The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1855-09-28
To IL, Editor of the BOSTON Jousn0i:-

40 ~ Editor 81 We DostoH JoH'H":-
As the late sad event at the White Noun
ieius, by which fond father IVES deprived OF an
only daughter, SEEMS 10 have creaied such uuiye,'
sal sympathy, and as 80 many JiGercul sistemco',
have appeared, have consented, at The request
OF nany Of nv neighbors aud friends, to publish
a co, rect accouni Of The whole malie'.
On the evening Of Wednesday, The 18th insi.,
our lille parv, consisting Of Henry A. Jones, E,g
and lady, Of .'odand, Elizabeth taushtet OF Ia.
wand r. Bourne, my wife, daughter Lucy a.d
myself arrived OF tie Glen House, intending 10
he morning 10 ascend Mo,nt Washington. Er,.
" TUESDAY moe ling i commenced rainiIg, and
~ ned mo, er'iely. until about ,en, when 4 clcar
ed AWAY Immediately aller dinncr 1--WE dined at
onc), al her urge0t soicilaiion, Elizabeth, Lucy
end myself started FOR The summit OF the moot.
iaj. having understood by several that me path
was plain. | saw no necessity OF o guide, and
consequently took none. The sde,noon WIS very
pIepsani aud we started IN good sp''ls,ibe young
ladies highly elaied al the prospect oi realizing
he luGment OF their long anticipated desire
that Of spending a night on The top NJ Mt. Wash
jngion. Shorty after crossing The bridge at The
base Of the mountain, we met with Nj Myers,
one Of the genllemanly contractors ofthe carriage
road looked at my watch, aud found the Tine
to be fifteen minutes afler two. Mr.. Myers h"n'
self going he same way, we enjoyed the pleasure
of his company Tor about Two and a ha'T miles,
h;sh 9ee. occasionally stopping 10 admire The sce'
merry, until, at length, we came 10 The present
terminus of the road. Here we made enquiry,
and were told that The summit was Two and hell
mile distant, and the path plain. il vas 'be
four o'clock.
We now leave the rood, and turning somewhat
10 the lell, climb steep aud rocky path, TO ihe
top OF what seems 10 be a large knoll or mountain
(called the ledge, )wherc We encountered The wind
blowing gale, so violent ,hst foe n while we
were unable 10 proceed. As the wind lulled n
little the ladies' got up, and seemed 10 be invigoS
aied by the blast, wished 10 go on. We were
now al tho foot Of another mountain "a little
while Che ladies' stopping occasionally TO gel
breath, in consequence Of The violence OF The
WINDY, aud we were on its summit, and behold
another huge pile oil rocks, apparently thousand
feet in height, and so we continued climbing peal
AFTER peak, expecting each 10 be the last. Tue
greatest difficulty with which we had 10 contend
was The wind ard winch was finally the cause o
our sad disaster, as the ladies had oien 10 si
down TO take breath, which was the Chief cause
OF our de'av.
ly expected would he the last mOuntain sleep, The
sun, enrolled in his mantle of gold and crimson
bid Us adieu. We stopped a morent TO gaze a
| the mag niicent spectacle, hut were warned b,
| his departure not To iDger on ihe mountain. VI
was in ascending ibis steep that Elizabeth begar
10 show signs OF WEAKNESS, and needed Fss'si
ance, but the assurance that this was our last as
| cent, gave us encouragement 10 perseyere, ant
we nj lest reached its summit II was now Lot,
| in The twilight, and The shadows OF night WEI,
| fast creeping upon us but 10 our sorrow anolhe
| mountain ,iood before us, whose summit was 70
From this point, had i been clear. we siloul,
have had view Of the Summit House, aud al
would have been WELL ior Thea we should have
had the assurance that The end OF our journe,
/ was near. However, we were not yet discoura
ged, for although quite dark, we co1d sill dis
cen our path, but Elizabeth needed rest 80 olIer
that our progress was slow, until night fnall,
closed in upon Us, and we could see our way M
| further. ], was veiy cold and Tie wind BLOWN;
gale, the night dark and fearful, and we upoT
the bleak mountain, without sh.ub, rock or Tree
under which 10 lind shelter. What was 10 b'
done To lie down aud commit our souls 10 Toe
keeping Of merciful Father, probably TO seeE
that death hat knows no wakingl THIS wal
my irst thought. for was well nigh worn on
with fatigue myself But few moments &C
Elections dissipsied these impressions, aud ! re-
solved 10 do what 1 could for our preseraiion.-
SO violent WIS The wind thai Il wa impossible "a
adjust The ladies' shawls 10 soy advantage, bu
we did The besI we could, and they laid ihem
sel,c. Town ~ the middle Of the path, as we bad
not LOST ouv way, while went 10 woJS 10 build q
wall o. such loose rocbs as IN the darkness Of The
night could lay hands upon, TO project them i,om
the blast. This WIS slow work, Us was occas.
ioualy obliged TO lie down for The double purpose
OF resting myself, and keeping them warm.
I succeeded at last 10 raising quite a breast.
work. which found OF J,eai advantage, and tie
ladies quite comfortable, hope revived, as l thea
felt con6den, that siiould be able 10 keep them
comitI table until assistance should nuise 10 ibe
morning. My movements were 10 lie down z.
while 10 project The girls until beeamc cold
hen ge, up, thrash found fpile up rocks, or do
anything by which could wa, IN myself, and then
lie down again, al no time leaving my charge for
more than ten minutes. II was sboui ieo O'Clock,
should think, rs lay down at LixIie's back
aud look Der hand, thai found il 10 be Icy cold-l
then put my hand upon her forehead and found
that cold also--ihen called 10 her, bot no lespoosc
-raised her up, but her spirit had winged lis way
TO that better land where the besk mountain chill