149 



at high altitudes. In the Report of the C. S. O. for 1874, 

 it is stated that, Mar. 23rd, the wind had a velocity of 130 

 miles an hour, and continued near that enormous force for 

 twenty-four hours. In the Monthly Weather Review for 

 Jan., 1878, it says that remarkable wind-velocities were 

 measured at Thatchers Island, of 70 miles an hour; at 

 Cape Lookout, of 120 ; and at Mount Washington, of 

 186. Great velocities, at high altitudes, when storm areas 

 extend over a large extent of country, are not so remark- 

 able as that there should be great velocities in the upper 

 currents of the air, when it is calm below. On the 4th 

 of May, 1872, when there was a special series of obser- 

 vations being taken, there was a wind of 96 miles an 

 hour on the summit, while at the base of the mountain, 

 only 3667 ft. below the summit, there was a perfect calm. 

 At the time, there was a heavy snow storm at the base, 

 with nimbus clouds on the mountain. There have been 

 many narrow escapes, when there were high winds accom- 

 panied by low temperature. The speaker once made the 

 ascent of the mountain, and on reaching the summit, the 

 wind was 70 miles per hour, and the temperature — 17°. 

 From Lizzie Bourne monument, to the summit, was a 

 continuous struggle with wind and cold ; with the wind 

 to see which was the stronger ; with the cold, to escape 

 the sleep of death. 



The Signal Service took the station, May 12th, 1871, 

 and the following officers have since been in charge. 



Sergt. Theodore Smith, from May 12th, to May 25th, 

 1871, when he was relieved. 



Sergt. M. L. Hearne, from May 25th, 1871, to April 

 3rd, 1872. 



Sergt. A. R. Thornett took charge of station until May 

 17th, when Sergt. Hearne was reassigned, but not being 

 strong enough to endure the exposure, he was perma- 

 nently relieved by Sergt. Thornett. 



