NEW HAMPSHIRE. [69 



paths of immense length, where they had washed the precipices naked and white from the sum- 

 mit of the mountain to the base. 



Wide and deep chasms also at imes met the eye, both on the summits and the sides, and 

 strongly impressed the imagination with the thought, that a hand of immeasurable power had rent 

 asunder the solid rocks, and tumbled them into the subjacent valley. Over all, hoary cliffs, 

 rising with proud supremacy, frowned awfully on the world below, and finished the landscape. 

 By our side, the Saco was alternately visible and lost, and increased almost at every step by 

 the junction of tributary streams. Its course was a perpetual cascade, and, with its sprightly 

 murmurs, furnished the only contrast to the majestic scenery around us." 



The Notch of the White Mountains will long be remembered for the tragical fate of a whole 

 family, who were swept away by a slide^ or avalanche of earth from the side of the mountain, on 

 the night of the 28th of August, 1826. This family, by the name of Willey, occupied what 

 was called the Notch House, in a very narrow interval between the bases of the two mountains 

 No knowledge of any accident from the mountain in former times, existed to create any appre- 

 hension of danger in tlieir situation. Their dwelling stood alone, many miles from the residence 

 of any human being, and there was an aspect of rural neatness, simplicity, and content, in their 

 manners and life, that strongly interested the traveler whom chance or curiosity led into their 

 neighborhood. For two seasons previous, the mountains had been very dry, and on the 28th 

 of June, there was a slide not far from the house, which so far alarmed them, that they erected 

 a temporary encampment a short distance from their dwelling, as a place of refuge. 



On the morning of August 28th, it began raining very hard, with a strong and tempestuous 

 wind. The storm continued through that day and night, but it appears the family retired to rest 

 without the least apprehension of any disaster. Among them were five beautiful children, from 

 two to twelve years of age. At midnight, the clouds, which had gathered about the mountain, 

 seemed to burst instantaneously, and pour their contents down in one tremendous flood of rain. 

 The soil, which had been previously soaked through, was suddenly loosened by the flood, and 

 the trees pushed and wrung by fierce winds, acted as levers in breaking up the earth. The ava- 

 lanche began upon the mountain-top, immediately above the house, and moved down the 

 mountain in a direct line toward it, in a sweeping torrent, which seemed like a river pouring 

 from the clouds, full of trees, earth, and rocks. On reaching the house, it divided in a singular 

 manner within six feet of it, and ])assed on either side, sweeping away the stable and horses, 

 and completely surrounding the dwelling. The night was dark and frightfully tempestuous. 

 The family, it appears, sprang from their beds, and fled naked into the open air, where they 

 were instantly carried away by the torrent, and overwhelmed. The shde took everything with 

 it, forest, earth, and stones, down to the solid rock of the mountain. In the morning, a most 

 frightful scene of desolation was exhibited. All the bridges over the streams were gone. The 

 road was torn away to the depth of 15 or 20 feet, or covered with immense heaps of earth, 

 rocks and trees. 



In the Notch, and along the deep defile below it for a mile and a half, the steep sides of the 

 mountain had slidden down into this narrow passage, and formed a complete mass of fragments. 

 The barn was crushed, and under its ruins were two dead horses, but the house was uninjured. 

 The beds appeared to have been just quitted ; their coverings were turned down, and the 

 clothes of the several members of the family, lay upon the chairs and floor. The little green 

 in front of the house was undisturbed, and a flock of sheep remained there in quiet, though the 

 torrent forming a curve on both sides, had swept completely round them, and united below, 

 covering the meadows and orchard with ruins. The bodies of seven of the family were dug 

 out of the drift wood, and mountain ruins, on the banks of the Saco. 



An ancient tradition prevailed among the savages of this region, that a deluge once drowned 

 the whole country, and destroyed every human being, except a single powow and his wife, who 

 saved themselves on the top of these mountains, and preserved their race from extermination. 

 From this occurrence the Indians regarded the mountains as the habitation of superior beings, 

 who manifested their power by the furious tempests which often occurred there. Under the 

 influence of this superstitious awe, they never dared to ascend the highest peaks, holding the 

 attempt sacrilegious ; but, in wandering over the rugged sides and among the savage defiles of 

 this mysterious region, they imagined they beheld supernatural sights ; and many extravagant 

 tales to this effect were current among them. They fancied, also, that they saw carbuncles at 

 an immense height among the peaks, which, in the darkness of the night, shone with the most 

 dazzling brilliancy. These mountains were visited as early as 1642, by Neal, Jocelyn, and 



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