Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-09-06
TOP OF PIXIES PEAK.
SEPT. Sd, 1888.

SEPT. Sd, 1888.
| To the Editor of the Eagle
am sitting on chair in the door of the
signal station on this peak with the cities
of Manitou, Colorado Springs, Pueblo in
sight by location, the nearer ones by
plainly discerned streets and houses.
The thermometer registers 80 degrees
above; fire is burning in the stove.
VanNess and myself have our overcoats
on and both got out OF breath
chewing our luncheon. We are
fourteen thousand one hundred
and forty-seven feet above the sea. Our
view Is grand one: too grand In fact to
elicit and amplify ideas commensurate
with the lofty view of this awe striking
panorama. 1t includes countries, cities
and parts of states; railways, streams,
| timber belts and high mountain peaks
that are mere hills by comparison with
this lofty old testimony of Gods i'm
measurable power. Far away over tens
of thousands of square miles of the
sunny plains of Colorado and Kansas
are dark spots here and there;
they are cloud shadows thou
sands of feet below us. To the
south, west and north are mountains
upon mountains, Ossa on Pelion to the
shame of both them and the ancient
classics, but to the glory of New Mexico
and Colorado. Away to the west OF US
is the very backbone of Uncle Sam-we
are only on one of his hips here-the
snowy range. 1t is dotted with peaks
similar to this one. But as this hoary
old sentinel stands upon the cliffs Of that
ancient sea, now the plains OF Colorado,
Kansas and Nebraska. he must ever pre-
sent advantages of view and scientific
uses that will eclipse them ali. Ancient
sea! yes. the railway builders coming
up from Kansas: the farmers and
prospectors dig from beneath the
surface of this sea- bed whole fishes and
other ancient marine fossils. | have
seen them sawed in halves, showing the
bones of their carcaSSes. This mountain
range is filled with the fossils of those
land animals that in that dawn OF time
stood awed at this boundless sea and its
dashing on these very hills and peaks,
much as do now in viewing its mighty
transformation into the habitatiOn of
that pigmy in size, that giant in strength
and that God in attainments-man.
But the hour of our stay is up. l step
out upon this slightly oval crest, covered
with brown granite blocks, acres in ex-
tent. | view once more an inspiring
sight which Homer might have envied
me, the trends of the Platte and
Arkansas from the great snowy
range through the cannons out into the
plains on their way to the seattle source
Of their existence: the great peaks dotted
with glistening snow and fretted with
clouds, steadily, as great mid-continental
condensers, Selling the Clouds in their
flight and turning them back into fertil-
izing streams to the seas; the cities. farms
and roads of man approaching like sap
pers to the assault of natures Businesses.
walk around with fast palpitating heart
over the ponderous granite stones. The
air is SO thin that my lungs expand until
| break the buttons off my vest. The
ladies of the party who have failed
to unlace their fastenings are
faint. Two men of the party have
violent headache and vomit. | feel
a sensation of pricking in the fingers
and toes; tickling in the lungs and
slight electric effects On the optics and
nerves.
The hacks, each carrying eight passen-
gers, are ready, and we begin the rapid
descent seventeen miles over the just
wagon road to Cascade, on
the Colorado Midland railway. This
road was built on the survey and under
the supervision Of a self educated en-
gineer named Gaynor, in some time less
than three months from last May. 1t is
the most wonderful road in some re-
spects in existence: fifteen hundred feet
higher than any other wagon road.sin
the world. 1t winds its granite gravel |
bed around otherwise inaccessible heights |
beneath, above and alongside the |
DonderOus peaks, crags, bOulders, |
pines and snow banks through wild |
glens over roaring ice cold cascades, |
mid meadows and flowers from the in
comparable delicate snow pink on the |
summit to beds of mountain daisies at its
base. Two little glen farms and several |
cottages dot the way. At |
the very TOP sparrows, mountain crows !
and blue birds are seen flying from crag
to crag. Insects, especially mosquitoes, |
are also seen far above the timber line. |
At the various turns about the precipices |
and crags cold winds strike us alter |
mated by warmer ones at less exposed |
points. The track of the former is
barren and desolate, of the latter covered |
with greenness and life. 1t is the join |
ing and parting of these currents that |
creates the ram, snow and electric |
storms SO frequent on this famous peak. |
With begumbed fingers, l am truly |
yours, w. E. HUTCHINSON.