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

HIGH LIFE,
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
habitcd portion of the globe. 1t was
opened in the month of September, 1873.
That ii was o wise provision of the gov
crnment 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 Mt the head of all astrono-
mical and meteorological stations in the
world. This point is wonderfully favor
cd by lure for the study of astronomy
and meteorology. The rarity of the at
mosphcrc brings out n remarkable bril-
lIancy and clearness to the stars and all
the heavenly bodies. The nights are
most always cloud1ess and cloudy davs
are the exception. Nine -tcnths 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
Tor the accurate execution of the nice
duties of taking astronomical and meteor
illogical observations. To Sergeant
Rufus Choate l am greatly indebted for
the particulars embodied in this article.
The summit of Pixies Peak contains
sixty acres, and it is 1896 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-officers' 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 Eng I'D.
these men live the larger part of the
year. The station is three mics 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
tam top; but there are hundreds Of acres
of cold, gray and reddish rocks where not
vestige o. 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 congcnial the many vis-
ltors 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 astonshment
at the grandeur and sublimity of the
wonderful! views as seen from the Peal.
10 behold sunrise from the Peak is an
event of n lifetime, and for this purpose
visitors often remain over night at the
station to be ready to catch the first
glimpse of the sun rs it appears above
the horizon. gliding with its bright rays
the mountains, hills, valleys and plains,
to the wonder and delight of the amazed
bcholder.
The duties Of the officers are various
Seven observations arc taken daily; all
storms are closely watched and each
special and distinctive characteristic du,y
recorded. Sunrise and sunset demand
close attention. Every peculiarity of the
hca"en!y 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 trcshets, and troublous times
A government Office at Pixies Peak is nc
sinecure, for the officer must buffet al
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 al
on fire. Sergt. Choate informs me thai
when he was out observing one of the
storms it appeared as though the Who'll,
mountain top was q sheet of clectri,
flame. 1t came out OF every rock ant
darted around with wonderful audacity
1t played around him, as he expressed i
shot down his back and darted out o
each boot toe, and so completely filled
him with electricity that he could no
retain his foothold, but bounded and re
bounded from the rock like rubbc
ball; he felt rs if powerful electric bat
ttiy WIS pouring lcry OartS all through
him; and deeming discretion the bette
part of valor," he bounded into the sigma
station for preservation. Scrgt. Choat,
was ut the Springs in December, and OF
December 81 he left for the Peak, wear
ing Norwegian snow-shoes twelve feet il
length. 1t was weary task and drear,
trip. The first night out he slept in th
/. snow on the mountain side The secon,
nigh: the mercury fell to so degrees be
low zero. He sought shelter in a de
serted cabin, through which the win,
whistled tunes anything but agreeable
mere he built small fire, but avoided
, sleep, fearing the extreme cold nigh
produce sleep of DEATH The third da,
! he reached the station safely.
: The summer months are also occupie,
in preparing for the long seige Of winter
During the months of August and Sep
: tember upwards of three thousand pound
of the usual v riety of family stores am
about twenty-five cords of FIRE wood ar
, snugly slowed away. These are all car
Z ried to the Peak in small quantities O.
the backs of the poor despised Burrc
, whose head has the appearance of bein
encased in cloth, and whose ears ar
nearly the length of his legs, aud win
: walks at the pace of snail and yer
J slow snail at that.-C6r. Boston Jour7,a