The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1894-01-25
Surveyors Interesting Ezporionce
on Roundtop. Which Is 10000
Feet High.
a Dwelling That l. Sot Larger Than an
Averaged Sized Packing Case-kiso-
tric storm.

10, 900 feet high. i lie steep surface ~ COW
cred with disintegrated rock, commonly
called single that slides from under foot
Near the top a slide on the shingle would
b. exceedingly perilous. for the descent is
abrupt for 800 feet and precipitous for 200
more.
Nearing the apex, Mr.. Fairfield and his
companion were compelled 10 walk slowly
and with great caution around and around
the mountain, each time getting a little
closer 90 the summit. They had not mere
ly their own weight 10 carry, for instru-
mcnts and little tent aud -four and ba-
con had to go with them-some Of the ar
ticles Of use TO science, others of use 90 sci
entists.
AT the very top 81 the mountain Mr..
Fairfield found he had barely room to turn.
around. The peak comes TO such a SHARP
point that TO stretch his tripod he had tc
build a base Of rocks for one Of 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, he
lad difficulty in discovering the place.
Then he found it and laughed at his noun
tain home. Art had joined with nature ia
smaking this nest ~, 49G feet mp Roundtop.
A heliotroper Of the coast survey was there
IA years ago 10 fash signals clear across
the Sacramento valley TO an observer on "A
peak in the Coast range. lie had deepcned
a little cave or recess in the mountainside,
then with boards that had been carried up
the steep ascent had built a front wall, a
roof and a floor. The broken rock had so
covered the roof that the little house could
be detected from the summit OF the noun
tain, four feet above, only by close scru.
tiny.
Before he had finished his work great
snowstorm came up, and the thermometer
fell TO q degrees below zero. There was
nothing 10 do save 20 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 sleep
ing in the heliotroper's combination hus
and cave was not intended for two.
On the inside this entire house was just
20 inches long, "a inches high and 80
inches wide. Mr. Fairfield and his assist
ant had 60 lie down together very careful
ly and begin 70 arrange themselves in the
same position AS two spoons in 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 ell
bows or hands, and then together they
moved slowly around, finally lying again
in exactly the same place in which they
had sought rest while lying on the other
side. They did not often turn. The cramp-
ed position they were compelled TO take
made them stiff as If from rheumatism.
During the night Mr.. Fairfield heard
strange sounds under the floor of the tiny
house.
"Porcupines, " said his companion, who
WINS acquainted with the neighborhood ira
ditions about Roundtop "Porcupines have
made a nest under the floor"
The porcupine story soon proved TO be a
fiction Of the country. From under the
floor came rats-enormous rats or
inches long and light brown in color-ac-
tive rats that ran about this little house in
high and noisy cnrnival-rats that climbed
up the walls and dropped 20 the floor with
delighted squeaks at the noise they were
making.
These monstrous rats had taste for
disturbing the pence and no taste for the
food that pleases the rats Of civilization.
The -four and the bacon, the crackers and
even the cheese remained in the house
untouched by them, though no attempt
was made by Mr.. Fairfield to hide his pro
visions.
For three days Mr. Fairfield and his
companion did not leave the tiny hut eX-
cept for a few minutes. The snow was
falling constantly. The top Of the noun
tain WIS 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 expe-
rieuoes on that mountain.
lie was lying in the hut listening to the
storm and wishing for bright weather,
when his assistant, who had gone to the
portfolio 20 watch the snow and the clouds,
called him.
MIR Fairfield was in no haste 10 leave
his blankets TO look at falling snow, but
/ his companion urged him TO come and to
come quickly. lie reluctantly unrolled
himself and went TO the opening. He was
repaid.
From the ground q short distance away
came "a kissing sound. Hs II the cook Of ma
/ ture were frying half the mountain. The
/ kissing was continuous, but varied in in
I tensity. Mr.. Fairfield cautiously APP
{ preached the place whence the sound came.
I lie found that the noise seemed centered
/ in "a little jut Of rock not bigger than a
chair
lie hlciipeh upon Aue ihch anu INSTANTLY
received an electric shock. not 80 severe az
10 hurt him. but sufficient 10 make every
1 part Of bis body Jingle. lie stepped from
| the rock. and instantly the electricity left
/ him. Ono foot from the rock 10 could not
I bee felt.
HE assistant then stepped upon the rock.
+ The shock was too much Tor him. xvi
IDENTITY be is much more sensitive 60 elee-
tricity than Mr.. Fairfield. because IL hurt
him. lie felt pains all over his body, and
every hair stood straight from his head
lie siepeped quickly from the rock and
/ would not try the experiment ncain.
+ ono experience with an electric storm
/ bad insulated him against the desire 60 re
peat 10.
Theformnl record Of Mr. FairGcld's trip
20 Alpine peak is simple liue-latitude,
90 much. longitude, 30 much.-San Iran
riaeo Examiner