The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1901-07-25

deep ravine or stream OF water dash
ing down from some high point. There
was vast body of ever-present broken
rock, varying in size from one to thous-
ands of tons; then big crag would APP.
pear some ways in advance, apparently
almost overhead and seeming to bar
the way The inexperienced would sup
pose that to be the summit, but when
that point had been reached, similar
| object would rise before the view, to be
repeated until at length the brow of the
| mountain was reached. The first scene
that met the eye was plateau and be-
yond it, and at the western limit of the
mountain, distant about fourth of a
mile, was the summit, an elevation hun
dred or more feet above the plateau,
and on which stood the Summit and
Tip Top house. Preparations were at
once made for the conditions of cold
climate, and in the journey up the
mountain all clothing not indespensi.
BILE was classed as luggage At this
| point, all available garments were
quickly donned. The path across the
plateau was not as distinctly marked
as at some other points, the hard rock
showing little impression of the foot
steps of the many thousands who each
season mad passed over it. The plateau
viewed from little distance appeared
| to be quite smooth on the surface, but
in passing over it, outside the path it
was found full of footballs and crevices.
Close by the path at the right heap
of rocks surmounted by block of white
quartz, marked the sad ending of an eX-
cursion. A year or two previous a
small party, consisting of Judge Bourne,
! wife and daughter and two or three
! friends, made the ascent of the mountain
one fine day and had nearly reached the
border of the plateau when, as is fire.
| quently the case, a dense cloud began
| to envelop the mountain. They We're
making their way along the path as
| rapidly as possible-it was then about
three o'clock p, m.-when they became
bewildered. Ordinarily the houses
could be distinctly seen from that point.
| Fearing to move in any direction they
remained on the spot until early morn
ing. The daughter, a frail young lady,
| unable to withstand the chilling mist
of the mountain. died before dawn.
The Summit House was the first to
be reached. The Tip Top house is sit
uated a few yards farther on and few
/ feet higher, on the very pinnacle of
the mountain. Both were long. low
structures. the walls constructed of the
rough mountain rock, with roofs of
sheathing lumber. The Summit
House roof was sharp while that of
| the Tip Top was formed like the deck
of a vessel Both roofs were anchored
by bars of iron across the roofs and
made fast in the solid rock below. The
| lumber used in the construction of the
| houses was carried to the top of the
mountain by horses. 1t was dashed to
the sides of two horses, and they moved
| up the mountain, one before the other.
| The day Of which this is written the
| houses had been closed for the season,
and conspicuous notices were posted
warning Would-be trespassers of the
penalty under the statute of the State
of New Hampshire The all-present
orn ha al, nf
and animal life-not even a bird was to
be seen-produced profound sense of
solitude
The mornings walk had cultivated an
ample appetite and the hospitality
offered by the lee side of the Tip Top
house was accepted, as the most COM
Portable and convenient in which to par
take of the lunch brought from away
| down yOnder." From a crag a little
| distance east of the house grand view
was obtained of the Glen House, almost
directly below. Although one of the
largest mountain houses, from that
standpoint it seemed mere toy.
NJ dLltupG w III Dt lIldut Ill llllS CIlttt
sketch to describe the grandeur of the
general view, or the various objects of
interest in detail One of the many
distant interesting views was the con-
tinuation of the mountains at the
South, presenting the appearance of the
sea when thrown into huge waves by
the wind The writer was much inter-
ested in looking down upon a fleecy
cloud which hung at the west side of
the mountain and far below the summit.
Over it could be seen the country be-
yond. Hasty pencil sketches of the
Tip Top and Summit houses were
taken to be preserved as much priced
mementos of the visit. Those Struc
lures have long since given place to
more substantial buildings. Standing
on the roof of the Tip Top house the
event and dates were noted, but not
necessarily as a reminder, for the occa-
sion was sufficiently impressive to be
wildly retained in memory. If one
wish could have been gratified the visit
to Mount WASHINGTON wOuld have hpen