Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-11-13

senger 10 the brakeman. no" often U0
you change the racksY
Those racks have been here since the
road was built. The engine pusnihB Us
has set of cOgs which have been uaeu
two seasons and they're not mucn "o'h'
They only cost 500 a set, that's all
Surprising. though, what good steer
will stand isn't itY' said the brakeman
refectively, as he placed pON he"i'i
the brake for a seat.
The little engine was putting at ire
mendous rate ami the train was moving
I'D "Son-of-a-Gun" Hill. There was COM
paratively little jar.
How many months in the year is the
road operated? asked the passenger.
Bout 1--WE: but the best Of the season
Is crowded into two
How deep does the snow fall near the
top Of the peak?'
The train had passed the halfway
house and through Helis Gate into huA-
ton and Aspen parks.
Not very deep: four % eight feet, but
not for long. Now. IN the valley here we
have less snow usually than down
below. It's shut IN, you see, and We're
nearer the sun and It melts fast Some
times I'm winter there Is practically no
snow here"
How cold does IT get2'
"Oh. probably 80 or 40 degrees below
but you don't feel it so much
That's Badly ahead Of you; old Bad
Mountain. Looks big now, doesn't II!
About 1880 feet, the lower part HouH
Doe three quarters Of "a mile higher before
YOU stop. Fix your camera; you may get
"a shot at some mountain sheep. Last
week "a small bunch was on the track
here. and we stopped the train TO let
kodak 6end take shot"
But the sheep did not materialize.
As the train moved around the next
curve the peak doomed up I'm all Of its
grandeur Before. it had seemed as
though Camerons Cone and others were
higher but now its great altitude could
De appreciated. The train moved over
moderate gr0de nursing its energy for
the terrific climb around the southern side
of the mountain 10 the summit. From M
spiration Point a grand view Of the coun-
try below was obtained and next timber
line Gl.5-s feeO was passed. From thence
on around Windy Point there was nothing
bv or above the track. except rocks ana
powders and few MOSES and ltchens
From Windy Point one gets the hrst
western view. Looking southwest you
can see Victor Creole and Bull Hi.
The summit Is not far distant
on the platform, with the brakeman
and the passenger, was man VINO llNel
on the peak. With him was a shepherd
dog. Bob. When Windy Point was
reached Bob who was born on the peak,
gave a yelp and jumped TO the ground
II was - per cent grade. but 1t was
for a moment only that Bob was left be-
hind. Getting under way he got ahead
Of the train. and, yelpins at every bound,
he made for home" Occasionally he
would run back and meet the train. and
sometimes 10 seemed as though he would
DE crushed 20 death, but he always es-
capped. But before the summit was
reached Bob began 10 get weary, and
his tail dropped lower and lower and his
tongue hung out farther and farther
Cries Of eco on. Bob; so onw would
cause him TO sprint for a short distance
but finally Bob got out Of the way, the
train passed and he came on at q slow
trot IL was a tired dog that came slow
ly over the last grade az the passengers
alighted.
IL was just about II \. NJ The ride
from Manit0u had taken one and one-half
hours The afternoon before, September
4th. 10 had showed about four inches
on the peak. but now there was not more
than an inch. and that was melting fast.
ON the side of the railway platform is
storage purposes: on the other is the
United States signal station, built in 1852
under the direction of General Hazen,
then chief signal officer. The weather
service abandoned the structure two
years ago, and now il IS occupied by a
lunch counter and curio store. The
first signal station. erected IN 1876 and
vacated for better building in 1SS2,
stands 20 the west. and just north OF it
is the old observatory. Both are now I'm
partial ruin. The late Sergeant O'Keefe
was the first signal officer on the peak,
and there is now a sorrOwful reminder
of his stay-a grave amid the great pieces
Of granite which cover the surface. A
mound Of rocks and two pine boards
mark the spot. The head-board bears this
inscription weather-stained and old:
Erected In memory of Erin O'Keefe.
daughter Of John and Nora O'Keefe. who
was eaten by mountain rats in tho
year 1876"