News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1883-02-01
THE MUSTER FIELD HERO.
A STORY OF THE EARLY DAYS OF NEW
ENGLAND.
.[From the Youths Companion.I

physically and mentally, that L 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 whom the
famous Crawford House at the ''Notch"
is named-was born at GUildhal, VT, III
tbs year 1892. While he was still a 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-
portioned and muscular.
He early gained the-name of 1.-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
Gus.
In the early times saleratus, for cor
recting the acidity of bread, was obtained
from potash made by boiling down the
I've of wood and ashes in large iron
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, a 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 III
talk ON the part of the others, Ethan cut
the matter short by suddenly raising the
kettle off the ground, placing it over his
head and walking through the river with
it, much as if it had beena bushel basket
In 1919, Ethan cut the first path
through the dense spruce and fir woods
to the summit of Mt Washington. At
that date there was ten or twelve visitors
a year; but the news that there was a
path to the summit soon increased the
number. Some shelter being needed at
the summit, Ethan built a ''tip-top"
house of stones, where were kept blankets
and a supply of food. In this rude struc-
tTe he set up a sheet of lead whereon
visitors could cut their names.
In July, 1920, the distinguished party
which named the presidential Range
CMts. Washington, Adams, Jefferson and
Madison) made their famous ascent
under Ethan's guidance. They passed a
night at Ethan's tip-top house, and had
a fine time and it Is related that one of
the number, a very stout man, Ethan
was obliged to carry down from the
mountain on his back.
The first party of ladies assembled Mt.
Washington in the summer of 1921.
They wer1 accompanied by gentlemen,
and had Ethan for their guide.
Scarcely had they, after much fatigue,
arrived at the stone cabin, when storm
burst upon them, which confined them
within the hut for three days. But,
though short of provisions, they wealth
cred the tempest, and were repaid by a
magnificent view from the summit when
the storm had passed.
From this time forward ladies Occa-
sionallv assembled the mountains and
one, a young lady named Lizzie Bourne.
persisted almost within call of the Tip
top House. And on another occasion,
Ethan was obliged to bring home on his
broad shoulders a young lady who had
sprsaned her ankle while courageousIy
tOiling toward the summit
How different the case of these early
climbers from that of the thousands who
are now annually carried to the summit,
sitting comfortably III the cars of the
mountain railroad!
But these W e merely Ethan's sum
mer recreatiOns. In winter he hunted
and embarked in various numbering Oper-
ations for the support of his young fam
lily and aged parents. This whole
region then aboundcd in game-deer,
moose, bears, panthers and lynxes.
1t Is related that one day, as Ethan
was coming up the road through the
Notch from the Wiley House-this was
before the time of the ''great slide" in
1826-the barking of his dog drew his
attention to a large birch tree, where, far
up among the branches, he caught sight
of large lynx glazing down upon him.
Although he had no gun, he determined
to capture the animal, and he at once be
gan to climb the tree.
Seeing its enemy coming up through
the foliage, the creature began to growl
and hiss, and to work its claws, which
were fully an inch in length.
Nothing daunted, however, Ethan cut
a branch, from which he twisted
withe. Fixing a sHp-noose at one end of
the withe, he thrust it mp, and when the
animal turned partially to look down at
the dog at the foot Of the tree, he sue
ceeded in getting the moose over its
head.
Then with one jerk ne flung the crea-
ture to the ground, where the dog in
stantly set upon it and terrible strug-
gle began. It would have Jared i'll with
the dog if Ethan had not come promptly
to his assistance with club.
1t was said that the skin of that lynx,
when stretched on the barn door to dry,
measured six feet in length.
1t was Ethan's ambition to keep
small menagerie of wild animals, such
animals as were common in the noun
tains, for the amusement of his summer
visitors.
In the fall of the year 1859 he caught
a goOd-sized and very handsome black
bear in trap, and after a lively tussIc
succeeded in tying up the animals mouth
with withe Then, having also fastened
a strong withe about its neck, he under
took to lead it home, a distance of three
or four miles through thick woods.
Not relishing the halter, Bruin would
grasp the small trees with both paws
and hold on, roaring as loudly as he
could for his -muftled jaws. Ethan would !
Jerk him loose, but the bear would lay |
hold of another tree; and thus the strug-
gle was kept up.
At last, getting out of patience, the
giant seized the animal and shouldered