject for lover ofnature to feast upon, and
scarcely to be equalcd by the much talked of Italian
and SicilIian scenery. From the towering height of
n sh Washington, may be seen at no great distance,
G Eve peaks bearing tho respective names Of Adams,
!Terson, Madison, Monroe and Jackson In the vi
cay of these is found the Notch deep and extern
sye ravne, dividing the mountain for some distance,
and forming on each side mild and frightfu appear
nnce In the Notch there now stands the remuins
Of dwelling house and out-buildngs where once
resided family by the nume of Wiley, who were
in the year 1926, killed by slide from the mountain
above the dwelling, the tracts of which visible to
this day. To the wess Of the Notch spreads sub
lime range Of high mountains, surrounded as it were
a. their tops by the clouds. The peaks in this direc-
lion though not SO high as those berare spoken Of,
Command an extensive and picturesque view. The
ye wunders awoY in the long dim distance Of the
azy atmosphere, and like The minds eye when ia
ing a glance at future years, unable to discover
it'll any distnctness what lies beyond your imVne-
/ ate comprehension.
There are on this range various caverna OF oiHereh
les and all descriptions, but tho mountains around
hem are so very difficult of ascent that they have
X eldom been visited On the eastern side OF these
fountains. at some distance from the Notch there
a cave known to a few of the oldest inhabitants o
that vicinity by the name Of the Bandits cave. -
The name was given 10 it, having been the home o
large and powerful banditti, that spread themselves
Wer the surrounding country, plunderng all property
INV value, that could be obtained by any strata
gem, violence and rorce-a source Of annoyance ant
terror to the people. The cave was large one' ane
consists OF various apartments and cavities winch th
ltand had formed into rooms suitable for their pur
pose. The entrance to it was secluded that per
scn might pass within few feet Of it, and yet no
discover it. From the entrance to ita person coul'
stand and view the mountain side, taking in at tn
Same time, a large portion of the plain below wh
directly at his feet was precpice OF some hity eet
aand almost perpendicular. On one side 1t was pro
'ected by rock that formed the entrance to the cav
projecting from high point over head and gradual
descending TO the brow OF the precipice, thus iorm
an insurmountable barrier to admittance from ina
AIDE, while the other side, the only place where a
entrance could be made, thickly overgrown wit
'underbrush, so thckly matted together, that pas
sage through it was next to impossible; but the ban
'""oo ou oP0uihS W~0'Soy my ~SN"
parting the boughs, passing through, and then lei
ting them fall back to their original position, and n
one would discover that it had been disturbed. Thu
guarded, they were not under the necessity of pli
eng upon the door the words much disiked
'Ou'y bodies-'NO Admittance'
Farther down the mountain, in very seclude
spot there stands rude log cabin surrounded vii
uees and bushes to such an extent that it hide
utmost entirely from, view and could be seen at on
'"o points far above it, one Of which was at Il
mouth OF the cave. This house originally built t
we accommodation of some laborers upon the mou
'an' was once the residence for short time, oil Il
.amy Of the leader of the band that had their hon
"'he cave above described.
Nharles Anson, was the only son Of wealth
r,ercnans. in one Of the New England States, an
'Ne most children under the same circumstance, WI
pe"ea and spoiled while in youth, becoming beio
"' "aa scarcely entered his teens, Governor al