St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1889-02-09

on the clouds, phantom peak that seemed
10 float and glimmer in the sky
Upon the summit a geodetic monument
was erected by the Coast Survey IN 1873.
1t is huge shaft of sheet iron capped by a
conoid of copper plated with nlckle and
FURNISHED. When the sun flames upon this
cleaning cap it may be seen 1t Mount 81.
Helena IN the south, 100 miles away, Tie
signal was required to connect the long
lines of the main triangulation Of the Coast
,R&rvey, some of them the longest observed
Beodetic lines in the world.
Mr.. John Muir, one Of the gentlemen on
gagged in making the survey, had narrow
escape when locating the shaft, being over
taken by snow-storm upon the summit.
In a vivid description of the event he says:
"Just after completing the 8 p. II. observa-
tions the storm broke; the thermometer
!, falling from A degrees to % degrees in
Few minutes. Snow checked the air, causing
darkness like night. The wind blew with
inconceivable violence, and loud thunder
mingled with the general uproar. In live
hours two feet of snow fell. The develop,
ment of the storm was deliberate and gen.
tie; the slow growth and massing OF clouds
beneath, the weaving OF light cloud tissue
above, then the roar OF the WIND, the crash
Of thunder, and the darkenlng Hight OF haii
and sYlAw. It's decay was not less sudden;
the clouds vanished, not snow crystal was
left in the sky, and stars shone out IN pure
and tranquil radiance"
Ha saved himself from perishing by
crouching in hot vapor spring when
onsbes from volcanic tissue three hun
dred feet below the summit Indeed Shasta
;s . mountain of many wounds. Lightning
stahe a u1yriad have left their vitritied
sesrs unon its shoulders, storms have eaten
1ong erosions athwart its face, waterfalls
1ronning their crystal chisels among It's
,ooLs have carved out many a trench and
dr;nn;ne bowl, and many an old-tlme earth
a,alre shook it fiercely, leaving gaps and
,rlac;er-coyered rents the depth OF which
nlu The one falling in could ever tell, and
he wouldn't know
AWAY upon the southwestern front OF
shasta. above the clouds and clods OF eartsi-
ohoue the timber line or leaf OF vegetation,
l;ttle stream as clear as a cmid5s eye
loans laughing out of the mountains SIDE
Three hundred miles to the south It goes
80 tbrongh the Golden Gate with the
worlds ships upon its BOSOM mat Is the
aaamentn-descendin out OF heaven to
man! r.
DIT when NAV Shasta be assembled! In
NV August and September, and without
49,, ,.;eJ If the heart be sound, the lungs
l-aaa and the motor muscles well developed.
5Tsoa,, the mouth shut when climbing, aFinh
aatbinr ardent tgood advice IN any caseJ
ar not he alarmed should the nose
. ..,ia tho head swim, and the pulse throp
p .s,,a,,, fortably loud in the BRAIN; femelnoet
.ha evnerience is out of the common IN az
,.aenects, and that any successful cilino ,l
- This world is apt to be accompanies oy
rood :, deal of putting as Wen as ifequeh'
Headaches and heartaches.
,,s,,are are several ways OF descending
80 simple and effective as to seat your
aeif IN a gunny sack or mat Of some Aih'
80 80 The ewes. breathe soft prayer, and
descend, ;.,s now
- =, shasta. Its western side IS tull
Z aoon me. pure white and wonderful.
. soma niles IS the distance to its summit,
fi.eon Tho high clear air it is surely not
more than one. III. 49,,
MT the old tavern-that was DULL thirty
,,ears ago. 1t was small then, out Win =.
.se.t added since on the right and one on
K. laft and two at the rear and threeon the
l w 4 has become great. 1t is queer
Ie sa;,. an odd mixture ofmodern and pioneer
al.sa,s 10 # has been and still is one OF the
,,Ia,es on the road. General Grant,
I no.sa HAYES, President Johnson, Gem
80 s- T'ogan and Phil Sheridan at different
ss...s i, the past sat down to its tempting
3, saa.., Thirty years ago the owner began
the stately pines, and ut last made
34s - ~