The herald., 1894-08-19
PASADEN "a.


Interesting Local History-An Exciting
Runsway-Personsis.
PASADENA, Aug. 1S.-The following
from the Mt. Lowe Echo relative to our
mountain range will be found OF general
interest:
We have received the following from
DR.. H. A. Reid Pasadena'a painstaking
and conscientious historian, and gladly
give it place in our columns:
Dear Professor James:
There is certain peak in the Mount
Lowe series of peaks, caflons, etc., which
l dubbed Summer-sunrise peak last
year, because it bore that relation to the
Echo Mountain houee. But since study
ing up the history of Pasadena and her
adjunct territory, l find that the famous
John Muir climbed to the top of that
peak in August or September, 1875, and
was, 80 far as is known, the first white
man, or at least the first American, who
had ever stood upon its summit. Hence,
in my forthcoming history wish to
designate it as Muir's peak, and | re-
spectfully submit the matter to the
Mount Lowe Echo. and ask it's concur
renee in this name. To show my his.
torc reasons therefor l send you here
with an extract from MSS. of my his
tory volume now in course of prepara-
ton. Yours very truly,
II. A. REID, A. NJ, M. D.
Well, who ia John Muir? Why. he is
the man who has climbed more noun
tains, walked more miles, lain out more
nights and discovered more glaciers
than any other man known to history.
Glaciers were his hobby. In Harper's
Monthly for November, 1875, he gives
an account of the Living Glaciers of
California, and says he had discovered
no less than IS of them in the Sierra
Nevada mountains, between latitude 36
degrees 80 minutes AND SO degrees, his
first discovery being in October, 1871.
These living glaciers form the head
fountains of the San Joaquin, the Tuo-
lumne and the Owens rivers. De was
alao the first explorer OF the great Muir
glacier OF Alaska, which rightly beers
hia name. He Was the editor OF nota-
BILE art work published in 1888, entitled
Picturesque California. and the Region
West OF the Rocky Mountains from
Mexico to Alaska.
John Muir was caesmate with DIR.
o. H. Conger in the state university ct
Madison, Wis, when DR.. Ezra S. Carr
OF Pasadena held the chair OF natural
sciences in that noble institution. DR..
Conger settled in Pasadena in 1874, and
in August Of 1875 John Muir came to
visit him and renew old acquaintance
ship. At that time no man had ever
gone from Pasadena directly to the top
OF the mountaine, and Muir made the
venture alone. Mrs. Conger baked
three loaves of bread for him, and gave
L. III 1..f IL "a -
firearms, ss he had scruples against
taking animal life hence he used no meat
food. With provisions and blankets on
his shoulder he started and was gone
three days. When he got back he was
extremely hungry, and Mrs. Conger
writes: He SAID that in all mia noun
taineering he had never found any trip
so laborious as that. on account OF the
very thick growth of underbrush, and
he had never found a view so fine as
that from the top of these mountains. ,
In another note Mrs. Conger adds this
interesting item: He brought me some
tiger lily bulbs from the mountains and
l planted them in my yard. where they
have blossomed every year since Q9
years) and have always called them
my John Muir lilies.'
He made his trip to the mountains
by way OF Eaton canon, and in an article
on The Bee Pastures of California, pub
lished in the Century Magazine of July,
1882, he gives some account of this
mountain climb. 1t is the first report
on record of any trip or exploration from
Pasadena to our immediate mountain
summits, and hence quote q few para
graphs. He took one day in getting
from Pasadena to the mouth of Eaton
cailon, camped there over night with a
native Mexican wood d-chopper, and in
the morning walked up to the falls, then
hard climbing commenced. OF this Mr..
Muir writes:
"From the base OF the fall l followed
the ridge that forms the western rim of
the Eaton basin to the summit OF one Of
the principal peaks, which is about
= 5000 feet above sea level. Then turn
ing eastward, | crossed the middle OF
the basin, forcing a way over its many
subordinate ridges and Rcross it's east
ern rim, having to contend almost
everywhere with the foweriess and
most impenetrable growth OF honey
buahss l had ever encountered since
first my mountaineering began, etc.,
etc.,
Here is a curious little incident
There ia a certain precipitous ridge
above Eaton cai1on on the north and
east side. which l have named Razor
Back ridge, and Mrs. Reid, in 1891, was
the first woman who had ever crossed
its narrow, precipitous and dizzy crest.
But now l find that John Muir was
there 10 years ago and described it as a
knife blade ridge. So gracefully give
way and apply his descriptive name to
1t instead OF my own. III. A. REID.
LIVELY RUNAWAY.
An exciting runaway occurred on East
Colorado street late this evening. A
team hitcned to heavy wagon belong
ing to r. FL. Pinney became frightened at
passing vehicle and started on mild
run up the street minus q driver.
Street Superintendent Buchanan hap
pened to be driving near Little avenue
when the team came tearing up behind
him. Driving quickly into the curb he
barely had time to jump ont before the
heavy outfit crashed into his rig, smash.
ing the buggy all out of shape and mar.