Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-01-12
THE GAZETTE.
WEDNESDAY MORNING, JANUARY u. 1850.
WINTER ASCENT OF MOUNT WASHING
TON TO SERVE 4 WRIT

WINTER ASCENT OF MOUNT WASHING.
TON TO SERVE A WRIT.
The Coos Republican narrates the success
full termination of an enterprise several times
attempted, hut never before accomplished,
yiz:-the ascent If Mount Washington in
Winter Later than the early part of Sep
tember, the ascent of any OF the White
Mountain range is attended with danger. and
several who have made the attempt have lost
their lives. On the eth Dec. however, two
individuals surmountcd all the pcrilS of the
ascent. and entered the Tip Top and Summit
Houses. The title 10 these buildings has
been for some time in litigation. and Samuel
+. Spaulding recently of Lancaster, obtained
an execution. which he was anxious to levy
Immediately. Securing the services of De-
putty Sheriff Lucus IIartshorne and b, +.
Osgood. an experienced guide, the three left the
Glen House at I. A. NJ. on the 9TH inst
For the first mile the snow was about one foot
in depth, increasing to two-and-a-halt and
three feet as they approached the Ledge. At
this point Mr.. Spaulding left the party and
returned for horses and provisions for the
adventurers on their return trip. McSsrs.
Hartshorne and Osgood pressed on with all
speed over ground covered with an incrusta-
ton of snow and ice. which occasionally az.
forded good footing, but often breaking, and
precipitating them on the rocks beneath. The
party suffered much from thirst, but water
was found only at the Ledge. The air was
milder than had been expected, and the sun
shone in clear sky. Of the scene at the
summit, and the return, the Republican says
ARRIVED at the summit, the view is repre-
scented as having been sublime beyond the
power of description, Mr.. Osgood averring
that in his many trips on the mountain he
never beheld so extended, and terrific Il view
as burst upon them on that lonely height
Measures were Immediately taken To enter
the houses, which, as they were cOvercdwith
snow, was a labor of time. Unable to obtain
ingress at the doors, they forced their way in
through the windows. on which the frost had
formed foot and One-half in thickness
The walls and all the furniture were draped
with some four inches Of frost, and the air
was biting in the extreme.
1t was like a tomb, and Il lamp was neces-
sary In this snow-cavern 10 enable the party
to distinguish the surrounding objects. \
DELAY was dangerous in the extreme, hav-
ing perfected their legal duty, the two pre-
pared to return. Upon emerging from the
houses, they beheld to the southwest cloud
rapidly increasing in volume and rolling on
towards them. When first seen it was small
in magnitude, but it increased i'll size with
alarming velocity, soon spreading over the
entire south. They knew it was Il frost cloud,
and to be caught in its folds would probably
be fatal, and they fastened 10 avoid it
They had just entered the woods at the base
of the Ledge when it came upon them. So
icy and penetrating was its breath, that to
have encountered it's binding, freezing power
on the unprotected height would have been 70
have persisted with it as pail to cover them.
The party reached the Glen in safety and
were heartily welcomed by their friends, who,
we'll knowing the danger attending this
never-before-accomplished feat, awaited them
with much anxiety"