Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1859-07-09


pore me Saiciy 10 the summit
new as TINS rugged road ls-it was trst trav-
ersea hve weeks ago to-day-death had travel
gu ociorc me: young man snot ueau Whlie
carelessy drawing rlhe from ms wagon, lies
buried by the roadside on TINS mountain. 1
have heard OF so many accidents OF tins nature
not less than dozen god-Seekers having been
shot Ill thls manner during the last TWO months
that marvel at the carelcssness with which
hre-arms are everywhere handled on TINS side
oil the missouri. dad no single enlgrant
across the Plalns ms season armed himself, the
number OF them alive at TINS moment would
have been greater than 1t Is,
we Travelled some two miles along the crest
OF TINS mountain, then descended, by pitch
equally sharp with the ascent but shorter, to a
ravlne, IN which we rested our weary ANIMALS
ana dined. That dinner OF cold ham, bread
and cheeSe--was one OF the best rellshed that l
ever shared. Re-saddling, we climbed another
preclplce little less steep-and SO up and
down Tor ten miles, when we descended into
the narrow valley oil little branch OF Gear
creek, ana thenceiorward had ten miles OF rel
atlvely smooth gong, croosslng from one valley
to another over hills OF moderate elevation and
easy ascent
wilderness OF mountains rose all around
us, some higher, some lower, but generally very
steep, with sharp, narrow ridges for their sum-
mlts. Some of them are tmnly grassed, be
tween widely scattered trees up their sides and
on their tops, but they are generally tlmbered,
ana mainly with yellow Pine, some OF 1t quite
large, but more Of it small and apparently
young. High on the mountains this pine is
short and scraggy while in the ravines 1t grows
tall ana sharply, bnt averages not more than
foot III diameter. Hurricanes have frequently
SWpDt these mountains. DrOStrltlnR the DlnpS Dy
scores fires have ravaged and decimated them ;
stlll, pines on the submits, pines on the hill
sides, pines even in the rnvlnes, are all but uni
Versal. Inc Balsam flr grows sparlngly IN the
ravinesi Hemlock, also, is reported, though
have not seen 1t but the Quaking Asp or Asp
en-which seems but more delicate species OF
Cotton-wood--is thck-set in the rayines, and
sometimes appears on the more moderate ac-
civties. as do gooseberry bushes in the ravines.
Brooks OF the Hirest water murmur and sing
in every ravine; springs abound the air is
singuar,y pure and bracing; the Elk, black
tailed Deer and Mountain-Sheep are plentiful,
except where disturbed by the thrush of emf
grafton Grouse are common and bold; the
solitude was sylvan and perfect until few
weeks ago All is being now rapidly changed,
and not entirely for the better
We had smart shower with thunder and
us to halt few minutes. Another such this
afternoon indicates that it is habit OF the
country. | am told, however, that, though
thunder is common, rain is generally withheld
at tins season, or confined to mere sprinkle
Night fell upon us while yet six or seven
miles from the digsings, and we camped in the
edge of the pines on the brow of gentle ac-
clivity, with prospect of grass as well as wa
ter for the weary, hungry beasts down the slope
south of u.s. Mine had fallen to his knees in
the last water-course we had passed. very near
ly throwing me over her head had she done it,
l am sure had not the strength left to rise
and remount, and hardly to walk the remaining
half mile. As it was had to be lifted tender
ly from my saddle, and laid ON blanket with
two more above me, where lay while the fire
was built, supper prepared, and lodge OF dry
poles and green pine boughs hastily pu: up. l
was too tired to eat, but the bright, leapins
flame from the dry pines heaped on our fire
gradually overcame the shiyering, which was
about the only sign of vitality showed when
first laid down, and at length resumed the
pcrpendicular by an effort, and took my place
IN our booth. where sleep but fitfully visited
me during that bright, short Summer night
But this left me more time to rub my chated
and stlfiened limbs, so that, when breakfast was
called IN the morning was ready, appetite in