62 MOUNTAIN OBSERVATORIES IN AMERICA AND EUROPE. 



The electrical storms at the summit are fully described by the ob- 

 servers, and they are terrific. By taking proper precautions they are 

 not dangerous to life, though most appalling. The lightning is nearly 

 continuous for long periods, and the deep rolling thunder is shattering 

 to the strongest nerves. 



I myself witnessed one of these storms in 1873 from a safe shelter at 

 the foot of the mountain, and I sliall never forget it. Columns of 

 lightning seemed to stand in place for minutes, and the rolling of the 

 thunder was awful to hear. No amount of reason could prevent the 

 instinctive shrinking from the sudden bursts of lightning and the 

 deafening reports and echoes of the thunder. The observers on the 

 mountain summit were much incommoded by these electrical storms, 

 but learned how to arrange their telegraph instruments, etc., so as to 

 avoid all real danger. 



Hailstorms on the mountain are frequent and violent. Snow falls in 

 every month of the year, but not in such quantities as to make work 

 specially difficult. 



The extraordinary transparency of the atmosphere at the summit has 

 been remarked by all who have had occasion to test it. The following 

 extract from the journal of the observers is a proof of it : 



October 9, 1874. The atmosphere was so transparent that with the aid of a 

 telescope the observer could see the low range of hills on the line of New Mexico 

 (about 130 miles), and the southern portion of Wyoming (about 150 miles) ; could 

 also distinguish houses and streets in Pueblo (distant 50 miles) ; and had a fine 

 view of Denver (which is over 75 miles away). 



Such an atmosphere as this is perfect for certain astrophysical ob- 

 servations. Unfortunately the steadiness of the atmosphere leaves 

 very much to be desired, as is testified to by all observers who have 

 spent any time on the summit. 



In July, 1878, Dr. Langley observed the total solar eclipse from 

 the summit of Pike s Peak. He reports that the summit is prob- 

 ably not a suitable station for a large telescope, and concludes that 

 " a somewhat lower station sheltered from the vapor-bearing winds 

 would be much better than the peak itself," say at an elevation of from 

 8000 to 11,000 feet. He remarks upon the great transparency of the 

 air, and on one occasion was struck with the steadiness of definition. 



The party of Professor Langley was much affected by mountaia- 

 sickness, and it was necessary for one of them. Professor Abbe, to de- 

 scend to a lower level, as a physician pronounced his life to be in 

 danger if he remained on the summit. 



In 1893 Professor G. E. Hale (H.), Mrs. Hale (L.), and Professor 

 Keeler (K.) went to Colorado to attempt to photograph the solar 

 corona from the summit of Pike's Peak (14,134 feet). The journal of 



