The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-09-17

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yG, WEST VA, MOND
thing for change, and We welcomed the
privilege OF walking over these rocks IN
preference to climbing mountains, and we
went into camp quite reconclled 10 under
take the journey to the glaciers laid outline
next day.
Next DAY came, but It was misty and
foggy, and the SKY was dull and gray. No
sunshine and no view Of the great noun
tain in the distance. We however sat out
on our four mile journey up the canyon
for the lower end OF the glaciers. We
would walk few hundred yards over the
boulders and then the river would cut US
OF, and we would be forced t. take to the
woods along the base OF the mountain, and
mighty close hugging along the ledges we
did on two or three occasions. We were
five hours making the four miles: The
ascent became very pronounced in the last
mile and the bouldeIs larger and more OBJ
structive. We passed up 10 tho left Of the
lower lobe OF the glacier and kept right on
towards the principal lobe, both looking
like separate glaciers. The air grew very
cool, rs indeed we had found it as soon as
We descended to the canyon the day be-
fore. We were perspiring freely from our
exertions in climbing over the rocks, and
| il We sat. down even Tor y momeRt 70 rest
we began to feel chilly. The temperature
seemed TO be asout 550 to co., according as
We were protected at any point from the
drait Of the great chasm.
NATURAL WONDERS.
The view Of the waterfalls at immense
heights on either side OF US, as they leaped
over successive ledges, and Of the tiny riy-
ulets that in other places coursed their way
over walls OF basalt like silver threads ex.
cited our constant interest. The rock for.
nations in places were really wonderful.
At eDe time it would seem as ii the noun
tain side on our right was supported on
piles Of huge logs, SO close was the reaem-
blsnce oftnefrontage to huge logs, Of great
length, closely wedged together. Above
these again were white basalt columns OF q
similar pile-like appearance, which at first
We took 10 be ice, but which close in
speetion through a field glass showed TO be
most singular rock formation. As the
travelled and cultivated Mr.. WinBer oh.
served, they were huted like the pillars Of
Fingal's Cave.
At last we gained the EXTREMIST upward
limit OF the canyon and stood facG to face
with the great buttress OF the glacier. Out
Of scoop or tunnel where il touched the
rock issued the rushing, foam!ng aud
tunbliDg waters OF the north fork OF the
PuyAllup river. The mouth OF the scoop,
as well as the ice buttreRs Gi tlieglaeier, re.
sembled not little The hilly spur and tun.
mel Of the HImpield road Just east OF your
city. Over the mouth il seemed to be
about 90 feet thick, aud the ice was OF q
dirty earthern color in consequence OF the
constant passage OF moraine or detrition
from the mountain heights, which is car
ried forward by the slowly moving masses
OF lsnow and ice aud gradually melted loose
from it by the summer sun. The danger
in approaching the scoop is the occasional
falling OF these stones as they come
slidiRR over the top Of the glacier How
ever, all Of our party wanted to look in the
tunnel, and they all took the risk Of the
stOnea. The face Of tue glacier, owing to
the great pressure OF ice, is hera and there
aSsured in longitudinal openings or crypIs,
into some of which two persons can walk
abreast. You can see the light blue char
acter OF the ice in these lissures, resembling
deliCately blued China ware. This ice has
probably been there for many years, US the
melting OF the snow fields supplies to the
tissues far III The rear Of tile tunnel the
water that forms the river. Indeed, it is
not known that the glaciers eyer show any
diminution in bulk from age to ago.,
IN sLiFPERY PLACES.
After we bad satisfied the first stages ot
our curiosity in regard 10 the glaciers aud
their surroundings, we proceeded to build
n fire in order to keep warm while we were
resting and also to boil our coffee. Our
guide remarked that this no doubt was
the first coffee ever made at the North Forks
glacier. After lunch, so inspiring was the
coffee, two Of our party undertook 10 go
glacier from whenpe they hoped to scsle it.
They got half way up and there they we're
stuck, and how 10 get back was the problem
that yexed them and excited US Tho
watched them from be.ow. Happily ous
Of the two adYontprers Yss our guide and
he had taken rope up with him. phis
be tied TO Mr.. Hitchcock and
held him as he groprd his way
back over the most dangerous
places. Meanwhile our cook, boy named
Frank hedinston, had passed up the dciile
between the glacier and the rocks and in
less than an hour had scaled the level oi
the glaciers, and stood there waving his
hat 10 ps and locking like pigmy in siss
We.could neither hear his voice nor he ours,
so great was the distance. We greatly
feared for tue safety Of his descent, but he
is a nimblo fellow aud came down like q
wild chamoia OF the mountains over the
ROCKS and beyond some laceration OF his
hands received no injury.
Here will close MY narrative OF our eE.
cursion to the great Tacoma mountains
Long as Is my letter have omitted many
incidents aud scenes that might interest
come Of yopr readers, particularly those Of
our camp life. we slept under q canopy
Of pine branches, with moss for our mat
trasses, and rolled up in our blankets, with
blrzing log heap at our feet, we were oh:
livious through the watches OF the night OF
the cougars that circled within few hun.
dred feet OF US. A.w.C.
The OId story.
New YoRE, September l6.-George A.
uoIa On ,,aaru old yip;IinV Nau, Hnvea ra.