Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1885-03-13
MOUNT WASHINGTON.
The Winter Hardships Endured by
It's Occupants.
A Trip to the Summit-Magnificent Views
Intense Cold and Heavy Winds
How h Signal Service Men
Pass the Time.

Mount Washington, probably not one
in a thousand has seen it in winter.
My friend and 1 had long contemplated
such a trip. Leaving Boston on the
morning of the goth of December we
reached Fabyan's the same afternoon
and started for Mount Washington on
the following day. Having read in the
papers a few days before that the ther-
mometer had been forty-two degrees
below zero, with the wind blowing one
hundred and twenty miles an hour, we
prepared ourselves as if for the Arctic
regious. Two suits of underclothing,
with chamois-lined trousers, leather
jackets, felt boots and fur caps, cover
ing all the head except the eyes, COM
pleted our outfit. Notwithstanding
that the day vas warm, we resolved to
wear all this clothing, thinking that a
sudden change in the weather might
make it necessary. Having driven to
the base, we started to walk up the rail
road, but. before we had gone a quarter
OF a mile we We're in a profuse perspi-
ration. The train to the summit stops
ON October l, and during the winter
the road to the Glen House is usually
blocked with snow, SO chat the only
way to ascend is by the railroad track.
When the snow is deep and hard, one
may walk where the footing is best,
but with soft snow the trestle-work is
easier. The grade for the first two
miles is steep and tiresome, but if one
is in good condition, the slighter grade
Df the last mile makes the ascent less
'Eatiguing. When We started the valley
.was clear, but the top of the mountain
was enveloped in fog. The views, how
ever, before we reached the fog were
ssery beautiful, as the snow adds much
to the always lovely landscape. After
we had penetrated the fog. our whole
attention was fixed on the slippery
track, for the slightest misstep might
lead to the most serious consequences.
The track is thirty feet above the
ground in some places, and if the
wind is blowing hard the walk
ing is both difficult and dan
gerous. We were two hours and half,
Including several stops, in reaching the
signal station, and this is fairly good
time for those who are unaccustomed
to walk on the track. The length of
the railroad from base to summit is
about three miles. From the place
called the Gulf of Mexico we had the
company of one of the signal men who
had kindly come to meet us. When
we had seen the station in summer it
had the appearance Of an ordinary
house, with the exception of the great
timber braces, but nov one door was
closed and banked with snow, while
the double windows were protected by
Stats, nailed about IN inch apart. In
side, however, all was warmth. A
large range and a huge stove together
in a small room, which served as a
kitchen, dining-room and Office, kept
the temperature as high as could be
desired, even in the coolest weather.
Besides the kitchen, there are three
other smaller rooms leading from it.
The station is commanded by Ser
geant Beals. He has IN assistant OBJ
server, Private Cahill. Besides these
there is u cook. These three men live
there alone nine months of the year.
In the autumn they lay in a stock Of
provisions which lasts until the follow
ing July. In fact, their life is similar
to that of keepers OF off-shore light
houses, only the cold is much greater
at Mount Washington, and the wind
blows there with greater velocity than
at any lighthouse. The work of these
men, though constant, is not. as a rule,
severe. They have, however, certain
duties which are both dangerous and
unpleasant. such as replacing the ane-
mometcrs, carrying the mails to the
base, and reading the rain-gauge in cold
and windy weather. The anemometer
is on the top of the peaked roof, and
when the temperature is low and the
weather foggggy, the frostwork forms so
rapidly that the cups have to be taken
down every two hours. To do this is
sometimes almost an impossibility. To
stand with the wind above seventy
miles an hour is difficult, and when the
velocity is owe one hundred to hold
on to the roof and change the cups is
In operation that requires both strength
and courage.
The men sometimes have hard work
to carry che mails, for. with a strong
wind, they often have to crawl on their
hands and knees over the ice-covnred
trestle-work. There are two supply