The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-08-19
ON THE HEIGHTS
The Thrilling Experience OF
a Public Singer in Com
pany with j. Wilkes
Booth.
Betrayed by a Treacherous
Friend and Abandoned
on "Rattlesnake
Peak"

The heroine, lady OF unblemished
characer, of high social standing, and
not unknown to the literary and musical
world, told me the story. l will relate
it in her own words rs nearly MS l am
able:
"My life" she SAID, although it has
been an eventful one in the main, has not
been marked by any real adventurous
episodes, excepting one memorable occa-
sion, which gave rise to an adventure IN
deed. For all the spice Of romance OF
which it ssvored it was anything but
pleasant in its Immediate realization. and
the u.ore remote consequences came near
being fatal to my life, and tor long
time robbed me of health and happiness.
1T was in the summer of lS6-. My
cousin, whom / will call Sylvia De
Vlamming, and myself, weary with
everything and everybody in New York,
planned TO 90 to the White Mountains in
company, thinking we were fully able to
take care of ourselves and that we should
extract more real benefit and genuine en-
joyment from the trip than were we ac-
companied by party of friends OF both
sexes. We did the White Hills after the
most approved manner, and from Con-
WAY went TO Keene to make a flying Wis
IT, and from thence TO the little village ot
Fitzwilism, in the southern part OF New
Hampshire, intending to make the ascent
of Monnt Monadnoc-a Jaunt that mad
been recommended 10 mo by friend, a
member of the United States Coast Sur
yey, who had been stationed there short
time the previous summer.
"The day after our arrival at Fitswil-
liam, Sylvia was laid low with one OF her
exssperating headaches, which al
WAYS incspscitated her from exertion OF
any kind for q day or two. The same
day party was made up at the hotel 70
ascend the mountain, and l revolved TO
accompany it. We had arranged, Sylvia
and |. 10 BIO in New York in three days,
and Nigh, mover have another oppor-
tunity to make this exploit. 1t WAS a
pleasant company OF dozen or more OF
ladies and gentlemen, trsnsients at the
little hotel like my cousin and myself,
with the exception Of our guide.
AT tho last moment before starting we
were joined by two gentlemen from
Fi.chburg, Massachusetts, who came IN
their own carriage. After arriving Al
the Halfway House - at that time hard
ly more than an unfinished shanty-
which was rs far Ms the carriage road up
the mountains led, and our horses had
been left at the stables, We continued the
ascent on foot The group naturally
n
along. and one Of the two new corners,
who had been introduced Ia me IS Mr..
Wilkes, of Charleston, 5. c. and who
struck me then as the hsndsomest man
without single exception ! ever saw,
constituted himself my escort, helping
me up the rugged, rocky path, over which
in those days-it may be better now-no
lady could make her way unassiseed.
.Whe We reached summit and were
looking up acc, ssible and comfortable
places wherein TO rest aud enjoyable pan
Drama spread out below us, as we'll Ms
tempting lunch with which we were pro-
vided our guide pointed out the spot on
a high rock where rattlesnake had been
killed a week before. Which character
| istic irnpulsivepess l exclaimed over the
picturesqeness Of the situation, and chai-
icnyed = Mr.. Horton, Mr.. Wilkes CON-
panion, a isppcr little fellow with
hooked nose and a chin whlsker, tc
whom had taken a dislike from the inst
TO scale the rock with me. / had detect,
ed indications of fear lining his hsbby
lace when the word 'rattiesnake' wa:
spoken, and well knew he would decline
nv challenge, l was also mischievous
enough to be curious enough 70 know
what excuse he would make. The gaidt
explained that there was tortuous path
though we'll defined ose, that made th'
ascent comparatively easy, but he did no
consider it safe, for where there was ont
of those npleasant customers found ther'
were generally lurking more around Mr.
Horton was unable 70 frame any ingeniu
excuse, as l expected, and bis dec'inat,of
to accompany me amounted 10 a pom
blank refusal.
Mr.. Wilkes, Ill endeavoring 70 eoncea