Connecticut western news., 1883-01-17
THE MUSTER FIELD HERO.
STORY OF THE EARLY DAYS OF NEW
 ENGLAND,
From the Youths Companion. l

From the Youths Companion.l
 The pioneer guide and explorer of the White Mountains, more particularly Mt. Washington, was so remarkable man, physically and mentally, that think the readers of the Companion will be inter- ested in hearing of some of the exploits and feats of strength which he is said to have performed.
 Ethan Allen Crawford-after whom the famous Crawford House at the sENotch'' is named-was born at Guildhan, Vt, in ths year 1792. While he was still mere lad, his father, Abel Crawford, removed to the White Mountains and settled in the Notch.
 Here, amid the rough experiences of pioneer life, the boy grew up to man. hood, and it was, indeed, an upward growth, for at the age of twenty-one he stood over seven feet high in his stock ings-and was,. withal, very finely pro- porhoned and muscular. He early gained the name of ''the White Mountain giant, and the old stage drivers and guides tell to tourists of the present day instances of his strength and endurance which border on the marvel ous.
 In the early times saleratus, for cor recting the acidity of bread, was obtained from potash made by boiling down the lxyc ,f kettles. The kettles were ponderous affairs, weighing from four to six hundred pounds each.
 One day, Ethan, in company with two or three other settlers, was taking one of these large kettles to new boiling place across Amonoosuc River, few miles above the Notch-now called the Craw- ford Notch. The stream was at that point barely fordable, and no ready means of getting their heavy kettle over it occurred to any of the party.
 After some minutes had been lost in talk on the part of the others, Ethan cut the matter short by suddenly raising the kettle of the ground, placing it over his head and walking through the river with it, much as if it had been bushel basket.
 In 1919, Ethan cut the first path through the dense spruce and fir woods to the summit of Mt. Washington. Ali that date there was ten or twelve visitors 8 year; but the news that there was g path to the summit soon increased the number. Some shelter being needed al the summit, Ethan built sstip-top' house of stones, where were kept blankets and supply of food. In this rude struc ture he set up sheet of lead whereor visitors could cut their names.
 In July, 1920, the distinguished part, which named the Presidential Range (Mts. Washington, Adams, Jefferson anf Madison) made their famous ascen under Ethan's guidance. They passed . night at Ethan's tip-top house, and hac a fine time; and it is related that one O the number, very stout man, Etha1 was obliged to carry down from tn, mountain on his back.
 The first party of ladies ascended Mt Washington in the summer of 1921 They were accompanied by gentlemen and had Ethan for their guide.
 Scarcely had they, after much fatigue arrived at the stone cabin, when storn burst upon them, which confined then within the hut for three days. But though short of provisions, they weath cred the tempest, and were repaid by magnificent view from the summit whel the storm had passed.
 From this time forward ladies occa slonally aseended the mountains ant one, young lady named Lizzie Bourne perlshed almost within call of the Tip top House. And on another occasion Ethan was obliged to bring home on hi broad shoulders young lady who ha, sprained her ankle while courageousl toiling toward the summit.
 How different the case of these earl climbers from that of the thousands wh are now annually carried to the summit sitting comfortably in the cars of tn mountain railroadl
 But these were merely Ethan's sum mer recreations. In winter he hunte and embarked in various numbering opel ations for the support of his young fam fly and aged parents. This whol region then abounded in game-deel moose, bears, partners and lynxes.
 It is related that one day, as Etha was coming up the road through tn Notch from the Wiley House-this wa before the time of the ''great slide i 1826-the barking of his dog drew hi attention to a large birch tree, where, fa up among the branches, he caught sigh of a large lynx glaring down upon hin Although he had no gun, he determine to capture the animal, and he at once be gan to climb the tree.
 Seeing its enemy coming up throug the foliage, the creature began to grow and hiss, and to work its claws, whic were fully an inch in length.
 Nothing daunted, however, Ethan GU branch, from which he twisted vifhe. Fixing slip-noose at one end {