Los Angeles herald., 1890-06-17

ness and strength. On all occasions in
which the burro showed disposition to
come to standstill, this instrument
was applied to him with reasonable
degree of energy. To the surprise of its
wielder, he soon discovered that the
beast would not put one foot before an
other unless he got three whacks, as
who should say, "This weakling will
find out that | am donkey of nerve,
and that he will have to work his way
up this grade" There were, in fact,
occasions in which even the magical
number three failed to move him, and at
these times of crisis it was necessary to
lean back and twist his tail. This action
has great potency with burro, and the
why and wherefore of this occult infu-
ence deponent knoweth not.
StiePs Camp.
But the longest journey has an end,
and not even the diligent obstinacy of a
burro can postpone beyond certain
hour ones arrival at Stiel's camp. This
is cluster of tents and canvas enclosed
huts about half mile below the astron-
omical observatory of Harvard univer
sity, which is located on the summit of
Wilson's peak. 1t is kept by clear-cut,
proved himself an excellent caterer. The
view from Stiels is really superb. 1t
commands large sweep of the San
Gabriel valley, including Pasadena,
South Pasadena, Los Angeles, and, on
clear days, the ocean, and even the
islands lying off of Santa Barbara At
night the electric lights of both Pasadena
and Los Angeles are plainly visible, and
form brilliant and enjoyable spectacle.
A novel and impressive sight in the early
morning was afforded by a fog which
enveloped the valley, and which resem-
bed nothing so much as a great sea, the
mountains uprearing themselves as
islands. This fog lies several thousand
feet below the camp. At the altitude
from which we viewed it the sun was
shining brightly, the air was clear, dry
and invigorating, and not a drop of
moisture could have been discovered to
vex the lungs of an invalid. Stiel's
camp is supposed to be about fifty-fye
hundred feet high, and the observatory,
which is about half a mile distant is
said to be sixty-two hundred feet above
the level of the sea, although accounts
slightly vary as to the height of both.
The rare air makes breathing matter
of some difficulty at first in the numer-
GUS jaunts to which the neighboring
peaks invite one. This, however, is
quickly overcome. The effect of this
air, which is almost elixir-like in it's
quality, cannot fail to be beneficial to
the invalid, while it is most agreeable
change to dwellers in the lowlands.
The appliances for comfort are good at
Stiel's camp. The fare, though homely,
is excellent abundant and even luXuri-
Gus when it is borne in mind that every
thing consumed there has to be packed
upon the backs of burros. A pleasing
feature of Stiel's camp is the presence of
a baby Stiel, born on this superb noun
tain peak. She is as pretty as a picture
and as robust as heart of fond parent
could desire.
The Observatory - Strains Camp A
Mountain Feud.
The views in ascending Wilson's peak
are on all hands so commanding, they
are so enhancing from half dozen
eminences, that it is difficult to reach a
descriptive climax in speaking of them.
The outlook from the peak proper, on
which the observatory is located, is sur
passingly fine. When the writer es-
sayed to reach this point he found pad
This was overcome by hitching the
burro to convenient bush and
climbing over the obstruction. This
impediment to travel on the
trail was placed there by Mr..
Strain, who claims to own the quarter
section on which the observatory is
located. Without entering into the
question of this gentleman's title to the
land, it would seem reasonable to accept
the view that this trail had been dedi-
Gated to the public for at least thirty
years, and it looks like wanton aggres-
sion on the part of Strain to shut out the
public from the exercise of an almost
immemorial privilege. His action in
barring the trail has doubtless had its
origin in business rivalry between
himself and Stiel, and whatever differ
ences may exist between these COM
petitors for the patronage OF those who
love to climb mountains, the latter
should not be made the victims of it.
Walking half a mile beyond the closed
gate, the HERALD representative came to
Strains camp, which is a really attrac-
tive and comfortable place in a sheltered
dell. A short distance behind his huts
and tents is spring from which small
stream flows, which affords perhaps the
coldest, purest and most delicious water
the writer has ever drank. As he sat
drinking this mountain nectar, Steil,
at the head of large party
of his guests, passed down the trail.
He had broken down the gate and an
alteration ensued that augured good
deal of bad blood. However, no hos
tilities followed, and the Stiel party con-
tinued it's way to Alta Montana, a
famous peak to which the trail led. 1t
would really seem an act of rude in
civility, even if Strain had the right to
do so, to seek to exclude the public
from the enjoyment of the right royal
views to be obtained from the point last
named.
The observatory was found to be
closed. The employees there are sup
posed to be up all night taking photo
graphs of the heavens, which are for
warded every other day to Harvard uni
versty, in Massachusetts. The exceed
ing clarity of the atmosphere at that
altitude makes it a splendid point for
such observations. While the valley
below may be enveloped in clouds or
fogs, on top Of Wilson's peak the stars
shine with undimmed brilliancy The
writer regrets that he had not an oppor-
tunity to inspect the great telescope,
with It's forty-inch lens, but at the time