The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1879-03-27
Pixies Peak Signal Station.

The United States Signal Station at
Pixies Peak is the highest signal sta
ton in the world it is also the highest
inhabited portion of the globe. It was
opened in the month of September, 1878.
That it was wise provision Of the Gov
eminent in establishing signal station
at this point is no longer questioned, the
facts having already demonstrated its
practicability, and the present success
promises that Pixies Peak Signal Sta
ton is yet to stand at the head of all
astronomical and meteorological sta
tons in the world. This point is Won
derfully favored by nature for the study
of astronomy and meteorology. The
rarity of the atmosphere brings out a
remarkable brilliancy 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 re-
port of the last total eclipse of the sun
received at Washington was the report Of
Prof. Loud, of Colorado College, from
observations taken at Pixies Peak.
The Signal Static n 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-
neurological observations. To Sergeant
Rufus Choate l am greatly indebted for
the particulars embodied in this article.
The summit of Pixies Peak contains
sixty acres. 1t is Il, 1856 feet above the
level of the sea. On the highest point
of the summit stands the Signal Station,
a rough stone building "a by 80, one
story in height. 1t is divided into four
rooms-officers' room, kitchen, store
room and wood-room. And here in this
bleak spot, nearly twenty miles from
the habitations of man, though three
miles nearer the heavenly region 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 vcgeta-
ton ceases. Short grass tufted with
delicate Alpine flowers struggle for an
existence against the frigidity of the at
mosphere and creep towards the noun
tain top; but there are hundreds of
cold gray and reddish rocks where not
vestige of verdure exists.
Like the jewellers of the Arctic regions
the inhabitants of Pixies Peak have but
two seasons-summer and winter. Two
months of summer-August and Sep.
TENDER and ten long, cold months of
winter. The summer. season passes
quickly. The atmosphere is congenial i
the many visitors at the Peak enhance
its social life with joy, wonderment and
mirth. During the summer of 1873 up
wards of 900 people, in parties of from
five to thirty, visited the Peak, among
them many ladies. They registered
from the four quarters of the globe, and
they all expressed admiration and aston
ishment at the grandeur and sublimityI
of the wonderful views as seen from the
Peak. To behold sunrise from tie
Peak is an event of lifetime, and for
this 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, valleys
and plains, to the wonder and delight 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 characteristic du-
ly recorded. Sunrise and sunset de-
mand close attention. Every peculiari-
ty of the heavenly regions is viewed and
record made of the same, and month
ly reports of these records are sent to
headquarters at Washington. The pres
ent year has been unusually prolific in
sun-dogs, which are said to prognosti-
cate earthquakes, subterranean explo-
sions, immense freshets and troublous
times. A Government office at Pixies
Peak is no sinecure, for the officer must
buffet all storms and brave all weathers.
Occasionally an electric storm visits the
Peak. There is but little thunder &C.
companying these storms, but the
mountain seems on fire. Sergeant
Choate informs me that when he was out
observing one of these storms it appear
ed as though the whole mountain-top
was a sheet of electric flame. 1t came
out of every rock and darted around
with wonderful audacity. 1t played
around him, and ,as he expressed il, shot
down his back and darted out of each
boot-toe, and so completely filled him
with electricity that he could not retain
his foothold, but bounded and rebound
ed from the rock like rubber ball; he
felt as though a powerful electric
battery was pouring fiery darts
all through him, and deeming
discretion the better part OF valor, !"
he bounded into the Signal Station for
preservation. Sergeant Choate was at
the Springs in December, and on De-
cember Fl he left for the Peak, wearing
Norwegian snow shoes twelve feet in
length. 1t was weary task and a
dreary trip. The first nightout he slept
II, Tho