The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1889-08-29
ABOVE YHE CLOUDS.
Hu MaxweIl's Explorations on
the Summit Of the Sieuas,
A MOST PERlLoUS JOURNEY
BY the Three West Virginia Tourists
A Magnificent Scene Described
The Finh In the Series of
Letters to the IntellIgencer,
sp.etal conaponaenee Of " InlalNa.sg,

Y,
Toll Houss, GAL, August l6,-Th'
next morning We arose by star light AMI
prepared for the ascent Of the mountain
We hoped to reach the top in time toses
the sun rise, Professor Frederick com
planned OF lightness in the head, caused
by the rare atmosphere, but Mr., selby
and were in excellent spirits. A hasty
breakfast was cooked, and before the
dawn Of day we were ready for the as
cent OF the last steep which would place
us on the summit,
BY the time we had retraCed our steps
to the point which we had gained the
evening before, the dawn Of day was
flooding the east. Through passes in the
mountains we could catch Slimpses OF
the ranges beyond, but the rising sun
was hidden from US behind the noun
tain on which we stood, II was Splen-
did 10 see the sunlight sweeping across
the great masses OF mountains reaching
a hundred miles, from Mt, Whitney,
with It's five icy p%innaCles 10 the South,
to the dull black cliffs OF Mt, Goddard,
in the north. The towering peak Of
Mt. Kawean was in full view still beyond
Whitney, rising like a great horn above
the surrounding mountains. 1t was
more than a hundred miles from us, but
it was distinctly visible against the
southern sky; all the eastern side Of it
was bright with the morning sun, aud
shonu like gold, while the western side
was shaded and black, In full view,
also, were Mts. Tyndall, Dana, William
son, Lyell, King and others, all OF which
rise above 1900 feet. OF the smallest
mountains there seemed to be no limit
in number. From where we stood, We
could SEQ more than seventy peaks rls.
ing above 10000 feet.
A WONDERFUL sIGHT.
The very luck OF system in these noun
tains makes them wonderful. One who
has never seen them can form no idea OF
their appearance when seen from such
an attitude that al are visible al ono
time. But, 10 be seen Ia all their glory,
they must DO looked at while the sun Is
rising upon them, or when II Is setting.
The FIRST and last sight OF the sun Is the
moAt beautiful on these mountains. The
rise OF the sun is SO sudden, Scarcely
has one time to oblerye that the day Is
dAwning, until it Is full light, and the
long level beams from the morning sun
are streaming along the submits Of the
mountains, touching here and there
where the peaks are highest, yet leaving
all the deeper Canons dark below.
l have often admired the sunrise at
Harper's Ferry. II comes on SO slowly
aud softly there that one has full time 10
look ut It and think OF it, But high on
the Sierra Nevadas, where we were that
morning, tho sun bursts above the
horizon so suddenly that before the one
who looks can realize 1t, the day has
come, and world oil mountains are flash.
ing with sunlight.
We turned from where We had stood
To watch the dawning OF the morning,
and resumed the heavy labor Of climb.
ing the mountains. We had now reached
q point where no vine or tree or shrub
grew but above us, clinging from the
assures OF the cliffs, there were dwarfed
pines and miserable cedars. About US
1t was all q barren mass OF rock, with not
a particle OF soil. So steep was 1t that
our horse frequently nearly fell back
ward while climbing from one rock to
the next higher one. The severe work
had taken some OF the mettle from the
mustang. He was willing enough now
TO leave OF all superluous kicking and
plunging. He climbed us carefully as a
cat would have done. He never took a
step without first seeing II the footing
was sure. l walked ahead OF him, and
picked out a way among tho rocks, and
Mr.. Selby led him. He followed our
path as carefully as II bis lie depended
upon 1t. Perhaps his life did depend
upon it, for many a time did we pass so
near the verge Of cliffs and chasms that
a mistake Of q few inches In setting the
feet would have been fatal. The horse
seemed to know this, and he appeared
to realize that it was our judgment and
not his that guided him. When we
would lead the way over some par.
ticularly dangerous place, he never hesi-
tated 10 follow,