• LANDSLIPS. 245 



On the subject of landslips, there is valuable information supplied by Mr 

 Marsh, in his treatise on The Earth as Modified by Human Action. He 

 says, — " Earth, or rather mountain slides, compared to which the catas- 

 trophe that buried the Willey family in New Hampshire was but a pinch 

 of dust, have often occurred in the Swiss, Italian, and French Alps. The 



commencea, is exhibited ts the view of the traveller, on the mountain opposite to Lafayette, 

 ike Projlle or the Old Man of the Mountain, a singular lusus natures, and a remarkable 

 curiosity. It is situated on the brow of the peak or precipice, which rises almost perpendicu- 

 larly from the surface of a small lake, directly in front, to the height (as estimated) of nroml600 

 to 1000 feet. The front of this precipice is formed of solid rock, but as viewed from the point 

 where the profile is seen, the whole of it appears to be covered with trees and vegetation, 

 except about space enough for a side view of the Old Man's bust. All the principal features 

 of the human face, as seen in a profile, are formed with suprising exactness. The little lake at 

 the bottom of the precipice is about half-a-mile in length, and is one of the sources of the 

 Pemigewassat river. Half-a-mile to the north of this there is another lake, surrounded with 

 romantic scenery, nearly a mile in length, and more than half-a-mile in breadth. This is one 

 of the sources of the southern branch of the Ammonoosuck, which flows into the Connecticut, 

 These lakes are both situated in the Notch, very near the road, and near to the point where 

 the steep ascent of Mount Lafayette commences. The northern lake is 900 feet above the site 

 of the Franconian iron works, and the highest point in the road through the Notch is 1028 feet 

 above the same level. Other curiosities in this vicinity are the Bam and the Pulpit. 



" A pertion of the Gap, including the Notch in the White Mountains, which is the most sub- 

 lime and interesting, is about 5 or 6 miles in length. ^It is composed of a double barrier of 

 mountains, rising very abruptly from both sides of the wild roaring river Saco, which fre- 

 quently washes the feet of both barriers. Sometimes there is not room for a single carriage 

 to pass between the stream and the mountains, and the road is cut into the mountain itself. 

 This double barrier rises on each side to the height of nearly half-a-mile in perpendicular 

 altitude, and is capped here and there by proud castelated turrets, standing high above the 

 continued ridges. These are not straight, but are formed into numerous zig-zag turns, which 

 frequently cut off the view and seem to imprison the traveller in the vast gloomy gulf. The 

 sides of the mountains are deeply furrowed and scarred by the tremendous effects of the 

 memorable deluge and avalanches of 1826, No tradition existed of any slide in former times, 

 and such as are now observed to have formerly happened, had been completely veiled by forest 

 growth and shrubs. At length, on the 2Sth of June, two months before t\^& fatal avalanche, 

 there was one not far from the Willey house, which so far alarmed the family, that they erected 

 an encampment a little distance from their dwelling, intending it as a place of refuge. On the 

 fatal night, it was impenetrably dark and frightfully tempestuous ; the lonely family had 

 retired to rest, in their humble dwelling, six miles from the nearest human creature. The 

 avalanches descended in every part of the gulf, for a distance of two miles ; and a very heavy 

 one began on the mountain top, immediately above the house, and descended in a direct line 

 towards it ; the sweeping torrent, a river from the clouds, and a river full of trees, earth, 

 stones, and rocks, rushed to the house aud marvellously divided within six feet of it, and just 

 behind it, and passed on either side, sweeping away the stable and horses, and completely 

 encircling the dwelling, but leaving it untouched. At this time, probably towards midnight, 

 (as the state of the beds and apparel, &c., shewed that they had retired to rest,) the family 

 issued from the house and were swept away by the torrent. 



" Search, for two or three days, was made in vain for the bodies, when they were at length 

 found- They were evidently floated along by the torrent and covered by the drift wood, A 

 pole, with a board nailed across it, like a guide post, now indicates the spot where the bodies 

 were found. Had the family remained in the house they would have been entirely safe. 

 Even the little green in front and east of the house was undisturbed, and a flock of sheep (a 

 part of the possession of the family) remained on this small spot of ground, and were found 

 there the next morning in safety — although the torrent dividing just above the house, and 

 forming a curve on both sides, had swept completely around them, again united below, and 

 covered the meadows and orchard with ruins, which remains there to this day. Nine persons 

 were destroyed by this catastrophe, and the story of their virtues and their fate is often told 

 to the traveller by the scattered population of these mountain valleys, in a style of simple 

 pathos aud minuteness of detail, which has all the interest of truth and incident of romance 

 in its recital. 



'■ The number of visitors to the White Mountains has been considerably increased, on 

 account of the interest excited by these avalanches. The most sublime views of them, 

 (several of which are nearly tqual to the memorable one which swept away the unfortunate 

 Willey family), may be seen all along for several miles, in passing through the Notch. They 

 are also observed from various points in the country around, extending down the sides of many 

 of the elevated mountains, and the astonishing tffects of this extraordinary inundation are 

 also witnessed in the gieat enlargement of the chariiiels of the streams which rise in these 

 clusters of mountains. This is the fact especially with regard to the channel of the principal 

 branch ot the Ammonoosuck, which rises near the summit of Mount Washington." 



