The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1875-07-31

away, were mountains ana mountains
There were plains no doubt, but they were
SO far away that they could not be distin-
guished, for the mountains seemed to close
them out, and the smoke and. fog stood
between The view from the Peak is a
disappointment; first, because of the wind
and cold which prevents a clear and de-
libente view; secondly, because nothing
can be seen 10 any direction but the tops
Of mountains. The guide said we could
see Nebraska, Kansas, Wyoming, New
Mexico, Utah, and | don't know how many
other States and Territories "With u
glass" said he, "on clear day, | can
trace the course Of the Arkansas for 200
miles" and he pointed in the direction,
but if he could have traced it 1000 miles,
/ doubt if any Of our party would have
been interested.
On Pixies Peak there is tho highest
habitation on the American continent.
Major Pike took the altitude and recorded
it at 1881 feet above sea level, but it is
now ascertained to be only IA, 1906. It is
not generally known that on its summit is
established an army signal station. 1t is
the highest point for scientific observation
in the world, and records Of the obserya-
tions are sent to almost every enlightened
European nation. On the summit is a
stone house, rudely constructed, having
lS inch walls, and about IL feet high.
This is divided off into an Office, which is
used as a sleeping-room also, and kitchen,
which also answers for dining-room aud
bedroom. A rude shed is attached where
are stored provisions, wood, etc. J. v.
Brown, Observing Sergeant, is in charge
Of the station, which Is the most import
ant in the service, and he has two assist
ants, One, strangely enough, is J. T.
O'Keiffe, newsboy and bootblack of New
York who passed the competitive examina-
tion aud forced his way by his superior
scholarship into Annapolis, and was sub.
sequently expelled for hazing the colored
cadet The other is 7, b. Bowlus Of
Cleveland, very capable and experienced
man. Mr.. Brown was our guide, and not
content with showing us to the summit, he
took US back to our lodgings, aud the next
day went trudging home to his dreary
station.
al have been here, said he in answer
to my questions, "sinoc last March. | did
not open the station. II was begun in
August, 1873, when the telegraph wire to
Colorado Springs was laid. Its object was
to learn something about upper currents
of the atmosphere. Little was known
except from experience in balloons. There
is much that is singular about this station, .
said he, continuing. "For instance, at
sea level it is well known that as the
barometer rises the thermometer falls; and
as the thermometer rises the barometer
falls; but at this station as the barometer
rises so also does the thermometer"
What instruments have you here ?"
ave have the barometer, which gives
the pressure Of the atmosphere the ther-
mometer, which marks the temperature
the hygrometer, which indicates the hu-
midity of the atmosphere; the anemome-
ter, with selfregistering attachment, which
marks the velocity Of the wind, of which
we keep continuous record and rain
gauge, which marks the fall of rain and
snow"
What is the lowest temperature ever
observed here ?"
"At one time, | do not remember the
date, the thermometer showed 80 below
zero, aud at the same time the wind was
blowing 92 miles an hour. At Mount
Washington, which is less than half as
high as Pixies Peak, the wind is often 100
miles an hour. This shanty," continued
he, as ran my eye over the clumsily-
built house, sis really unsafe. | think a
80 mile wind would unroof IL and blow il
down. The contractor did not keep to
his specifications"
DO you send daily reports Of your
observations to Washington"
Not now, because the appropriation is
exhausted. They were sent three times
day until last January, but presume
they will be resumed on the lst of July"
Continuing my inquiries, | ascertained
that this desolate station, which in the
best weather in Summer requires day to
reach, is wholly cut of from the world for
seven months in the year. Early in No
vember the three men house themselves.
They lay in provisions to last them until
April or May; salt pork, corned beef,
canned vegetables, lard, -four, and gro.
ceries. They also keep fresh meat, beef,
and mutton by burying it in the snow.
Wood ut sl7 cord Is also laid in, in
bountiful supply. During these seven
months not human face do they see.
They can neither get down to the living
world, nor can the living world get up to
them. Half the world may be drowned
aud the other half burned for aught they
know. Countries may change, war may
have blotted out geographical boundaries.
If the telegraph wire works faithfully,
which it does not always in that atmos-
phere, a scrap Of news is occasionally OBJ
tanned. But at best it is a dreary, dead,
proftless, thankless life.
One of the most remarkable phenoln-
ena seen on the Peak y said Mr. Rroun