I08 PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY. 



air-line passage to Tuckennan's ravine, for the wind kept increasing- until towards 

 morning, wlien it blew a terrific hurricane. Mr. Huntington and Mr. Clougb, both 

 having had considerable of this kind of experience, say it must liave blown, at the 

 highest point, no to 120 miles per hour. We expected at any moment to have the 

 building come down about our heads, and were prepared to make an effort for our lives, 

 having put hard-tack in our pockets, and armed with axe and saw, ready, in case we 

 found it necessary, to cut our way out, getting also some of our thickest blankets ready 

 for use, and preparing with considerable excitement for any emergency. The wind 

 roared terribly, as if inspired with the power and spite of all the furies, and the wild 

 rage was so deafening that we were obliged to shout to our utmost in order to be beard. 

 Huntington and Clough were both very cool, although I believe they thought the 

 chances were more than even that we should have quarters elsewhere before morning. 

 We watched all night, waiting anxiously the effect or result of the hurricane ; and, 

 after a long night of such fearful tumult, morning brought us a little relief, by reducing 

 the velocity of the wind to 84 miles per hour. We were duly thankful for this slight 

 change, and at breakfast we congratulated each other on our narrow escape ; for, if the 

 building had been crushed, our chance for wishing any one a " Merry Christmas" and 

 " Happy New Year" would have been very small ; for the mercury was 15° below zero, 

 and the barometer, the lowest recorded so far, 22.796. This remarkable fall will not 

 happen often, but when it does we shall keep housed. The immediate danger is 

 passed, however, and our good cover has been severely tested, and has not been 

 found wanting in point of strength. We have more confiden.ce in it than we had 

 before the storm. 



We continue this narrative with extracts from the journal, written by 

 S. A. Nelson: 



December 11. Forefathers' Day was celebrated by the arrival of Prof. Hitchcock, 

 L. B. Newell, E. Thompson, F. Woodbridge, and the writer. We ascended in a rough 

 south-west snow storm, with the velocity of the wind at 59 miles per hour. It is pleas- 

 ant to be located at last, and settled down for the coming six months. It is quite a 

 change, in one short week from busy Boston, to this out-of-the-world-up-in-the-clouds 

 observatory. . . . There are no signs of animal life outside. Mice are plenty in the 

 house, and it is thought that a sable has taken up winter quarters under the building. 



December 23. Kimball was up first this morning, and had the first sight of as beau- 

 tiful a sunrise as one could wish. It was a cold morning, the thermometer indicating o ; 

 but we don't feel the cold as sensibly as in the lower regions. Clough and Kimball 

 took some fine views to-day,— among them, one of the observatory, with Clough, Smith, 

 and Nelson standing by the door. Later in the day, they took one from the roof of 

 the hotel. They have been successful against odds, having had but three days so far 

 suitable for work during a month's residence. 



December 24. Yesterday afternoon, and late at night, a "snow-bank" Jay along the 

 south ; this forenoon, snow was falling, with a temperature of —13°. At times, during 



