The Republican journal., 1901-07-18

along past the north base ana JOINS the
Androscoggin less than mile north.
Two principal thoroughfares followed
the. rivers, and as nearly parallel as
their winding courses would admit.
About six miles westerly from Gorham,
and where the roads reach a point near
the most eastern side of the great
mountains, there was a cross road, or
by way, seldom Travelled, which connect
ed the roads above mentioned. The
Peabody river road was the direct road
from Gorham to Mount Washington.
Among the distinguished visitors to
the mountains in those times was Rev.
Thomas Starr King, then of Boston,
who was accustomed to pass his vaca-
tions here. He was interested in geol-
ogy, and was an ardent admirer of
mountain scenery. At least once each
season he used to travel tine entire
Presidential range, walk of about
twenty-five miles, accomplishing the
journey in one day. His favorite course
was to ascend Mount Madison from the
northeast side, passing over each peak
in succession, and descend from the east
side of Mount Washington. 1t was an
unfrequented way and the trail was but
dimly defined. Considering his physi-
cal condition it was thought by expert
enced mountain climbers to be a won
derful feat. On fine morning selected
by him for the excursion he might have
been seen driving along the Moose river
road and "Gorham highlands at a
lively pace Thence he went over the
cross road to a certain point where a
direct ascent could be begun, and there
| he wOAld dismiss his carriage and I'M
accompanied begin the ascent. The
spot was pointed out to us from high
land nesr by where he entered the for
est belt, leaving the eye Of imagination
to follow him as he clambered through
ravines, wound around crags and scaled
cliffs in his course up, up, toward the
clouds. He doubtless drank deep
draughts from the fountain of inspira-
ton as he communed with the mighty
builder of those majestic piles and
viewed the grandeur of the scene.
The writer was employed IN lumber
ing, and the log camp which constituted
i his home was situated about two and
one-half miles-though it looked like
much less-north of the Presidential
ridge The aspect of the camp and its
surroundings were sufficiently wild to
satisfy the most romantic taste. A
logging road led i'll the direction of the
public road, mile distant, which road
led toward the mountains. Late in
the summer an excursion to the noun
tains was planned by a party of boys,
or young men. The party was to num-
Der five OF six, and the writer was to
make one of the number We were
to follow, literally. as far as practicable,
the footsteps of DR.. King. But be.
fore the time arrived fixed for the eX-
cursion. other affairs claimed the atten-
and the excursion was indefinitely post
poned TO those whose residence in
the place was permanent, no great i'm
portance was attached to any particular
time for such an excursion; but the
writer, fearing an opportunitys favor
able might not again present itself,
felt sense of disappointment A few
days later an excursion was instituted
Oh an independent plan. This time the
route was to be over the "cross road -
along the east side of the mountains to
the junction of the Gorham and Mount
Washington road, thence to the Glen
and to Mount Washington The eX-
cursion party was to number one. and
the time of starting was to be in one of
the small hours of the night so as to
secure ample time for the visit to the
mountain and return. When the plan
became known to those older and more
experienced an effort was made to dis.
suade the eXcursionist, but with little
or no effect Then came the advice.
''Well, young man, yer better go well
armed Or yer likely to be chewed up by
them wild animals" Bears and pan
theirs were then the most offensive.
Probably it was thought to be case of
foolhardiness; and looking back to that
time it occurs to me that it might have
been correct definition, though all is
supposed to be well that ends well. A
little dilemma now confronted me. 1t
wound have been very gratifying to
have been able to have met the approval
of those much respected and experience
ed advisers; but small arms, revolvers,
ETC., were not then as plentiful as at
present, and had strong aversion to
being numbered with heavy arms on
, such an expedition. However, it was
| decided to leave the matter with self
appointed committee of one, whose de-
cision should be accepted The question
relative to arms was tabled, and it was
decided that the would-be mountainee1
should submit as gracefully as possible
to his fate, and hold himself in readi.
ness to start at the earliest and most