The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1869-08-17

oLEs HOUSE, WHITE MOUNTAINS,
August I, 1s6o,

GLEs HOUSE,, WHITE MOUNTAINS,
August 4, 1s0o,
EDITOR OF REPUBLICAN, A genuine old
stage ride Of twenty seven miles,
with every ono coutending for an outside
scat, over q billy road, commanding occa.
slonal stretches ofmost charming perspective,
with the rofrcshing murmur Of the swiftly
flowing Ammonoosuc coming up to greet us
from the rocks and ovcrhanging trees be-
side our way, brought US, near evening. close
Of yesterday, to the Crawford House, stu
ated at the very gateway Of the Notch, which
nature has left as a highway through this
mountain range, and near the foot Of Mount
Washington Itself. We did not fall, as soon
as we had refreshed ourselves at the well
garnlshed tables Of "mine host, TO ascend
Mount Hard, from whose summit Is afforded
one Of the finest panoramic prospects that
can be gained from any spot within the
whole forty miles square which comprises
the mountain region of the State. Looking
down the Notch, formed by Mount Webster
with Its ecetling and shaggy brow on the
len and the green but treachcrous sides of
Mount Wiley on the right, road seems to
wind Its way like white satin ribbon through
the dark yerdurc Of the pass. At distance
OF about three miles we sec the Wiley House,
with the huge rock few rods behind 1t,
against which the great land slide, which
descended like an avalanche on the memoir
able night Of August 2s, 1869, split In two
andleft the house unframed, while the whole
Wiley family, consisting Of nine persons,
who had fed from Its protecting roof to what
they supposed would prove safer place Of
refuge, were overtakcn and buried In its
overwhelming mass OF earth and woods and
waters. In the dim distance are seen the
submits OF Chocorua and Its associates,
which keep watch and ward near the borders
of Lake wlnucpiscogee, yelled In thin,
blue haze that lends them a modest beauty,
which they do not always wear.
Yesterday we set apart for the ascent Of
Mount Washington, and at early dawn many
were the coujectures whether the day would
be favorable for view from the summit, and
Notwithstanding n shower before sunrise a
large party started OF on horseback, with
the assurance from their proprietor that
the guide predicted good day, and an aside
assurance to me that the guide Arrays did
so, and II he should do otherwise he would
be sure to lose his place.
We decided to make the ascent over the
railroad, which has been In operation about
month, with no further accident than a
broken axle, which compelled the passcn-
gers to alight and scramble down mile or
so Of harder travelling than that for which
Jordan has become celebrated In negro min
strelsy; nothing more serious. A ride OF
nine miles brought us to the lower terminus
Of the railroad, and no inconsiderable diver
sion was derived from an inspection of the
track and apparatus by which the ingenuity
Of man has made the ascent Of preclpitous
mountain side as easy as trip from Wash
ington to Bladensburg, on the Washington
branch OF the Baltimore and Ohio railroad.
The engine looks like an iron Caliban, with
Its small body and Its huge head directed
toward the ascent, bent down, as II every
muscle was strained to the utmost tension
for the task before Il. The car, built after
the old pattern used on ordinary railroads,
but lighter, and without glass In the win.
dows, as that would present too large sur
face TO the fierce winds which usually pre-
vail In the upper regions for which Il Is
bound, IL In front Of the engine, without
any coupling between them, as II Is pro-
PEELED not by pull hut by push. The
seats are hung on swivels, so as to maintain
a horizontal position no matter how steep
the grade. The track Is laid on very heavy
wooden sleepers, aud In addition to the or.
binary rails there Is a rail in the centre OF
track, with cross pieces some four inches
apart, Into which cog-wheel under the
| centre OF the locomotive, provided with q
ratchet, plays to give 1t q sufficient hold OIL
purchase to enable 1t to perform its hercu-
lean labor.
The little monster Is geared up to two
hundred horsepower, aud pulls aud grunt-
enough for fully that number OF stceds. The
track commences a long way up from the
base OF the mountain, Is three miles long
and In that distance asccnds 5000 feet, tn,
grade In many places being equal to one fool
In three, as will be readily appreciated by
the passenger who attempts to walk from
one end Of the car to the other, or even to
stand still without good hold upon somI
fHPs ne engine il" Goes In front, backing dow,
like crab, but all its steam power lies dor
mant. The force OF gravity Is overcome BY
an ingenious application Of compressed air Ii
plstons, which constitutes alr-brakes, WORKED
and tended by brakesmen stationed on tn
engine and at the end Of the car. There ar
three or more separate brakes, SO that II on
should fail or get out Of order the others ma,
hold the precious freight securely suspended
on the steep mountain slope. However SAT
this mode OF ascent may DO Ii certainly 1
frightful to look down the steep grade bchint
and ahead OF us aud then of TO one side
where deep gulf Of more than thousand
feet yawns below, along the rocky edge o
which our traiu Is passing. But tho grandeu
and beauty OF the view, when stronl
breath from the borean lungs Of these higher
regions Is pulled into the valleys around US
and the clouds which have been resting
therein as II Graded Ia perfect reposc are
scattered In an instant, aud then chase each
| other as IL Ia bolsterous sport up mountain.
sides and down deep rayines until all Is left
as clear as sunlight ever makes a hay field,
| and then In moment the whole prospect Is
again shut from view by the rallying mists
repays one for all risks and drives away al
thought OF peril.
Our car contained about sixty passen gers
and We were two hours In making the thre
| mi If all tEnu nl rityits Ia,
summit we were enshrouded In dense clouds
and the wind blew 80 freshly that 1t was
difficult task TO maintain our footing on thu
plled-up bouldcrs which cap the mountain
In the Tip Top house great fires were blazing
which were most grateful to the dampene
and almost benumbed crowd that nocke
, around them. This house consists of stone
! piled up to the height of one story and the
, rooted over, the roof being securely hel
down by massive rods and chains.
Here we waited three or four hours In tn
vain hope that the clouds would liz and al
ford us at least one glance upon the worl
around and below, and then took our seat
To descend to the Glen House on the othc
side by the carriage road. Feeling our way
we descended the steep and circuitous road
and when we had gone about two miles th
light OF day broke upon us most Joyfully ,an
we beheld all things beneath us clad in clea
sunshine.
It was as inspiriting as though We ha
been incarccrated long days In prison G
clouds, and eXclamatlons of surprise an
gladness broke forth from every tongue. o
+ the side Of Mt. Madison, at no great dstanC
. from us, we saw deep, white snow-bank
' some acres In extent, an incongruous col
! comltant Of a bright midsummer day. Eigl
Q miles along this winding carragc-way brin!
) US to this famed hotel, In beautiful glen
Peabody river, which, n short distance belo
c flows Into the AndroscOggin, the iuterva
along whose picturesque valley have formt
I the subject Of many painters study au
skill. The Glen House Is $50 feet lonl
three stories high and contains $40 room
1t commands so magnificent n view, and II
Interior arrangements, especially the wei
spread tables OF Its dlning-room, present
r such strong attractions that will lay dow
my pen and not prosecute my Investigation
further In that direction. VIAToR.
: The Division OF Mexico.
], The attempt going on In Mexico for Il
division OF the country aud the formation
Il new Northwestern Confedorlcy Is meetin
with considerable favor. The rcasol
0 which arc urged IN favor of the moveme