The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1879-03-20
PIXIES PEAK SIGNAL STATION.
Wonders Of the Highest Inhabited Portion
of the Globe.

ton Journal writes as follows: The
United States signal station at Pixies
peak is the highest signal station IN the
world; it is also the highest inhabited
portion of the globe. 1t was opened IN
the month of September, 1873. That it
was wise provision of the government
in establishing signal station at this
point is no longer questioned, the facts
having already demonstrated It's practi-
csbility, and Tie present success prom
iscs that Pixies peak signal station is
yet to stand at the head of all astronom-
lcal 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
raosphere brings out remarkable bril-
liancy and clesrness 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
Washington was the report of Professor
Loud, of Colorado college, from obser-
tdhGu dG mo o HOaNs
The signal station is now under the
charge OF 5ergeants 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
teorologiral observations. To Sergeant
Rufus Choate T am greatly indebted for
the particulars embodied in this article.
The summit of Prke's peak contains
sixty acres. 1t is IA, 1856 feet above the
level of the sea. On the highest point
stanls the signal station, a rough stone
building twenty-four by thirty, one
story in height. 1t is divided into four
rooms-officers' room, kitchen, store
room and woodroom. And here in this
bleak spot, nearly twenty miles from the
babitatious 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. tbree 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 mountain top; but
there are hundreds of acres of cold gray
and re idish rocks where not vcstige of
verdure Exists.
Like thedwellers of the Arctic regions,
the inhabitants of Pixies peak have but
two seasons-summer and winter. Two
months of fsuumer-August and Septem-
ber-and ten, long cold months OF win
ter. The summer season passes quick
II. The atmosphere is cohgenial; the
many visitors at the peak enhance its
social life with Joy. wonderment and
mirth.. During the summer Of 1878 up
ward of nine hundred people, in parties
of from five to thirty, visited the peak,
! among them many ladies. They regis
tered from the fou. quarters Of the globe,
and they all expressed admiration and
astonishment at the grandeur and sub
Unity of the wonderful views as seen
from the peak. To behold sunrise
from the peak is an event of lifetime,
and for this purpose visitors often re.
main over night at the station to be
ready to catch the -REst glimpse of the
sun as it appears above the horizon,
gliding with its bright rays the noun
tains, hills, valleys and plains, to the
wonder and delight of the amazed be-
holder. e.
The. duties of the officers are various.
Seven observations are taken daily; all
storms are closely watched and aanl
tBpeuIaI and distinctive characteristic
duly recorded. Sunrise and sunset de
p1and close attention. Every peculiari
ty'of the heavenly regions is viewed ant
record made of the same, and month";,
I reports Of these reeordSS are. sent t
headquarters at Washington. The
present year has been unusually prolific
in suu-dogs, which are said to prognos
ticate earthquakes. sHbterrshsan explo
sions, immerse freshets and troublou!
times. Il A government ofice at Pike
peak is no sinecure, for the officer mus
buffet all storms and brave all weathers
Occasionally an electric storm visits tht
peak. There is but little thunder &C
companying these storms, but ths
mountain seems all on fire. Sergean
Choate5 informs ms that when he wal
out observing one of these storms it mp
| peared as though the whole mountain
top was a sheet of electric fame. L
came out of every rock and dartet
around with wonderful audacity. Il
| played around him, and, as he expressed
] it, shot down his back and darted out o.
| each boot-toe. and 60 Completely filleG
him with electricity that he could moi
retain his foothold, but bounded anc
rebounded from the rock like rubbe,
ball; he felt as though q powerful
electric battery was pouring fiery darts
all through him, and deeming "discre
siop the better part of va]or," he bound
ed into the signal station for preserva
tjon. Sergeant Choate was at thespring.
in December, and on December 21 he
left for the peak, wearing Norwegian
snowshoes twelve feet in length. II
vas q weary task and dreary trip. The
first night out he slept in the snow on
The mountains side. The second night
the mercury fell to twenty degrees be.
low zero. He sought shelter in desert.
ed cabin, through which the wind whis'
tied tunes anything but agreeable; here
he built small fire, but avoided sleep
fearing the extreme cold might produce
the sleep of death. The third day he
reached the station safely.
The summer months are also occu
pied in preparing for the long siege oi
winter. During the months of August
and September upward of 5000 pounds
of the usual variety OF family stores and
about twenty five cords of frewood are
snugly slowed away. These are all car,
lied to the peak in small quantities OIL
the back sof the poor, despised burro,
whose head has the appearance of beine