Mexico weekly ledger., 1894-08-09
On Pixies Peak.
A FIERCE BATTLE WITH THE
ELEMENTS IN AN ATTEMPT TO
REACH THE SUMMIT.
Gny MaefarIane the Youngest Person
That Ever Made the Journey
.Maek's" Fruiticss Chase After
an item-i Noted Woman
Eludes Him.

Special Correspondence of the Ledger.
SUMMIT OF Pixies PEAK, Ell. PAso
COUNTY, ALTITUDE l+,l47 it,, Aug.
AT last | am in a place where
the question, sis it hot enough for
you?" is not known. Nearly three
miles above sea-level, the thermome-
ter registering 81 degrees, the
ground covered with snow. How
does that sound TO people who have
been praying for rain and a breeze?
My three brothers having climbed
the Peak thought that | would do
likewise, in order to make the fam
lily average good. In this connec-
ton it might be well to add that
Guy-the "kid'-holds a worlds
championship, the youngest person
that ever made the ascent of Pixies
Peak on foot. But the youngest of
the clan does not seem to appreciate
his honors, and says the Peak is a
''fake," nothing but a lot of old
rocks. The "kid" went up, expect
ing to find a botanical garden of I'M
limited beauty.
But TO return to my subject. On
the 31st of July, 1894, "Dick"
| Peete, of the New Orleans Picayune,
and myself started to the summit.
At first the climb was easy. We
had the vigor of lowland levels in
our veins, and the impulses of en-
thusiastic endeavor to urge us on.
Beautiful hroOklets rippled gently
beside our path, and our way was
fairly covered with wild flowers of
gorgeous tints. As far upon the
mountain side as the eye could
reach the bluebells and clover grew
in reckless profusion. Far down in
the valley beneath our gaze rested
upon the same blue and white, in
more delicate tones. With these
companions of natures making we
trudged merriiy on our journey,
with hearts as light as that of the
school boy set free from the hated
sway of the masters rule. We be.
gan to think that %sluggards had
climbed the Peak before, and thai
our task would be easy after all
And so ambitious mortals always
reckon, that having made an aus
picious start, they cannot fail. De
luded fools. GLOW is this for phi
llosophy?)
We now had gotten over the frs
part of u ascent. AS we were
crossing a broad table-Iand, all ma
ture seemed TO warn us of an ap
preaching storm. Not a breath o
air was stirring; the chip-munk'
which heretofore had gamboled il
6 our pathway had sought refuge il
the ~crevices of the rugged rocks
The birds were hushed as in the
midnight hour. The silence wa
Oppressive!
Until now we had failed to notic'
the ominous clouds that had gradu
ally enveloped the peaks above us
afar off could be eel long lines o
wind and rain, as if the forces o
nature were being marshaled for al
impending conflict. Down thu
mountain side swooped these blacl
masses of storm-cloud. The rock:
now took on a more forbiddtng lool
that seemed to challenge by wha
right we dared invade their wilt
domain. Night came on TO ado
bleakness to the cen Huge bould
ers and sharp featured stones ros,
up to block our path. Over heat
the wind began to whistle shrilly
bringing down fast beating rain anG
cold biting sleet.
Our ascent grew more precipitou'
with every step, and our strength
weaker with each effort as we labor
ed on. We lost the familiar sign:
which bring cheer to every way
%farer's heart. We were wrapped in
a darkness so hideous and dreal
that we knew not "where we were
at"
The weather YES intensely cold
our limbs were benumbed, and each
step onward was painful. After an
hours struggle against these over
whelming odds, | was startled by
hearing my comrade shout in my
ear, "Look, Mac, there is a lightl''
was half.blinded by the sleet, and
started ahead for several moments
before | made out the dim, flicker
ing CLEAN streaming from a window
far above, visible only at intervals
through the fog.
Only the ship'wrecked mariner,
who sees the brightly burning beacon
lights after days and nights OF
anxious watching, can appreciate
the joys of that moment. THANK
God" was the fervent exclamation
of both, as we rushed forward. Tor
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