The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1876-11-16
Graphic Description OF Pixies Peak.

10 take more dcnnlte OBSERVATIONS an
bearings. The peak has the honor of bt
ing called the Dome of the Mort
American Continent" and we think tn
term is well bestowed. 1t is included il
the divide" its western slopes sendin,
their waters into the Pacific, its eastern
into the Atlantic Ocean. The Colorado
peaks are nearly in the center of tn,
Rocky Mountain range of North Amer
lea, and Gray's Peak is central among
the Colorado group. 1t is surrounded
by a gOodly company; fourteen noun
tains upward of fourteen thousand fee
in height, and fifteen over thirteen thou
sand feet, can be easily counted by the
tourist who reaches its summit. It's own
altitude is ii, ,450 feet. The extent ol
mountain ranges which it commands we
are sure will make every one who visits
Colorado desperate to reach the summit.
Looking southwad, the eye will first
take in the snowy mountain range sur
rounding Middle Park, over which Gray s
Peak stands as the southeast sentinel. In
these same mighty labyrinths and forti-
fcatiOns of granite also stand Longs
Peak, IA, 252 feet in height, and fifty
miles distant from Gray's; also James
Peak, twenty miles distant, and 10000
feet in height; likewise Mount Lincoln,
IA, 1913 feet in altitude and fifty miles dis.
tant, and little to the west one of the
most remarkable mountains in the worl d
the Mount of the Holy Cross. 1t is in
the Sawatchi range, is 14,l76 feet in
height, and distant from the point we
now occupy but sixty miles. 1t is well
to bear in mind, while thinking of these
distances, that they seem in this rarified
and transparent atmosphere less than
half as far as they would upon the sea.
board in the clearest weather. This
Mountain of the Holy Cross, therefore,
seems at no great distance, and one is
easily deceived into the thought that he
could walk the distance in few hours.
The Hayden party, however, were sew
eral days in merely finding their way to
its base, its ascent, subsequently, being
made with the greatest difficulty. This
is the only mountain in the world bearing
this consecrated name. Upon nearly
vertical face of dark gray rock is we'll
nigh perfect cross of pure, white snow.
1t is OF such remarkable size, and so per-
feet and definite are its outlines, that
there is no difficulty in recognizing it at
the distance of hundred miles. The
snow fills an upright fssure so feet in
breadth and 1900 feet in length; the
horizontal arm of the cross is of the same
breadth, and in midsummer is about 700
feet in length. 1t is estimated that the
snow in these two immense assures is
from so to 100 feet in depth 80 that the
season through there stands that majes-
tic cross, 1900 by 700 feet. There are
eyes that fill with tears while looking
upon it. Some tourists shout out their
wonder, while others are filled with ST.
lent admiration. Your correspondent
is Catholic enough to cross forehead and
breast at this sight, so suggestive and
magnificent.
Passing the southern boundary of Mid
die Park, the eye will trace the outlines
of South Park, which is thought by some,
by its delightful climate and magnificent
scenery, to exceed in attractiveness all
others, 1t is sixty by thirty miles in
area, and, like Middle Park, is bounded
on all sides by gigantic mountains, whose
peaks stand far above the line of eternal
frost and snow. Pixies Peak, II, ,2l8 feet
high and eighty miles distant, is visible.
Also the Continental divide, the Sawatch
extending west of it. Still further south,
one hundred and fifty miles distant, the
beautiful Spanish Peaks, upward of
1000 feet in height, are clear to the eye.
Elk. Governor Evans assured us that this
southern outlook commands peaks at a
distance of upward of 250 miles.
Such is the view from Gray's Peak in
that direction. Now look west for a
moment. Just above the peak already
described is the inviting snow range /;
Wasatch Mountains of Utah, and at few
points the far distant Sierra Nevada
range. Here again a view of upward of
250 miles of mountain ranges westward
will reward the effort expended in reach
ing Gray's Peak; northward the extent
of mountain ranges is about the same.
The divide between North and Middle
Park are the first mountains seen. Longs
Peak, standing at an angle of the east
and south walls of North Park, is prom
inent. In this lat mentioned park fish
and game are far more abundant than
either in Middle or South Parks. 1t is
the place for adventure; it has never yet
been fully explored; there is no difficulty
in finding within its boundaries plenty
of wolves and antelopes. Always in
the distance stretches the Rocky Noun
tain range, which forms the western
boundary of this park, and the Medicine
Bow range, which forms an extension oi
its eastern boundary. Not far from two
hundred and fifty miles, therefor, the
eye ranges northward; and eastward
just beyond Denver, the vast plains rise
up until they reach the level of the eye,
Now, when we take into our estimate
the number of lofty peaks in this imme.
diate neighborhood, also the variety Of
the scenery, lakes green as those of Gene
va, blue as that of Lucerne, and Others
which are perpetually frozen: parks
which the world elsewhere can hardly
approach, forests never yet explored by
the white man; the magnificent exten
and vast sweep of view in every direction
lonely. lovely, terrible, and full of in
describable majesty-we feel like asking
to be forgiven for visiting Europe, anC
going into rapture over its scenery, be
fore standing on your summit, oh, dome
of the grandest continent God has made
A Rare Relic.
Mr.. David PulsiIer, in the Office of the
Massachusetts, Secretary of State, has il
his possession we'll preserved, but very
ancient Hebrew roll, known to be a
least more than one thousand years old
1t contains the four books of Moses
written upon soft, brown skin about
ninety feet long and two feet wide. The
pages of the roll are seven by twenty
four inches, and contain forty two lines
The characters are large and jet black
age having had no apparent wearing
effect upon them. There are no coloreC
embellishments, but the letters are Orna
mented with fine line projections.
ATTENTION, application, accuracy
method, punctuality, and dispatch, ar,
the principal qualities required for tn,
efficient conduct of business of any sort
These at first sight, may appear to b
small matters; and yet they are of essen
tial Importance to human happiness
we'll being and usefulness Thew mr.