The Republican journal., 1901-07-18
THE ASCENT OF MT. WASHINGTON.

Boston who, on Dec. 80, 1900, made the
perilous ascent of Mount Washington
for the purpose of photographing from
the summit the last setting sun of the
century, and who for nearly two days
was lost to his two companions, who
feared that he had persisted in the storm
that overlook him; also the adventures
of two gentlemen who later in the win
ter assembled that mountain for scien-
tifc purposes, and an instance of more
recent occurrence recall wildly to mind
a visit once made to Mount Washing
ton under more favorable conditions.
The writer, having passed the greater
part of a year-1s59-6O, the time ex-
tending from April, 80 to Feb, Coin
the immediate vicinity of the Presi-
den tial range, had the pleasure of
not ing the grand and varying scenery
as it appeared in the different seasons.
As the mind drifts back over the tide
of years to those care-free days of
youth, eye crags and peaks, I'm with
you once again"
In describing those scenes one natur-
ally wishes for possession of the COM
bined skill and power of the painter
and poet However, this crude sketch
will be confined chiefly to scenes, condi-
tons and affairs as witnessed by boy
at that time. In consulting a special
map of the White Mountain district
considerable knowledge of the topog-
raphy of that region may be gained.
Prior to the opening of the Grand
Trunk, i'll 1850, the only public convey
ance available to tourists was the stage
coach, and Conway. n. H., was one Of
the principal starting points for the
White Mountains. The Grand Trunk
made Gorham the nearest available
point to Mount Washington, distant
eight miles; while the Portland and
Ogdensburg railroad in more recent
years has given additional facilities
for direct visits to the mountains. AT
the time referred to the valleys and
ravines throughout that wild and pic
turesQue region that were not occupied
by the small scattered communities of
settlers. were covered with q dense
forest, as were also the mountain sides
as far up as vegetation found support,
and the forests were inhabited by vari-
Gus wild animals. 1t was said of the
temporary residents, or visitors. who
happened to possess timidity or sensi-
coming from the various wild animals
would often cause an unpleasant thrill:
while to the enthusiastic admirer of the
wild and romantic surroundings it was
music each note possessing peculiar
charm The crags and peaks were the
natural home Of the eagle. His scream
was a familiar sound, and in his flight
he was a familiar object.
AStTangers were sometimes misled in
r6ga rd to the location and names of the
mountains. An amusing instance was
witnessed on the veranda of the AL
pine House, Gorham Station, one fine
day i'll winter. a party of ladies and
gentlemen had just arrived on the train
from Montreal. A gentleman of the
party very tiuently pointed out some of
the near by important mountains. Civ
ing their names as Mounts Washington,
Mad ison, etc. They viewed the scene
with enthusiastic interest. supposing
they We're peaks belonging to the Presi-
dental range, when in fact the latter
We're not within view from that point.
but were in another direction and hid
den by a near by lesser mountain In
summer it was not unusual when a rain
storm occurred, especially if cold one,
TO see a snow storm in progress on the
mountains. Then, and for day or two
after, the mountains presented a truly
Wlnter-lke appearance. Usually the
peaks of the highest mountains were
above the clouds Those who happened
to be at the top of Mount Washington
in time of thunder storm have de-
Scribed it as a scene of grandeur. The
dark, rolling clouds below were lighted
up by flashes of lightning, and the
thunder rolled, crashed and reverberat-
ed among the crags and ravines.
There are many interesting legends
connected with the mountains and their
surroundings, and traditions concerning
the Indians, just before they were
superseded by the white men. Even
as late as the time of which this is writ
ten implements and weapons used by
the Indians were occasionally unearth-
ed. An aged man told the writer of a
little event that occurred in his boy
hood, soon after the beginning of the
last century In later years it would
have excited little or no interest, but to
the then scattered and isolated inhabi-
tants on the eastern side of the great
mountains it was quite an epoch.
Strangers were seldom seen, and visits
to the mountains, except by hunters,
were almost unknown. Late one sum-
mer day two gentlemen appeared clad
in white. They had come overland
from the State of New York and had