EXPLORATIONS AMONG THE WHITE MOUNTAINS. 83 



mountain, generally in consequence of neglecting the advice of guides. 

 The first was an English baronet, named Strickland. He went up from 

 the notch late in October, 185 1. Disregarding the advice of his guide, 

 he pushed on to the summit, proposing to descend by Fabyan's path. 

 He seems to have become bewildered, and, after falling down precipitous 

 places several times, to have perished from cold and exhaustion, probably 

 in less than twelve hours after he started. 



On the 24th of September, 1855, Miss Lizzie Bourne, of Kennebunk, 

 Me., perished within thirty rods of the summit. With an uncle and cousin 

 she climbed the mountain on foot ; but after reaching the Half-way house 

 the clear sky disappeared ; they became enveloped in a thick cloud, and 

 strong winds met them in front. Not knowing their nearness to the 

 summit, they were compelled to shelter themselves behind a few rough 

 stones ; and Miss Bourne was not strong enough to survive the shock. 

 A pyramid of stones close to the railroad marks the spot. 



August 7th, 1856, Benjamin Chandler, of Wilmington, Del., started 

 from the Glen house for the summit late in the afternoon. It was rainy, 

 windy, and very cold. He was about seventy-five years of age. He 

 seems to have wandered from the path, but no one knows how long he 

 survived. His remains were not found for more than a year, when they 

 were accidentally discovered about half a mile east of the summit. 



The most terrible exposure which any person has survived upon Mt. 

 Washington was that of Dr. B. L. Ball, of Boston, late in October, 1855. 

 This gentleman walked from the Glen house to the Half-way house, 

 while workmen were engaged in building the carriage-road. The moun- 

 tain was covered with clouds, and, after climbing some distance above 

 the "ledge," he returned to the camp and spent the night with the 

 laborers. The next morning the clouds seemed about breaking, and he 

 started with the intention of reaching the summit if possible. The rain 

 was changed to sleet and snow, and the temperature fell very much. 

 Though very uncomfortable, Dr. Ball believed himself to be near the 

 summit, and struggled on, understanding that he could find provisions 

 and shelter in one of the houses there. He describes the storm as fol- 

 lows: "I could not have believed that the storm could be more violent 

 than it had been. Yet here it was more furious than ever. It now had 

 the full sweep of the mountain top, the highest point of the whole group. 



