Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-07-13

| on a snow-covered rock In despair. Far be-
yond still stretched the dreary mountain side
| and the heights still lowered above me, with no
sign of life or habitation. For the frst time
became genuinely anxious. What would the
chances be of my coming out all right in the
morning II had to lie on the snow all night
already felt as if my toes were freezing.
| Those of the right foot we're almost without
sensation My hands were numb and reddish
| blue In color. / could discern the trail wind
ing up the mountain before me. then turning
| sharply TO the west and stretching away out Of
sight The sun was almost gone. / struggled
to nv feet and pushed painfully on Every
breath was an exertion.
MY HEAD BECAME HEAVY AND GRoGGY.
The weakness of my legs increased and I
frequently stumbled in dragging my heavy
| feet over the rocks. 1 felt that couldn't last
much longer. A rest any place-even on a
snow-covered rock-would be pleasant. The
| night wasn't cold, after all. No doubt
would come out all right in the morning. /
| could find big rock, and, lying to the leeward
OF II. escape the sharp wind. Every few yards
| sat down in the snow to catch my breath.
What's hat? On the slanting side of stone is
painted in black. - m" Great heavensi Can
that mean two miles to the summit? 1t must be
a mistake or brutal practical JOKE. 1t is GER
tainly five miles since l LETT the timber,
and the whole distance from the half
way house to the summit is only
seven and a quarter miles. If still have two
miles to stumble and scramble over the rocks
l will never get there. There is no more
strength left in my limbs nor will power in my
brain. The muscles of my chest and heart
seem to ache with the strain l have put upon
them. remain seated for some minutes.
had up to this time felt warm enough about the
body without putting on my coat. Now begin
to chill all over. The sensation arouses me
and gives me fresh energy. l must go on. |
have been fool to think of giving up. The
summit can't be far of. What if the sun does
| hntrrR, II l., Il
starlight. II only make mile in three
hours IT is better than lying down and freezing
among the rocks. | can rest frequently. but
must not think of lying down. l jump up and
sTRUGGLE on DESPERATELY
My steps are irregular and 1 pant and gasp
like fish out of water. But am determined
and stick to it. How I ever made the next
mile and a half 1 can hardly remem-
ber NV recollection is blurred, so worn out
was my mind and body. At last the narrow
trail which l had followed came out i'll a wide
wagon road. l tried to shout for ioy but nv
vocal cords were numb and my lungs incapable
OF more than the feeblest eXertion. | knew
on striking the wagon road the struggle was
over. must be near the summit. / took @
fresh wobbly squirt and tried to reach a turn in
the road at the edge of the mountain from
which l thought 1 could catch farewell
glimpse OF the sun, which was setting in indie
| scribable splendor. l got to the desired spot
just III time. lnere turned. and peeplng
! above the top of the mountain. caught sight
OF what looked like chimney piercing the air
1t was the tip OF the structure which marks the
very
SUMMIT OF Plies PEAK
All my anxieties were gone now but was
weary in the extreme-more tired than had
ever been before. In few minutes l was
knocking at the low door of the old signal
service station. TWAS openedby the custodian.
who proudly holds the highest Office in the
United States. He was appointed about a
month ago by Secretary Noble, the Pixies Peak
! reservation having passed into the hands OF the
Interior department On its abandonment as a
signal station last October
was soon seated beside the fire in the
Kitchen, trying to cook the blood and the feel
Ing back into my toes with the aid of snow
water. One toe was just a little bit frost
bitten and panied me exceedingly. was soon
feeling comfortable and inclined to laugh at
the hardships of my tramp. Eut when / at
tempted to laugh my aching chest reminded
me that had really worked hard and suffered
not little. tramp to the top of Pixies peak
is not chiId's play. MS.