New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1854-09-19
Crawford House, at the Notch, July %, 1854.

Sixty persons assembled the mountains on the
day when we went up, of whom about dozen,
including four ladies, made the ascent on foot.
Those who ride up generally spend an hour On
the summit, without being able in that short
time to see much, though most of them express
themselves delighted. II, as often happens, the
equestrians perform the least part of their jour
ney in cloud, there is good deal of swearing
and grumbling; some denouncing the ascent as
humbug, which it is of course to them, while
others are glad for no other reason than because
they can then say they have been on the top Of
Mount Washington. About twelve Of the visitors
passed the night on the summit to enjoy the
glorious phenomena Of the sunset and sunrise.
The next morning was clear on the summit,
but about ten o'clock the clouds began to settle
down, and the great mist-river streamed mag
nifcently over the top and along the side of the
mountain before high wind. At one time every
thing would be completely hidden from view,
then for an instant the clouds would clear away
and the whole lower world stand revealed as if
by magic. In the course of an hour, the storm
increased, the gloom became dense and settled,
the rain came like shot against the roof and
windows, and the wind rose to howling gale,
which ragged as if it would tear the very stones
away Then came the high enjoyment of the
contrast; the feeling of a perfect shelter and
security within the rock founded house while the
terrific storm ragged without; and the thought
| to the traveller in such tempest without the
| luxury of such refuge. To be in safety and
comfort in the very midst of such scene, a safe
intruder into the very inner laboratory and
world of storms, is itself rare enjoyment.
\ In short time the rain abated, but the dark
ness and gale continued Having had one lesson
| in this line a year ago, we determined not to
attempt the descent. until we could learn from
| those coming up how far down the mountain
sides the clouds extended. Forty persons had
| set out from below this morning. of these. the
4 greater part turned back on meeting the storm,
| but about ten o'clock, ten forlorn and woefnl
| looking eqnestrians, of both sexes, who had
1 braved the gale, made their appearance at the
| :. Summit House, completely tagged out, and
drenched to the skin. They told US that the
cloud extended only about thousand fest down
/ the mountain side. Upon learning this, we
began the descent, though at first it was ex-
/ tremely difficult to face the gale On emerging
/ suddenly from the darkness and cloud. which
still surrounded the summit, into sunshine, the
effect was inexpressibly beautiful and grand.
Fragments of storm cloud were still flying about
the higher peaks and ridges, while it lay in dark
heavy masses furled upon the broad mountain
sides, all black above and white edged under
Meath. imparting deep somber tint to the
boundless expanse of forest yerdures
One of the most attractive objects in this
region is lake of the clearest and coldest
water, situated very near the pain on tne fluge
dividing Mount Washington from Mount Mon
roe The water is extremely pure, and too cold
for any fish to live in it, the level of the lake
being more than a mile above the sea- It flows
into the Connecticut through the Ammonoosuc.
In walking through the forest down Mount Clin-
ton. several ,foeks Of partridges flew across our
path, and alighted SO near US that they might
have been knocked over with a stick Their
, freedom from shyness shows that the gun of the
snortsmau is rarely heard in this wild region
A porcupine waddled very deliberately across
the path directly in front of US, and not more
than ten feet distant he too, like the partridges
! ! as yet blissfully ignorant of that beautiful in
: stinct which leads man to MAIN and murder al
! life that is not human. Hartford Times.