Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-01-07
A QUEER CALIFORNIA MOUNTAIN.
On Top of ItIs Rock from Which Eiec
tricity Seems TO spout.
(san Francisco ExaminerD

(San Francisco Examiner)
W. 4. Fairfield. Of the geodetic survey
ing party under the direction OF PROBES
sor Davidson, decided to go TO the top OF
Anime Peak or Roundtop TO make an
observation that would help him ana MS
colleagues to tell which Is California ana
which IS Nevada. Roundtop mas Deeh
climbed many time, but never with COM
fort or entire safety. 1t Is a rocky peak,
10 800 feet high The steep surface Is
covered with disintesratei rock, COM
monty called shingle. that slides from
under foot. Near the top Slide on the
Single would be exceedingly perilous'
for the descent is abrupt for 800 feet,
and precipitous for 100 more.
Nearing the apex, Mr.. Fairfield and MS
companion were compelled TO walk SLOWLY
and with great caution around and arou
the mountain, each time getting little
closer TO the summit. They mad not
merely their own weight TO carry. for
instruments. and little tent, and -four,
and bacon had to go with them-some or
the articles OF use to science, others or
use to scientists.
At the very top OF the mountain Mr..
Fairfield found he had barely room to
turn around. The peak comes TO such
sharp point that 10 stretch his tripod he
had to build a base Of rocks for one or
the legs.
Mr.. Fairfield knew before he assembled
where he would live while there. yet
though he knew where 10 look. and had
but four feet of space to look through, no
had difficulty In discovering the place.
Then he found It and laughed at his
mountain home. Art had joined with ma
ture in making this nest .O,4S feet up
Roundtop. A hellotroper OF the coast sur
vcy was there fourteen years ago TO HASH
signals clear across the Sacramento valley
TO an observer on a peak In the coast
range He had deepened 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 brok IN rock had so covered
the roof that the little house csuld be
detected from the summit OF the noun
tain four feet above, only by close seru-
tiny.
Before he had finished his work great
sncw-storm came up, and the Thermometer
| fell to degrees below zero. 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 best
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 helotrupers combination hut and
cave was not intended for two.
On the side this entire house was just
| ~ inches long. 81 inches high. and 30 inches
wide Mr.. Fairfield and his assistant had
| to lie down together very carefully and
begin to arrange themselves In the same
position as two spoons IN a box-the front
OF one man close against the back of the
other. Turning over at night was an
event. After proper notice TO each other OF
the intention each would rise on his
- AZ 49, 49, ttx.tr
moved slowly around. finally lying again
In exactly the same place in which they
had sought rest white lying on the other
side They did not often turn The
cramped position they were compelled TO
take made them stiff as II from rheuma-
| trim.
During The night Adr. Fairfield heard