The morning call., 1895-01-20
is ALMOST ISOLATED.
Mount Hamilton Surrounded
by Snow.
DEEP AT THE OBSERVATORY.
Perilous Passage Of the Stage From
San Jose.
CHILDS PUSHES THROUGH DRIFTS.
His Battle With the Elements in Garry.
ing the Mails and Eseorting a
Plucky Girl Up the Mountain.
CHILDS PUSHES THROUGH DRIFTS.

SAN JOSE, Jan. 19.-The road to Mount
Hamilton from this city is now impossible
on account of washed out culverts and
drifting snow. Since last Wednesday it
has been impossible for the mail stage to
reach the observatory. A point within
two miles of it was reached yesterday, and
for the remainder of the distance the mail
was carried on horseback, and for the last
half mile on foot by Fred Childs, the
manager of the stage company. The snow
is four feet deep on level surrounding the
observatory, and in many places it has
drifted to depth of twelve to fifteen feet.
The snow is deeper and covers more terri
tory than for years.
SIN my seven years experience in team
ing and staging on the Mount Hamilton
road l never had so rough a trip in getting
through with mail as during last evening"
said Fred Childs. "Last Wednesday sent
my driver, Billy Maddox, up the mountain
with a two-horse team to light stage that
we use during the winter season. Besides
the mail he had one passenger, a servant
girl engaged to take a position in the
family of Professor Barnard at the observa-
tory. Maddox reached Halls Valley all
right, but from that point to Smiths Greek
he had to ford the road, as you might say,
for there was stream of water running in
it in one place for distance Of two miles.
GA few miles beyond Smiths Creek the
snow region was reached. The snow be-
came deeper and deeper and cold, sharp
wind was blowing gale. In his desperate
efforts to push forward the stage tipped
over twice and threw the driver and the
girl passenger out into the snow. They
were not injured, and the girl did not
seem to be frightened at her rough-and-
tumble experience. She was not in favor
of going back, and each time she tried to
cheer Driver Maddox up while she assisted
him as best she could to right his vehicle.
AT last, when wiz, two miles of the
observatory, the driver finally made up his
mind to turn back. He was glad to reach
Smiths Greek again. He left the girl
there and returned with the mail that
evening to San Jose. On the following day
| made the attempt to reach the observa-
tory myself, as it was necessary, according
to the contract, to get the mail through in
some way. Besides the double team and
stage 1 had saddle horse tied behind.
had hopes that l could reach the observa-
tory on horseback.
"When | reached Smiths Creek I was
| told the girl was determined to try it again.
Professor Barnard had telephoned, advis-
ing her strongly not to come as there was
danger of perishing in the snow, but the
girl would not listen to this advice or that
of the people around the hotel. She said
she had her trunk there, and as she was SO
near to her destination she would rather
die in the snow than go all the way back to
her home in Tulare County and lose her
Job. The girl declared that she could ride
on horseback, and even walk in the snow, if
necessary, so I let her start on the trip up
the mountain toward the snowdrifts.
had to abandon the stage again two miles
from the summit, and at a point half a
mile from my destination | took the mail
and started out with it on my back. The
girl rode the horse, but he soon refused to
go any further, and both of US had to push
on on foot.
"Our progress was very slow, as it took
us more than two hours to go less than half
mile. Sometimes in pushing ahead
would fall into hole up to my armpits,
and then I would have to pull out again
and make my way to point where the
snow had not drifted so deep. The girl fol-
lowed me as close as she could. / would
make path by tramping in the snow a
distance of ten or twelve feet. After she
had walked that distance l would make
another similar path, and in that way we
slowly made our way up the mountain.
1t was showing at that time and cold
wind was blowing gale. The girls hair
fell loose about her shoulders and it was
soon mass of icicles. She kept up pluck
lily, however, and at last we reached the OBJ
servatory. With the help of several men
from the observatory I managed to get my
saddle horse from the snow drifts and put
him in stable in the rear of the observa-
tory.
"The next morning l wanted to take the
animal back to San Jose with me, but
could not get at him. The snow had
drifted up around the stable for distance
of fifty feet to height of fifteen feet and
more. Feed and water was taken to the
horse over the top of the snow, and / had
to leave him there in the care of the OBJ
servatory employees. | returned to San
Jose tonight Monday | shall return to
the observatory and tunnel my horse out
if it can possibly be done. The snow in
the region surrounding the observatory is
fully four feet deep on the level"