The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1879-04-03
HIGH LIFE.
Life at the Highest Signal Station In the
World.

Life at the Highest Signal Station In the
World.
The United States signal station at
Pixies Peak is the highest signal station
in the world; it is also the highest in
habited portion of the globe. 1t was
opened in the month of September, 1878.
That it was wise provision of the gov-
ernment 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 station
is yet to stand at the head of all astrono-
mical 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
mosphere brings out a 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 Washing
ton was the report of Prof. Loud, of Col
orado 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 meteor
illogical observations. To Sergeant
Rufus Choate 1 am greatly indebted for
the particulars embodied in this article.
The summit of Pixies Peak contains
sixty acres, and it is 1886 feet above
the level Of the sea. On the highest
point of the summit stands the signal
station, rough stone building twenty
four by thirty, one story in height. 1t is
divided into four rooms-oficers' room,
kitchen, store-room and wood-room.
And here in this bleak spot, nearly twen-
ty miles from the habitation of man,
though three miles nearer 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 toward the noun
tain top; but there are hundreds of acres
of cold, gray and reddish rocks where not
q vestige of verdure exists.
Like the dwellers of the arctic regions,
the inhabitants of Pixies Peak have but
two seasons-summer and winter. Two
months of summer--August and Septem-
ber-and ten long, cold months of winter.
The summer season passes quickly. The
atmosphere is congenial; the many Wis
itors at the Peak enhance its social life
with joy, wonderment and mirth. Du-
ring the summer of 1878 upward of nine
hundred 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 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 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 arc taken daily; all
storms are closely watched and each
special and distinctive characteristic duly
recorded. Sunrise and sunset demand
close attention. Every peculiarity of the
heavenly regions is viewed and record
made of the same, and monthly reports
of these records are sent to the head
quarters at Washington. The present
year has been unusually prolific in sun
dogs, which are said to prognosticate
earthquakes, subterian and explosions,
immense treshets, and troublous times
A government Office at Pixies Peak is nc
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 accompanying
the storms, but the mountain seems all
on fire. Scrgt. Choate informs me that
when he was out observing one of these
storms it appeared rs though the whole
mountain top was a sheet of electric
fame. 1t came out of every rock and
darted around with wonderful audacity
1t played around him, as he expressed il
shot down his back and darted out ot
each boot toe, and so completely filled
him with electricity that be could moi
retain his foothold, but bounded and re,
bounded from the rock like q rubber
ball; he felt as if a powerful electric bat
terry was pouring fiery darts all through
him; and dceming discretion the better
part of valor,' he bounded into the sigma
station for preservation. Sergt. Choate
was at the Springs in December, and or
December 81 he left for the Peak, wear.
ing Norwegian snow-shoes twelve feet in
length. II was a weary task and dreary
trip. The first night out he slept in the
snow on the mountain side. The second
night the mercury fell to so degrees be,
low zero. He sought shelter in a de.
serted cabin, through which the vino
whistlcd tunes anything but agreeable
here he built small fire, but avoided
sleep, fearing the extreme cold might
produce sleep of death. The third day
he reached the station safely.
The summer months are also occupied
in preparing for the long seige of winter
During the months Of August and Sep
tember upwards of three thousand pounds
of the usual variety of family stores anc
about twenty-five cords of fire wood art
snugly slowed away. These are all car
ried to the Peak in small quantities OF
the backs of the poor despised Burro
whose head has the appearance of being
encased in cloth, and whose ears arr
nearly the length of his legs, and wht
walks at the pace of a snail and yer!
slow snail at that.-C0r. Boston Journal