The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-07-10
UP IN THE CLOUDS.
A Russian Refugee Has House Ele-
waited IL. 900 Feet.

From the San Francisco Call.
The wilds of California are filed with
all sorts of strange habitations occupied
by strange people. Some of the people
have good reasons for living the lives of
hermits, and some are, most likely. lit
tie insane. There is one man, though,
VINO is not insane, yet has about as
strange home in as lonesome locality
as ever man occupied. His name is
Peter Stiffel, and he lives far up toward
the peak OF Mount Whitney, where for
SIX months in the year it could not be
reached by another human being without
the aid OF wings, and during the other six
months 1t is matter of toll and hardship
te reach his abode. Just exactly what
Stlnels story is cannot be aSCertained,
but he is a Russian nobleman by birth.
who, in an unfortunate moment several
years ago, said something that offended
the car. Having too much sense to stay
at home and stand trial, knowing that he
would have no show to escape Siberia, he
fed at once, taking as much money with
him as he could carry.
he had difficulty in getting out Of Rus
sla, but after many adventures reached
this country. His escape was due to the
fact that he went across Siberia instead
OF going east. At Vladivostock he took
ship for Alaska, but did not feel safe
there, as he was too near the emissaries
OF his Russian tyrant master. Stiffel
ried many places to make his home, but
omehow did not feel safe until he found
his present abode. He did not want to
live in big cities, because in such locations
there was no more pleasure in life for
MIN as long as his country is in its pres
ent condition. He knows he is perfectly
safe from arrest in America, but the
car has other ways of getting revenge7
The most important object to Stiffel was
to conceal his identity, and he went to
work In the lumber mills in the noun
talns, but there was recognized by a man
who had also escaped from Russia. The
man was convict, however, and Stiffel
would have nothing to do with him.
After his identity was known, Stiffel was
surprised TO find that his fellow working
men sympathized with him, and kindly
| offered to kill any one from Russia who
molested him. Nevertheless, he con-
cluded to bury himself from the world,
and, buying couple of burros, he
started out.
The spot he selected for his cabin is
about 1900 feet above sea level. and
since he has been living there only NE
| people have called on him. The house is
built of heavy logs and placed close up
against a group of enormous granite
powders. The roof slopes toward the
AAOlb NOOls oO butJ bLG SHOW Will SIDE on
without endangering the structure The
interior consists of three rooms, the mid
die one containing an enormous fireplace,
woodpile and a chair and a table. The
other rooms are, with the exception of a
large number Of books, as bare of furni-
ture as it is possible TO imagine a human
habitation. 1t is here that Stiffel
spends his time. Twice a wear he
| goes to Visalia to mail letters and get
supplies and see that his money is all
right. In summer he wanders over the
mountains after game, but in winter he is
showed in most of the time One wear
| snow covered his house to such a depth
that he could not get out, and the only
way he got air was through the chimney.
By looking up he could see walls of snow
on both sides, where the heat from the
fire had melted passageway. For four
teen weeks he only saw the patch Of sky
over the chimney and the walls of his
rooms. Fortunately, he had plenty Of
tirewood and provisions, or he would have
starved to death. But in this place Stiffel
seems contented to live and die in what
he calls freedom. That he belongs to the
upper class of Russians there can be no
doubt, as he is well educated and refined.