Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1879-03-19
PIXIES PEAK.
The Hiehest Inhabited Land in the
World-..The Signal Station---An Elec-
trio Storm.

world-.-rhs signal station--.An Ele,
trio Storm.
| Correspondence Of the Boston Journal.
The United States signal station a
Pixies Peak is the highest signal station
in the world; it is also the highest in
habited portion Of the globe. 1t Va
opened in the month of September, 1873
That it was a wise provision of the gov
ernment in establishing signal station
at this point is no longer questioned, tn,
facts having already demonstrated it
practicability, and the present success
promises that Pixies Peak signal station
Is yet 10 stand at the head Of all astron
omical and meteorological stations In the
world. This point is wonderfully favor
ed by nature for the study of astronomy
and meteorology. The rarity of the at.
moephere brings out remarkable bril-.
liancy and clearness to the stars and all
the heavenly bodies. The nights are
most always cloudless and cloudy days
are the exception. Nine-tenths of the
storms are below the peak. The best
and most complete report of the last
total eclipse of the sun received at Wash
ington was the report of Prof. Loud, Of
Colorado College, from observations
taken at Pixies Peak.
The signal station is now under the
charge of Sergeants Choate, Blake and
Sweeney. These officers are detailed
from the army because of their peculiar
adaptability and special qualifications
for the accurate execution of the nice
duties Of taking astronomical and me-
teorological observations. To Sergeant
Rufus Choate 1 am greatly indebted for
the particulars embodied in this article.
The summit of Pixies Peak contains
sixty acres. It is IA, 1886 feet above the
level of the sea. On the highest point
of the summit stands the signal Office,
a rough stone building, "a by 80, one
story in height. 1t is divided into four
room, kitchen, store
room and wood room. And here in this
bleak spot, nearly twenty miles from the
habitation of man. though three miles
nsarer the heavenly regions than most
parts of New England, these men live
the larger part of the year. The station
is three miles from the timber line,
where the greater part of vegetation
ceases. Short grass tufted with delicate
Alpine flowers struggle for an existence
against the frigidity of the atmosphere
and creep towards the mountain top; but
there are hundreds of acres of cold gray
and reddish rocks where not vestige Of
verdure exists
Like the dwellers of the Arctic re-
gions the inhabitants of Pixies Peak
have but two seasons-summer and win
ter. Two months of summel-August
and September-and ten long, cold
months of winter. The summer season
passed quickly. The atmosphere is con-
genial; the many visitors at the peak
embrace its social life with Joy, wonder
ment and mirth. During the summer OF
1873 upwards of 900 people, in parties
of from five to thirty, visited the peak,
among them many ladies. They reg
istered from the four quarters of the
globe and they all expressed admiration
and astonishment at the grandeur and
sublimity of the wonderful views as seen
from the peak. To behold a sunrise
from the peak is an event of a lifetime,
and for the purpose visitors often remain
over night at the station to be ready to
catch the first glimpse Of the sun as it
appears above the horizon, gliding with
its bright rays the mountains, hills, val
leys and plains, to the wonder and de-
light of the amazed behOlder.
The duties of the officers are various.
Seven observations are taken daily; all
storms are closely watched and each
special and distinctive harscteristic
duty recorded. Sunrise and sunset de-
mand close attention. Every popularity
of the heavenly regions is viewed and a
record made of the same, and monthly
reports of these records are sent to head
quarters at Washington. The present
year has been unusually prolific in sun
dogs, which are said to prognosticate
earthq quakes, subterranean explosions,
immense ireshets and troublous timeA A
government office at Pixies Peak is no
sinecure, for the officer must buffet all
storms and brave all weathers. Occa-
sionally an electric storm visits the
peak. There is but little thunder &C.
companying these storms, but the noun
tain seems all on fire. Sergeant Choate
informs me that when he was out oh.
serving one of these storms it appeared
a. though the whole mountain top was
sheet of electric flame. 1t came out
of every rock and darted around with
wonderful audacity. 1t played around
him, and % he expressed it shot
down his back and darted out
of each boot toe, 20 completely filled
him with electricity that he could not
retain his foothold, but bounded and
rebounded from the rock like rubber
ball he felt a. though powerful cleo.
trio battery was pouring fiery darts al
through him, and deeming discretion
the better part of valor," he bounded
into the signal station fer preservation
Sergeant Choate was at the springs IN
December, and ON December 21st he left
for the peak wearing Norwegian snow.
shoes twelve feet in length. II was q
weary task and . dreary trip. The frs
night ont he slept in the snow on thu
mountains side. The second night thu
mercury fell to 2O0 below zero. HI
sought shelter in deserted cabin
through which the wind whistled tune
anything but agreeable; here he built ,
small FIRE, avoided sleep, fearing the ex
treme cold might produce the sleep o
death. The third day he reached th'
station safely.
| The summer months are also occupies
in preparing for the long siege Of winter
1 During the months Of August and Sep
tember upwards of 5000 pounds of th,
usual variety of family stores and ab0u
25 cords of frewood are snugly stowes
| away. These are all carried to the Peal
in small quantities on the backs Of tn
poor, despised Burro, whose head has tht
appearance Of being encssed in cloth ane
whose ears are nearly the length OF hi
legs, and who walks at the pace OF
snail, and . very slow snsil ut that.
Concerning Last Wills and Tssta,
ments.
The shortest will upon record has jus
been proved in IN English court OF pro
bate. The document reads literally
J" Mrs. - il to have all when ! die.
There can Be NO mistaking the testat0ri
intention, nor - to tho c0ntingenc,
which must occur ere the deed can b
| sdministAred and applied. and hence any