The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-12-04
LIVING ON PIXIES PEAK.
Talk WITH n MAN WHO DWELT
THERE EIGHTEEN MONTHS.
The Violent Electrical Disturbances and
Penetrating Winds Described by
Signal Service Oficer.
do you want to go to Pixies Peak"
The ynaseaoo uae dated af Washington.


Grande official, who was then in charge
Of the United States Signal Service sta
ton at Philadelphia Mr.. Hobbs was an
ambitious young man Of twenty-one. Of
adventurous disposition and full Of health
and spirits, he Immediately accepted the
invitation and in a few days later was on
his way to new fields In the great West.
The signal Service station was first
established at the top of the peak in 1913.
1t had been in successful operation four
years when Mr.. Hobbs made his advent
upon the scene. Continuous residence
at an altitude Of l4150 feet Is beyond
the physical powers Of the average hui
man being and IL has been found neceS-
sary TO relieve observers after an eX-
perience of a few months at the PIKE 3
Peak station To Mr.. Hobbs belongs
the credit Of having held the position for
eighteen months, his hardy constitution
withdrawing the terrific electrical DIS
turbanccs which have Frustrated many
q traveller on the lofty attitudes Of the
Rockies within the last ten or fifteen
years. In those days the last six miles
of the ascent were made with df1culty
on foot. The trail was nineteen miles
long leading up Bear Creek canyon,
through Jones Park and past Lake Nor
raine. the country Astounding In Deer
bear and mountain lion. telegraph
wire led from the station at the summit
to Colorado Springs. over which the daily
reports were started toward Washington
On the night of the I'D he reached the
scene OF our futuer operations. Inc Jour
ney upward occupied two days. AS the
ground was covered with heavy depth OF
fIoq M
uuired six hours of hard climbing. For
eight DAYS the newly-arrived observer was
confined TO his bed with violent palpita-
ton of the heart Recovering from this
unwelcome experience he discovered one
evening that an attack Of erysipelas had
set In From previous experience ne
knew that he would be Frustrated WITHIN
the next twenty-four hours, ana resolved
10 start at once down the mountain
TO the springs. where medical assistance
could be secured. The trip was mace
through the pitchy darkness alone anu
the next day Mr. Hobbs found himselI III
bed under hospitable roof, where ne re-
NAMED for three weeks.
After this rough introduction TO noun
tain life. Providence opened rift in the
clouds and the observer entered upon MS
duties with a keen relish for the novel eN-
periences which were his lot during the
months that followed. For nine months
of the year the station was Isolated from
all the great world v hich moved ana
throbbed below. Tourists confined their
operations TO the three summer months
when MI. Hobbs and his assistant were
never lacking for company. MT. HOODS
relates many amusing instances or the
visitors VINO thropged TO the top OF the
peak on the hot days Of July and August.
Each party invariably repeated the same
mOnstrous inquiries:
pretty cold here sometimes, isn't II!
Doesn't the wind blow pretty hard
sometimes?"
Don't you get lonesome away up mere
among the clOuds?'
Speaking I'm a general way In reply 10
the questions. Mr.. Hobbs says that for
weeks at a time the temperature Is some
thing awful; with the mercury indicating
twenty-five or thirty degrees below zero
and the wind blowing steadily at the rate
Of 100 miles and hour, it is not to be Won
dered at that the inmates Of the little
cabin scarcely poked their noses out or
the door. For days the snow storms
filed the air with fine, powdery mist
which shut off all vision as completely as
though q canvas had been let down from
the skies owing to the extreme dryness
most impapable dust which rises with
the slightest movement OF the air. The
walls Of the station were three feet thick
and the windows double, but in defiance or
the most careful precautions TO smut out
the chilly atmosphere, the observers would
often wake in the morning 10 ma SIX
inches Of snow on the bed covers. Inc
fierce winds howled with fury unknown
at ordinary attitudes but the storms had
no terrors for those who were fully pre-
pared to meet every emergency. Pro-
visions and frewood were laid in during
the open season, and with the aid or
snow-shoes an experienced mountain CLIMB
er could reach Colorado Springs In day.
The loneliness OF the situation 10 one
of Mr.. Hobbs temperament was greatly
relieved by reading and the marvellous
displays of nature as viewed from the
grandest scenic point OF the American
continent. To describe all the phases or
the seasons, as told In eloquent language
by Mr. Hobbs, would require many col
umns On a clear day the sun shone
upon a magnificent panorama which VIII
ever remain the despair OF the most tai
ented artist. In the north, east and south
the great rolling plains, extending from
Wyoming TO New Mexico. appear Ike
mighty billowy ocean. At the base OF
TIE peak OOlOIduO Opllhbo piNDN"ND wv
appearance Of a checkerbOard while
the smoke of Pueblo. forty-five miles 10
the south. and a black pail overhangtng
Denver. seventy-hve miles I'm the oppo-
site direction gives evidences Of indus
tries which have made the name OF Col
orado worldwide. The backbone OF the
continent is seen for 300 miles, ringing
the horizon on the West. Between the
great divide and the peak lie beautiful
parks, which abound I'm peaceful valleys
and bright verdure. Many OF these
parks are covered with fine growths or
timber shrubbery and grass. and are wa
tered by clear sparkling mountain streams
whose waters glitter like polished silver.
Sunrise and sunset. as viewed from
the top Of Pixies Peak. leave an impress
sion never 10 be forgotten said Mr..
Hobbs in answer to an inquiry few days
ago. LAS the sun begins 10 climb above
the misty plains, streaks Of light shoot
through the air as though propelled by
some mighty power. The sunsets present
a panorama which far Surpasses the most
vivid stretch Of the imagination. Clouds
OF variegated forms reflect all the colors
OF the spectrum, the cOlors changing into
new glory as the king OF day slowly re-
tires behind the main range 100 miles
away. In the early morning | have often
seen the shadow Of the peak projected
into the dark background or the sky with
a distinctness that was almost startling.
j shall never forget a remarkable vision
which l was so fortunate as to observe
one day from the roof of the station. For
three days we had been treated to storm
OF unusual violence, when. all at once the
clouds overhead rolled away revealing
far above the deep blue sky, which could
be seen through an ODenfng whose sides