New-York daily tribune., 1861-08-26
FROM THE ADIRONDACK.

had become so accustomed TO the sight of young
men going southwark with guns that II was really
new and rather bew6ering sensation to see them
trooping north ward with arms in their hands In
tarkingat Whitehall on the steamer America, wefOuud
on the boat several parties bound for the Adronda or
the Adirondack us some people call this region, or the
woods" or the lakes, the neighboring natives
generally term i. The New-YoIk readers Of The
TRIDrsE of courfe, know where and what the Adiron.
ia; is but fortunately tie raDge OF your journal IL
not confined 10 the Empire City or State many Of your
constituents may need precise definition Of the
term.
Briefly, then The AdiGoRdac, in general sense is
wild mountain region in the north of New.York, of
about 100 mies in diameter, and covering an area
greater than the whole of Massachusetts, and nearly as
large as Vermont or New-Hampshirs, or New-Jerey,
or Maryland Locally, however, the term is confined
TO Fart of this region The northern portion is called
the Chateaugay Woods; the dittrct south Of that the
St. Regis Woods; south OF the ST. Regis lie the
Saranac Lakes and Racket Lake, while to the east
ward extend the Adirondacs proper, below which, 10
the south and souh-west are the Lake Pleasant region
and John Browns Tract. The latter district received
its name, not from John Brown of Osawatamie, but
from another John Brown, Of whom, knowing nothing,
/ can tell you nothing, except that he ded and was
buried long ago. ard doubtless would have been long
ago forgotten bat for the injection Of his name with
q portion of the great wilderness John Brown of
immortal memory the hero and martyr OF JiarTers
Ferry had however his home in this region, OF North
Elba, among the Adirondacs, about ten miles from
Martins where am now writing. And there, in the
shadow of the mounains is bis burialpaee, of which
the Massact usetis soldiers sing in Virginia:
Il" Nav H.evon's ravs ,hine Kindly down
lyon the grave Of Old John Brown"
The Adirondae region, again using the term in It's
widest seuse is IN elevated plateau, rising l,500 or
2COO feet above the sea level and crossed by mountain
ranges several OF whose peaks rise more than 5000
feet above the level of the plateau, moro than 5000
above the sea, which in this latitude is not much be-
low the limit Of perpetual snow. Tahawue, the high
est of these attlns elevation of 54OO feet White
face Mountain and cluster of peaks called Mount
Seward are bat little inferior TO Tahawus "the Cloud
Splitter" as the Indian said 10 signify An in
tricae syeem OF lakes and rivers the valleys Of
this plateau, Of which one group, the Saranac
Lakes and river, empty into Lake Champlan,
wLile Racket Lake RACKET River, Long Lake,
and Big and Little TuppeI's Lake flow into
the St.. Lawrence, while yet another group
rours is waters into the Of the Hudson River.
These countless lakes aAd streams abound with lake
tout and brook trout and the forests Topuous with
deer while occasionally moose bear is met witin
the recessee of tire mountains. Among the birds
eagles paridges ducks and looms. The scenery is at
once sublime and lovely; the finest combination Of
mountain lakes, rivers and forests that perhaps
be found in the world A few settlements and clear
ngs have been made tho edges Of this wilderness
but tie vast interior IL unbrOken and desoaie as it
was in the days Of Columbus aud Hendrix Hudeon,
except that in Summer the camp fires of visitors from
the low lands chiefly from Boston and New-York, may
be seen at frequent intery ais along It's lake and river
banks. For many years past it has been fayore re-
sort of sporsBen in pursuit. Of game, and Of inysids
seeking for health amid its cool airs ard pure waters
and aromatic woods.
II was in search Of health rather than Of sport that
in company with q boy Of ~ years, WEE proceed
ing 10 the Saranac lakes by way of Whitehall and
Chanplain TIE steamer reached Burlington at p.
m, on Thursday, and in the course Of another hour
we had snded at Port Kent on the opposite side Of
the lle where stage coach wss awaiting arrival
10 carry us 10 the large town OF Keeseve about Eve
miles in the interior. On the way we parsed tie Falls
Of the AusaLle, end had glimpse Of the wonderful
ehasus through which tie river runs which are sad
to be one If the gandest natural curosities in tho
Stste. We spent the night at TaggardS Adiiondsc
Hotel in Keesevie, large snd well.kept house, and
at next morning started for Na tins on Lake Sara
nae the usual place Of Quilt for those who wish psn
citrate the I" Woods"
Two parties-one OF two young gentlemen brothers,
and the other Of three gentlemen, ao brOtbers and
ell Of them from the City Of Now York, SHARED with
us the three geats Of Martins wagon. This vehicle
was drawn by two horses driven by young
man whom everybody called Charley" which
.s all that to this day know Of his rame. We
rolled along at rate that averaged hys miles
On hour considerably exceeding that, Of course.
wien going down hill, and falling far short Of
it when going up AS We attained 10 the course OF tho
day. an elevation Of at least onethird Of mile above
tIe.water it will be obvious that much Of the time
was consumed in the slow process of ascenron, which
is prove,bally harder than going down. The traveller
who ascends from Cbamplain to the Sannac IN a
heavily laden wagon, road which time and wear
have converted from smooth plank into rough coIdd-
roy, 10 well qualified 10 appreciate the force Of tho
opening line Of Beattie's Minstrel:
40, who oan tsl Low hard lei to climb"
Ny backbone, which wss lately inspected BY spir-
itual elairvoyaDt and pronounced 70 be remarkably
strong and stiff ached constantly with tho joing 1t re-
ceved before the day ended and we were all night
glad sunset brought us In sight Of Martins and tho
cleaning waters Of the 3srassc. But IN spite OF the
fatigue The ride was Of tfan3cendent interest. For tie
ereatos part Of the way tho road through region
bearing all tue marks Of recent reclamation from the
wilderness The stumIs, glastly and black with fire,
still 'tand in the fields aud Of the houses are log
cabins whose occupants rather scattered bsryesti rol
the patches between the eh&rred remains Of the trees
The virgin soil, however yields ain told, good crops,
and everything but the corn looks aourisLing This