The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1875-07-16
MISCELLANY.
PIXIES PEAK.
The Famous Signal Station.

haD1tatlOn on tie AueIISah COhb4HShA'
Major Pike took the altitude and record
ed it at Is, ,5S1 feet above sea level, but
it is now ascertained to be only IA, ,366.
1t 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 observations are sent to
almost every enlightened European ma
ton. On the summit is a stone house,
rudely constructed, having l8-inch walls.
and about II 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 and bed
room. 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 i'm
portant in the service, and he has two
assistants. One, strangely enough, IL j.
I. O'Keiffe, a newsboy and bootblack of
New York, who passed the competitive
examination and forced his way by his
superior scholarship into Annapolis, and
was subsequently expelled for hazing
the colored cadet The other is T. 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, and the next day went trudglng
home 10 his dreary station
az have been here" said he in an
swer to my questions, "since last March.
did not open the station. 1t was begun
in August 1873, when the telegraph
wire in Colorado Springs was laid. Its
object was to learn something about up
per 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 thermom-
eter rises the barometer falls; but at this
station as the barometer rises so also
does the thermometer"
"What instruments have yon here?"
ave have the barometer, which gives
the pressure of the atmosphere; the
therm ometer, which marks the tempera-
ture; the hygrometer, which indicates
the humidity of the atmosphere; the
thermometer, with self-registering at
tachment, which marks the velocity Of
A., nj IF xuh ioh
OBS record; and a 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 37o below
zero, and at the same time the wind was
blowing 81 miles an hour. At Mount
Washington, which is less than half as
high as Pixies Peak, the wind is often
loo miles an hour. This shanty," con
tinued he, as ran my eye over the clum
sily-built house, lis really unsafe. |
think 9o-miles wind would unroof it
and blow it 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 a day until last January, but
presume they will be resumed on the Isl
of July"
Continuing my inquiries. | ascertain
ed that this desolate station, which in
the best weather in Summer requires a
day to reach, is wholly cut off from the
world for seven months in the year
Early in November 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 groceries They also KEEP
fresh meat, beef and mutton by buryins
it in the snow Wood at S17 cord i:
also laid in, in bountiful supply. Dar
ing these seven months not a human fac'
do they see. They can neither get dowr
to the living world, nor can the livinI
world get up to them. Half the work
may be drowned and the othe
half burned for aught they know. Coun
tries may change, war may have blotte'
out geographical boundaries. If th
telegraph wire works faithfully, whicI
it does not always in that atm osphere,
scrap of news is occasionally obtained
But at best it is dreary, dead, proftles
thankless life.
'fOne of the most remarkable phen
omena seen on the Peak" said Nj
Brown, in a later conversation, "is tn
electric strom. These storms general
begin with hail, and last from half a
hour to four hours. The whole atmc
sphere is full of electricity. Sheets {
fire are everywhere. Sparks crack
about your clothes and in your haIl
and fill the buffalo robes and the bee
ding The electricity comes throug
the roof, through the windows, and u
from the floor. 1t seems as though ye
are in battery. fyou go out doors
cloud of electricity rests on the who
Peak; il comes from the rocks, Il
ClOuuS dTe lull Vi IL. Inc llBhthl
plays below in fearful intensity. Th
electricity is diffused through the atmo
phere, and is everywhere in the cabi
Ones hair literally stands on end, al
even the furs in the cabin are stiff wi
it. At first one is greatly terrified. b
he gets used to it." "No," continu
he, in answer to a question, "it has
marked effect on person except to gi
him violent palpitation of the heal
1t also, perhaps has a fatiguing efFec
Mr.. Brown informed me also that t
frosts on the Peak are very remarkab
"I have seen the FROST" said he, "mc
than foot deep all over the SUNNI
on windows, doors, rocks, and partiC