Morning journal and courier., 1894-01-03
A QUEER MOUNTAIN,
On Top OF &c is n Rock From which
Electricity Seems 20 spout.

On Top OF &c is n Rock From which
Electricity Seems 20 spout.
IFrom the San Francisco EIamiuer3
w. b. Fairfield Of the geodef,c survey
Ing party, under the direction of Profess
sor Davidson, decided to go to the top of
Alpine Peak or Roundtop to make an OBJ
servstion that would help him and his col.
leagues to tell which is California and
which is Nevada. Roundtop has been
climbed many . time, but never with COM
fort or entire safety. 1t is rocky peak
10,6oo feet high. The steep surface is
covered with disintegrated rock, common
ly called shingie, that slides from under
foot. Near the top slide on the shinsle
would be exceedingly psrilous, for the de-
scent is abrup. for five hundred feet and
preoipitous for seven hundred more.
Nearing the apex, Mr.. Fairfield aud bis
companion were compelled to walk elowly
and with great caution around and around
the mountain, each time getting q little
closer to the summit. They had not mere
ly their own weight to carry, for inatru-
ments and little tent and -four and bacon
had to 60 with them-some of the articles
of use to science, others of use to scien-
lists.
At the very top of the mountain Mr..
Fairfield found he had barely room to turn
around. The peak comes to such O sharp
point that to stretch his tripod he had to
build base of rocks for one of the legs
Mr.. Fairfield knew before he ascended
where he would live while there, yet,
though he knew where to look. and had
but four feet OF space to look through, he
had difficulty In discovering the place.
Then he found 1t and laughed at his noun
tain home. Art had Joined with nature
In making this nest 10, 4sS feet up Round-
top. A heliotroper of the Coast Survey
was there fourteen years ago to fash sig
mails clear across the Sacramento valley to
an observer on Q peak In the Coast range.
he had despened q little cave or recess in
the mountain side, then with boards that
had been carried up the steep ascent had
built front wall, a roof and floor. The
broken rock had so covered the roof that
the little house could be detected from the
summit of the mountain, four feet above,
only by close scrutiny.
Before he had finished his work o great
snow storm came up, and the Thermometer
fell to eight degrees below zsro. There
was nothing to do save to crawl into the
queer house and wait for the storm to
cease. In the nipping cold and without
light the beet way of keeping warm and
killing time was to sleep; but to do this
was not so easy as might be supposed.
The space for sleeping In the heliotroper's
combination hut and cave was not intend
ed fer two.
On the inside this entire house was Just
seventy-two inches long, thirty-four inch.
% high and thirty inches wide. Mr.
Fairfield and his assistant had TO lie down
together very carefully and begin to AZ
range themselves in the came position as
two spoons In . box, the front of one man
elose against the back of the other. Turn
ing over at night was an event. After
proper notice to each other of the inteu-
ton each would rise on his elbows or
hands, and then together they moved
slovly around, finally lying again In eI-
sotly the same place In which they had
sought rest while lying on the other side.
They did not often turn. The crsmped
position they were compelled to take made
them stih as If from rheumatism.
During the night Mr.. Fairfsld heard
strange sounds under the aoor of the tiny
house.
"Poroupines." said his companion, who
was acquainted with the neighbsrhood trs-
ditions about Roundtop "Porcupines
have made Q nest under the floor"
The porcuplns story soon proved to be Q
hotion OF the country. From under the
floor came rsts-enormcus rats seven or
sight inches long and light brown in color;
sctivs rats that ran about this little house
in hish and noisy carnival; rats that
climbed up the walls and dropped to the
foor with delighted ssuesks at the noise
they we're making
These monstrous rats, with q taste for
disturbing the peace, had no taste for the
food that plsases the rats of civilization.
The -four and the bacon, the crackers, and
even the cheese remained In the house un-
touched by them, though no attempts was
made by Mr.. Fairfield to hide his provi-
siona.
For three days Mr.. Fairfield and BIZ.
companion did not leave the tiny hat ex-
| capt for . few minutes. The snow was
| falling constantly. The top of the noun
tain was wrapped In black clouds. Vision
could not reach more than three or four
feet through cloud and snow.
| During the storm the observer had the
most extraordinary of all his strange ex-
periences on that mountain
he was lying In the hut listening to the
storm and wishing for bright weather,
when his assistant who had gone to the
porthole to watch the snow and the clouds
called him.
| Mr.. Fairfield was In no haste to leave hi,
blankets 10 look at falling snow, but hi
companion urged him to come and to coms
quickly. he reluctantly unrolled hinssli
and went 10 the opening. he was repaid
From the ground short distance away
came hissiug sound, as IL the cook OF
nature were frying half the mountain.
The kissing was continuous, but varied In
intensity. Mr.. Fairfield cautiously sP'
preached the place whence the sound came.
BE found that the noise scanned oentered
In littls jut of rock not bigger than .
chair.
BE stepped upon the rock and instantly
received an electric shock, not % -.
we're a. 10 hurt him, bat sufficient 10 maks
every part of his body tingle- He stepped
from the rock and instantly the electricity
| Isft bin. One foot from the rock Il could
not be felt.
i HIS assistant then stepped upon tn
j rock. The shock was too much for him