EXPLORATIONS AMONG THE WHITE MOUNTAINS. 99 



mencecl early in September, and he did not go upon the mountain till 

 late in December, remaining behind after the occupation of the summit 

 to complete what he conceived to be his part of the work below. 



It became evident that the pubhc were slowly gaining confidence in 

 the success of our enterprise, and therefore we began to purchase our 

 supplies. Mr. Huntington made out the list, that the needed articles 

 might be at the lower mountain depot early in October, understanding 

 that the trains could not transport freight for the expedition before that 

 time. On the 19th of September, however, information accidentally came 

 to the state geologist, at Bethlehem, that the mountain trains would stop 

 running on the following day, as the track was to be taken up immediately 

 for repairs; and that no orders had been given by the officers of the 

 company to afford the expedition any facilities, either of transportation 

 or the use of the summit depot. To add to these difficulties, the supplies 

 had not all been purchased. It was uncertain whether sufficient funds 

 could be obtained ; and no arrangement had then been made for the use of 

 a telegraph cable. Under these unpromising circumstances, the party at 

 Bethlehem, with the exception of the state geologist, came unanimously 

 to the conclusion that the difficulties in the way were insurmountable, and 

 that the expedition must be abandoned for the next winter. But he said 

 that the supplies should all go up the mountain, even if he turned team- 

 ster himself, and, with a single horse, transported them up the carriage- 

 road, — Mr. Huntington having expressed a willingness to remain upon the 

 summit all winter, even without telegraphic communication with the 

 world below. The next day, therefore, one of the party went to the 

 railroad station to say that orders were coming from head-quarters to 

 grant the needed facilities, as they must have been delayed by some mis- 

 understanding. Another went to Littleton to borrow a few tons of coal, 

 that the most essential article to comfort might be sure to reach the 

 railroad in season for transportation to the summit. Prof. Hitchcock, at 

 the same time, went to Boston, and obtained from the officers of the 

 company the necessary permission to use their summit depot during the 

 winter, and immediately transmitted it to the employes. The railway 

 company generously gave the use of the depot, and transported the sup- 

 plies over their line to the summit without charge, regretting that they 

 could not have known earlier of our purpose, so that the house might 



