The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1846-12-19
white Mountain sketches.

In the History of the White Mountains, by
Lucy, widow OF Crawford, the Mountaineer
or Ethan of the Hills, may he found recorded
many interesting incidents associated with
this region, which has been appropriately
called the Switzerland of America.
The Crawford name and family are so j.
Identified with the White Mountains, that Que
was never mentioned without suggesting the
other. The old gentleman, bel, was among
the earliest settlers, and 1893, or soon after
to escape being crowded, removed from NASH
aud Sawyer's Location TO Harris Location, II
miles below the Saco, so that he might have
elbow room enough, and there lie remains to
this day. Here lie lived in n little log cabin
in the woods, ~ miles from neighbors one
way and q the other. Abel the Patriarch, was
the first man who ever rode horse on the
top ofMount Washington. He was then
seventy-fiye years old and is still stout, hardy
and athletic, most of his family, too, are, or
have been physically fine specimens mouu-
tainecrs. Erastus, the oldest son, was large
framed and powerful man, six feet six inches
high, when standing barefoot Ethan Allen,
also was giant ola fellow, over six feet tall,
comparatively q spare man, but yet weighed
$50, and when in his prime was in the habit
O. carrying very heavy packs upon his Shout
t,ers 10 tie rugged ascent OF Mount Wash
means inferior specimens of humanity
When Ethan was % years old, being engag-
ed in boating on river of swift water, he
took barrel ofpot3sh, weighing 500, lifted
it two feet and put it into boat, without any
assistance-a tolerahle good proof that lie
was ofthe race Of giants, and well fitted 10
cont end with the lIardships oi'a mountaineer's
life. - ...... ..
Those who would Learn ihc privadons Of
the settlers of these wilds, will learn enough
that is curious in the history ofEthan's career,
as given in this book, which contains also
some graphic descriptions ofihe ascent ofthe
Mountains as recorded by travellers in e.
tlan's register Here is one incident which
may be new to many of your readers, and VIII
particularly interest some OF them. III sep
tember 1878, there came two gentlemen to
old Mr. Crawford's, and engaged him TO 20
with them TO Mount Washington, where
they placed an inscription in Latin, which
was engraved on brass plate, and nailed II
on a rock, they likewise filled bottle and
put it OH rock. The inscription as nearly
as can be ascertained from the incorrect YER
sion in the hook. has been done into Engnsh'
thus, by learned doctors; 80.
"They who strive to reach the highest
point will surpass all others" r....
"Think nothing done if anything remains
to he DONE" ... ...
.sThis is the way to reach the skies
"Afer passing through savage forests aud
surrounding steep aud craggy rocks. Mas
how the sweat did run down our. way!I-
John BraZer, of Cambridge, and George
Dawson, of Philadelphia, placed this in
scription here on the tenth day OF September,
1915" .t,.......... ....,... ...... ...... ..
One of the gentlemen, you will perceive,
was the late Rev, DR.. Brazar, OF salem. Inc
inscription remained where they affixed IT mn
I'll 1855. when party of barbarians from
Jackson. who visited the summit, stole the
plate and carried il off, with some sheet lead
on which visitors recorded their names, and
other things belonging TO the mountalneers.
In August 1921, three young ladies' tormer-
" Portsmouth, assembled the hills and are
believed to be TIC first females who placed
their,feet on the summit of Mount Washing
ION. The ascent was then much more ia
tipuinr and laboriotls than now, horses were
not used and they were obliged to climb The
mountain on foot. They manifested no little
perseverance aud heroism, and being defer
mined TO have y good prospect they accom-
plishcd their object, having been OUT TOUR
days and three nights before they returneu:
In 1881, "a member OF Congress, Daniel
Webster as the book says. visited the White
Hills, and Ethan gives the following account
of his excursion to the noted summit; 1T was
in the warm weather of June continues the
narrative, and he desired. me TO go NJ, the
mountain, which accordingly consented TO,
and wo went up without meeting any thing
Of note. more than was common for, me TO
| ind. y But to him things appeared interesting
aud when we arrived there headdresScd HIM
self saying;-"Mou Washington, l have
come long distance---have toiled hard TO ar
rive at your summit, and now you seem to
give me a cold reception, for which am ex-
tremely sorry:as shall not have time enough
to view this grand prospect which now lies
| before me, and nothing prevents but tho I'M
tomf,rtable atmosphere in (which you re-
! sidew After making these and some other