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

~ NNHNaHoNN ~ 80 "hoHC' ~ y 1oN1
ton, "it has no marked effect on person
except to give him violent palpitatiOn of
the heart. II also, perhaps, has fatiguing
effect"
Mr.. Brown informed me also that the
frosts on the Peak are very remarkable.
II have seen the frost, said he, "more
than foot deep all over the summit, on
windows, doors, rocks, and particularly on
metals. 1t has sometimes elogged the
thermometer and stopped its working l
have seen the frost covering the telegraph
wire more than eight inches deep, and in
long stretches it frequently breaks the
wire and stops communication" | ques-
toned Brown as to his predecessor, his
own experience in reaching his post in
March, and various other personal matters.
1t appears that his predecessor, named
Phedorius, now in the main Office at
Washington, was good deal Of hero.
He was fond Of rolling big rocks from the
summit down into what are termed the
"Crater" and the ''Bottomless Pit, and
he kept crowbar for that purpose. Every
day he took hisexercise in this way. One
very cold day Phedorius was engaged in
his usual recreation. His crowbar was
under huge rock, and he was trying to
raise it with all his might Suddenly his
lever slipped, the rock remained firm, but
the scientific Hungarian went whirling
into the crater. How many thousands Of
feet he fell he does not know, he never
knew. He picked himself up down in
the cavern, and the first thing he did was
to throw away his crowbar. He had no
further use for that. He was lame and
bruised frightfully. But he had to send
his observations to Washington at o o'clock
that night, and he could not take them
from the bottom Of cavern. So he col
lected his scattered senses and hobbled of.
How he got out, Brown does not know;
but the records of the Office show that
Phedorius himself sent the 0 o'clock re-
port to Washington. He froze his foot,
and is yet cripple, understand, but he
no longer has fancy for rolling stones.
Brown was himself four days in reach
ing the Peak from Colorado Springs
How he ever got there is mystery TO
himself. The snow had drifted frightfully;
there was no sign Of the trail to be found;
even the telegraph poles were drifted
under. The thermometer was 13' below
zero, and the wind was blowing at the rate Of
40 miles aud better There was blind
ing snow.storm; he could not use snow.
shoes in climbing the mountains, and he
broke through the crust at almost every
step; he could not see, his provisions were
inadequate, and when at last on the fourth
day he reached the cabin he was nearer
dead than alive.
Brown is only 25 years old, and as he
related his experiences in his quiet, modest
way, could not help contrasting his hap
less lot in the mountains, away from
friends and human kind amid eternal snow,
with that Of "Old Probabilities" in Wash
ington, who sits in his carpeted Office
receiving reports from such men as Brown,
who serve their country at s1O0 month,
and eat raw pork and hard tack the year
round. But am on the top of Pixies
Peak. There was little left to amuse us
here, and we were all glad when the descent
began. We reached the lake on our
return in good time, and arrived at Colo
RADIO Springs in the early evening. The
descent was comparatively easy, but it was
enough. l yet wonder which were the
most fatigued at night, the horses or the
riders.