Echo Mtn. Echoes Winter 1997, a magazine of Southern California history in general and Thaddeus Lowe and his mountain railway in particular

<body bgcolor="#FEFEEB" text="#000000" link="#0000FF" vlink="#800080" alink="#FF0000"> <p align="center"><img src="../../echo.jpg" alt="Echo Mtn. Echoes, a magazine of southern California history and collectables, especially about Mount Lowe and Thaddeus Lowe's Mountain Railway featuring many old historic photographs, stories, and biographies of the communities of the San Gabriel Mountains and valley from the 1890's on. Pictorial and editorial information about historic Echo Mountain and Mount Lowe in the Angeles National Forest area of the San Gabriel mountains of Southern California, just above Altadena in the Los Angeles foothills, including articles, historic photographs, history, biographies, and events related to Thaddeus Lowe's mountain railway. winter, snow, snowman, sled, sledding, snowing, snow fight, snow ball, snow flake, mount, Mount Lowe, Mount Lowe Railway, Mount Lowe Railroad, history, railway, railway history, railraod, railroad history, i ncline, incline railroad, Altadena, Altadena history, southern california, southern california history, San Gabriel, San Gabriel Valley, San Gabriel Valley history, Millard, Millard Canyon, Thaddeus, Thaddeus Lowe, Pasadena, Pasadena history, California, California history, California history railroads, California history railways, Pacific, Pacific Electric, Pacific Electric Railway, red, red cars, trolley, 1890s, turn of the century, photographs, old photographs, historic photographs, collectables, collectibles, spoons, stamps, postcards, post cards, antique, antique postcards, biography, Brown, Brown Mountain, camp, camping, collector, culture, cultural heritage, heritage, Dawn, Dawn Mine, mine, gold, gold mine, gold mining, East, East Fork, Echo Mountain, Inspiration, Inspiration Point, foothill, foothills, forest, founders, settler, settlers, Eaton, glen, granite, hike, hiking, hiking southern california, hiking San Gabriels, hiking Angeles, hotel, memorabilia, Baldy, Wilson, resorts, nature, nostalgia, nostalgic, observatory, old, outdoor, peak, picture, photo, photos, photo tour, river, riparian, tree, trail, vacation, valley, walking, walking era, water, waterfall, West, West Fork, 1900, azusa, Angeles, Angeles Forest, beauty, souvenir, rubio, seco, glen, arroyo" border="1" width="204" height="82"></p> <hr size="5" noshade> <p align="center"><font color="#008000" size="6" face="Artistik, FormalScrp421 BT"><strong>Snow On Mt. Lowe</strong></font></p> <div align="center"><center><table border="1" cellpadding="10"> <tr> <td><p align="center"><font size="3">When day begins near ocean spray<br> We start our journey P.E. way;<br> Through orange groves to mountain heights<br> And romp in snow before the night</font></td> </tr> </table> </center></div><p align="center"><font size="3">By Jake Brouwer</font></p> <p align="left"><font size="3">In Southern California a semi-crescent shaped range of mountains named the San Gabriels, sweeps some fifty miles in length offering views not quite like any other afforded most travelers. Its stark contrasts are most apparent in the winter months though not so much in recent years as it was in years long past. Californias greatest winter playground near the turn of the twentieth century became the San Gabriel Mountains most prominent landmark and to this day beckons hikers to its sometimes-ghostly haunts. It was known as the Scenic Mt. Lowe Railway and incorporated such colorful names as Rubio Canyon, Echo Mountain, Crystal Springs and Inspiration Point. Thaddeus S. C. Lowe was the artist and the beautiful San Gabriel Mountains were his canvas.</font></p> <blockquote> <div align="center"><center><table border="1" cellpadding="5"> <tr> <td><img src="v2n4beachat12.jpg" alt="the beach at noon" border="1" width="256" height="350"></td> <td><img src="v2n4snowballat4.jpg" alt="snowballs at 4:00" border="1" width="217" height="350"></td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center">The beach at noon</td> <td align="center">snowballs at 4:00</td> </tr> </table> </center></div> </blockquote> <p align="left"><font size="3">Thaddeus Lowe, not new to winter wonderlands, was born and raised in the <a href="http://www.newww.com/org/nhhs/popresorts.html" target="UrlWindow" onclick="UrlWindowOpener("http://www.newww.com/org/nhhs/popresorts.html")">White Mountains</a><i> </i>White Mountains of New Hampshire. He had more than a vision in mind when he created and built the Scenic Mt. Lowe Railroad. The Professor sought to and successfully did wed the fastness of the mountains with the wonders of modern life. Walkways and trails skirt for miles along steep canyon walls, across babbling streams, through idyllic forests bringing you the traveler to the choicest views the Professor could find. His electric railroad brought thousands of tourists to Californias vacation Mecca and it also allowed a view of unsurpassed beauty and endless recreation to the local residents in the valleys below. </font></p> <p align="left"><font size="3">For men of letters like George Wharton James, John sharp, and John Stoddard perhaps the best literary contrasts they could present to portray the splendor of the Mt. Lowe Railway were ones of winter. Where else could these men boast of swimming on the beaches of <a href="http://santamonica.com/explore/beaches.html" target="UrlWindow" onclick="UrlWindowOpener("http://santamonica.com/explore/beaches.html")">Santa Monica</a> Bay at noon, than strolling in groves of <a href="http://www.eee.org/com/sbcmuseum/everitt/photo6.htm" target="UrlWindow" onclick="UrlWindowOpener("http://www.eee.org/com/sbcmuseum/everitt/photo6.htm")">oranges</a> to pick a snack at two oclock, and later to be frantically evading a catapulted snowball by four that same afternoon.</font></p> <p align="left"><font size="3"><img src="v2n4snowman.jpg" alt="snowman" align="left" border="1" hspace="10" width="256" height="350">Think of it! Pasadenas <a href="http://www.mc.edu/~nettles/rofaq/rofaq-top.html" target="UrlWindow" onclick="UrlWindowOpener("http://www.mc.edu/~nettles/rofaq/rofaq-top.html")">rose</a> gardens and sleighing at Inspiration Point the same day! Chasing <a href="http://mgfx.com/butterfly/resource/index.htm" target="UrlWindow" onclick="UrlWindowOpener("http://mgfx.com/butterfly/resource/index.htm")">butterflies</a> in Rubio, then snowballing near the Tavern! Watching <a href="http://www.derived.com/hummers/" target="UrlWindow" onclick="UrlWindowOpener("http://www.derived.com/hummers/")">humming birds</a> along Sunset Trail in the morning and than building a snowman in the frosty white before dinner! Who would not want to go? </font></p> <p align="left"><font size="3">A clever Pacific Electric ad announced SNOW ON MT. LOWE! Most distinct novelty in California. Go and take the "kiddies." Think of what a treat it will be for all of you, with no hardships or severe exposure to the cold. Comfortable cars all the way. Alpine tavern provides every comfort while you stay, with meals a la carte. Go today and enjoy the "beautiful." Think of the rare sport to be had. And the snow cannot last very long. Five trains daily.</font></p> <p align="left"><font size="3"><img src="v2n4sleighride.jpg" alt="sleigh ride" align="right" border="1" hspace="10" width="432" height="256">And so they came. Through the valley floor where the odor oforanges and roses struggle for precedence, across the semi-tropical fields of <a href="../../altadena/index.htm" target="UrlWindow" onclick="UrlWindowOpener("http://www.aaaim.com/altadena")">Altadena</a> aglow with golden poppies, and into the depths of Rubio Canyon for the spirited ride up to the heavens on a white chariot. Climbing through the clouds to this "White City," this Echo Mountain, this first stop on the way to sights of Norwegian grandeur on the Alpine Division was a cool adventure in itself. Pulling sweaters and mittens on as the chariot rose. Then, huddling with your neighbor against the cold until you turn to look at the car falling from above as someone so graciously has pointed out, and then you quickly turn back as the breeze created as it passes bites at your exposed cheeks. It is quiet most of the rest of the trip up. </font></p> <p align="left"><font size="3">"Landing" on Echo was a good feeling. It was swell to be on solid ground. After a short stop well head on up the line. Just want to stretch my feet a bit if its all right with you. </font></p> <p align="center"><font size="3"><img src="v2n4echohouse.jpg" alt="Echo House" align="middle" border="1" width="540" height="429"></font></p> <p align="left"><font size="3">Echo was sometimes blanketed in snow adding to its serene beauty but mostly you would be amazed at the delicate flowers that were flourishing in this wintry climate. For here in Southern California winter brings to our canyons their greatest allure. Nature is busily at work. From the rock streams water, flowing over mossy canyon walls, filling pools, forming cascades, giving moisture and renewed life to all sorts of vegetation. Patches of brown transform to rich green and once bare spots sprout winter flowers.</font></p> <div align="center"><center><table border="1" cellpadding="10"> <tr> <td><p align="center"><img src="v2n4snowballfight.jpg" alt="Snowball party" align="middle" border="1" width="465" height="256"></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p align="center">A Charles Lawrence photograph<br> courtesy of the Charles Seims Collection</td> </tr> </table> </center></div><p align="left"><font size="3">"Enough of this!" shout the young ones. "On to the <a href="http://www.skisocal.org/reports.html" target="UrlWindow" onclick="UrlWindowOpener("http://www.skisocal.org/reports.html")">snow</a>" And so we board the Alpine Division of the Scenic Mt. Lowe Railroad. Bundling up even more. As we climb in elevation the excitement starts to escalate. "How much further will it be?" Then not more than a thousand feet above the flowers at Echo came the first patches of snow. "Hurray!" Come the shouts from young and old. Then as the electric car climbs higher and higher the snow gets deeper and deeper. Soon even the motorman has some concerns about the depth of the newly fallen snow, or so it seems. He stops the car as if to inspect a particular problem and as natural as can be half the car is soon emptied and a snowball battle ensues. What an unexpected pleasure this was as a prelude to Alpine Tavern.</font></p> <div align="center"><center><table border="1" cellpadding="10"> <tr> <td align="center"><img src="v2n4manaloneseims.jpg" alt="C. Seims Collection" border="1" width="256" height="346"></td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center"><p align="center">C. Seims Collection</td> </tr> </table> </center></div><p align="left"><font size="3">Crystal Springs, Ye Alpine Tavern, and Mt. Lowe Tavern, all one in the same, depending on when you were there, could be covered by a layer of <a href="http://www.ifni.com/ski.html" target="UrlWindow" onclick="UrlWindowOpener("http://www.ifni.com/ski.html")">snow</a> for several weeks during the year bringing crowds to this winter wonderland. The mountain atmosphere is dry and pure and even though a foot or more of snow may blanket the ground the cold is not at all as severe as it is in other mountain resorts. </font></p> <p align="left"><font size="3"><img src="v2n4toboggan.jpg" alt="Toboggan" align="left" border="1" hspace="10" width="256" height="517">Exiting the train at the Tavern was a welcome occurrence. The cold had taken its toll on the passengers and they eagerly headed inside to check into their accommodations for the evening. After thawing out around the grand fireplace it was "up and at em" again. An elegant sleigh was taking on hearty passengers for a ride among the pines and to points unsurpassed for looking at a variety of scenery. </font></p> <p align="left"><font size="3">Later in the early evening you walk alone through the moon lit darkness towards the tavern, a light flurry of snow causes you to raise your collar. There is a deep silence, the silence of nature. You feel better for having been there and quietly go to your room.<br clear="all"> </font></p> <p align="left"> </p> <hr width="85%"> <p align="center"><font color="#008080" size="6" face="Technical, Book Antiqua"><strong>Where is the American?</strong></font></p> <p align="center"><font size="3">By Jake Brouwer</font></p> <p><font size="3">The lines were cut at exactly 3:00 in the afternoon and the balloon American rose to the skies. Its flight seemed destined for trouble at the outset for just outside the fence of Tournament Park the drag rope wrapped around three electrical wires and held the balloon captive. As the crowd looked on a ground crew came to the assistance of the American and freed the balloon for its afternoon ride. With all the commotion going on the pilot, Captain Augustus E. Mueller failed to notice that the wind sock was no longer tailing towards the east as their trip plan required but to the north towards the San Gabriel Mountains. </font></p> <div align="center"><center><table border="1" cellpadding="10"> <tr> <td align="center"><img src="v2n4tournamentpark.jpg" alt="Tournament Park 1909" align="middle" border="1" width="540" height="431"></td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center">Photo of Tournament Park 1909 by Harold Parker<br> courtesy of Donald A. Parker</td> </tr> </table> </center></div><p><font size="3">It was March 20, 1909 and thousands of people crowded the streets of Pasadena that day to celebrate the 20<sup>th</sup> anniversary of the <a href="http://www.tournamentofroses.com/rosehist.htm" target="UrlWindow" onclick="UrlWindowOpener("http://www.tournamentofroses.com/rosehist.htm")">Tournament of Roses</a>. Afterwards folks would gather at Tournament Park to witness horse races, <a href="http://sunsite.utk.edu/special/olympics/classical/equestrian.html" target="UrlWindow" onclick="UrlWindowOpener("http://sunsite.utk.edu/special/olympics/classical/equestrian.html")">chariot races</a>, football games, view the horse drawn floats, and on this particular day there was to be a balloon race between the American and the United States. The owner of both balloons, Dick Ferris, was to pilot the United States in the race. Ferris however was dismayed by the weather conditions on Friday and canceled the race.</font></p> <p><font size="3">Captain Mueller was not one to be put off by a few dark clouds off in the mountains to the north. It was sunny in the morning, the skies were clear to the east, and after all it was the last day of the carnival. Mueller optimistically set out to inflate the balloon. Surely there will be some that will ride the winds with me today.</font></p> <div align="center"><center><table border="1" cellpadding="10"> <tr> <td align="center"><img src="v2n4passengers.jpg" alt="the balloon American" align="middle" border="1" width="436" height="256"></td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center">The Captain and his passengers ready for take off in the balloon American. Photograph from the Harold Parker collection.<br> courtesy of Donald A. Parker</td> </tr> </table> </center></div><p><font size="3">Richard C. Halsted rode in the balloon earlier that week and gathered together four other men to pay the $25.00 fee for todays ride. The other passengers were Lane C. Gilliam, Sydney Cray, Edwin Dobschultz, and photographer Harold A. Parker. At 2:30 the six men climbed in the balloon and after dealing with the ropes being caught up the wires they were finally up, up, and away. As they drifted along in free flight the drag rope of the American touched the tops of the trees in the orange groves north of the park. Mueller had a sandbag dropped overboard and the American gained elevation. </font></p> <p><font size="3">Thirty-year-old Parker brought with him his new <a href="http://www.kodak.com/" target="UrlWindow" onclick="UrlWindowOpener("http://www.kodak.com/")">Kodak</a> bellows camera. This modern wonder used roll film and was promoted as being a "vest pocket model." As the balloon rose Parker snapped the first aerial pictures of Pasadena. </font></p> <p><font size="3">The passengers were quite occupied with pointing out familiar sites to each other while Mueller remained silent. He was aware that the balloon was traveling north instead of east. Instead of turning back at this point he chooses to toss out more sandbags and gain altitude, rather than be the laughing stock of his peers by landing shortly after take off. </font></p> <div align="center"><center><table border="1" cellpadding="10" width="60%"> <tr> <td align="center" width="25%"><img src="v2n4american.jpg" alt="the balloon American" align="middle" border="1" width="256" height="418"></td> <td align="center" width="10%">The American ascends. <p>Photo Harold Parker Collection</p> <p>courtesy Donald A. Parker</td> </tr> </table> </center></div><p><font size="3">The balloon soon appeared to be being sucked into Eaton Canyon and then skirted the edge of the mountains. Sydney Cray, a local sportsman and pigeon rancher, spotted Echo Mountain and the Incline Railroad below. Dark clouds were hanging ominously in the upper reaches of the canyons. Next the balloon passed Camp Sierra further to the west. The passengers suggested landing there but as the ropes actually touched the tops of the tents and cabins, captain Mueller saw dangerous camp fires and threw out more ballast shooting them into the clouds.</font></p> <p><font size="3">That was the last folk back home saw of the American. Speculations ran from the balloonists landing on one of the crags on the valley side of the range, to Mueller gaining more altitude and crossing the range into he desert on the other side. The Pasadena office of the Southern Pacific Railroad sent out telegraphic inquires to Palmdale, Lancaster and other stations along the SPRR line. </font></p> <p><font size="3">Professor Thaddeus Lowe of the Mt. Lowe Railroad, and a balloonist in his own right, dashed these theories, saying that the air moves in waves and the danger of being tossed against the mountains was extreme. Also at the elevations necessary to make a crossing the air is very cold and it causes the balloon to lose his lifting power.</font></p> <p><font size="3">Page 10 of the Los Angles Times Sunday morning the 21<sup>st</sup> gave an accounting of the balloon last being sited below Alpine Tavern. Anxiety was increasing and the tension mounting as rain began to fall in Pasadena and reports of snow at Mt. Wilson were coming in. </font></p> <p><font size="3">By Sunday afternoon search parties were being organized. Reports of sightings had came in from Camp Sierra, the train dispatcher at Echo Mountain Station, and a ranger in Sierra Madre. These were tabulated and entered into the search plans. </font></p> <p><font size="3"><img src="v2n4mtwilson.jpg" alt="winter at Mt. Wilson" align="left" border="1" hspace="10" width="397" height="256">By now though the temperatures were below freezing and reports came in of four feet of snow at Mt. Wilson. Alpine Tavern reported two feet of the powder and said the visibility was less than one hundred feet. One party headed out from the tavern Sunday afternoon but had to turn back when the snow on the trails became waist deep. Other search groups also held off due to the blizzard like conditions in the mountains. </font></p> <p align="left"><font size="3">On Monday morning the Pasadena Daily News proclaimed; PASADENANS MAY HAVE PERISHED IN BALLOON. When the weather cleared the search parties headed for the mountains. One group went in the mouth of the Arroyo Seco and headed towards Switzers Camp, another group was to enter from Mt. Wilson. Roy Knabenshue, another balloonist, took off Monday morning on a train into Rubio Canyon and then rode to the top of the Great Incline where he waited while the crews cleared the tracks of snow on the Alpine division. </font></p> <p align="center"><font size="3">.<img src="v2n4snowontracks.jpg" alt="horse drawn snow plow, Alpine Division" align="middle" border="1" width="503" height="256"></font></p> <p align="left"><font size="3">Four experienced mountaineers joined him on a specially dispatched train to the tavern. Once at the tavern the men warmed themselves by the grand fireplace. Then they headed out in waist deep snow along side Mt. Lowe and Mt. Markham. They shouted at every ravine and hollow hoping to hear a response back. They headed into Bear Canyon and were stopped finally by water and snow five feet deep. The next morning they set out again into the headwaters of Millard Canyon and followed it all the way down to Dawn Mine. Finally the men took the trail back up to the tracks and rode the train back into the city exhausted. </font></p> <p><font size="3">The electric plant agreed to blow its whistle when word was received of the balloon crew. Two long blasts meant the group had been found alive. Four short blasts indicated they were found but that some had perished. Monday came and went with no blast from the power plant, as did Tuesday morning. That morning the story was headlined in New York, Chicago, Baltimore, and the Los Angeles papers, the Tribune and the Times. </font></p> <p align="center"><font size="3">WHERE IS THE AMERICAN?</font></p> <p><font size="3">When the ballast was thrown from the balloon on Saturday the 20<sup>th</sup> the basket and its passengers shot up into the darkness at thirteen thousand feet. Bolts of lightning lit up the sky above the clouds. There was hail and it was freezing cold. The group decided it would be best to try to land. Mueller agreed and released gas from the bag. Rapidly the balloon descended and most of the men gasped for breath. As they popped through he clouds at seven thousand feet a jagged peak was seen with a small plateau to the left. They aimed for the clearing and the balloon alighted softly. The men grabbed onto brush to hold the basket steady as the giant bag settled across the bushes and rocks off the side. No one was hurt and the ride was over at 4:15 PM, just one hour and fifteen minutes after take off!</font></p> <div align="center"><center><table border="1" cellpadding="10"> <tr> <td align="center"><img src="v2n4landingzone.jpg" alt="the American's landing site" align="middle" border="1" width="462" height="256"></td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center">Photo of the landing site taken by Harold Parker with his Kodak Vest Pocket Camera.<br> courtesy of Donald A. Parker</td> </tr> </table> </center></div><p><font size="3">The photographer, Parker, takes a shot of the group by the fallen balloon and then the group ties it off so it can be retrieved later. An accounting of their gear shows only a rope and a smashed basket of food provided earlier by the Maryland Hotel. No compass and very low visibility sets the intrepid travelers off in different directions to search for a way out of their predicament. Parker headed to the north quickly returning saying a sheer cliff was not more than twenty feet away. Cray found a canyon that they all decided to follow into single file. Later it was determined to be Grotto Canyon. It was raining and the group made use of the rope working their way down into the canyon. The vegetation got thicker as they went on and soon they had to settle in for the night.</font></p> <p><font size="3">At a small flat area in the canyon called the group found that by moving the wet pine needles aside, dry ones were underneath. One match was found amongst them and it was cautiously used to light the needles, some shavings and a crumpled piece of cigarette paper. They rationed the food into thirds and ate one third of it. </font></p> <p><font size="3"><img src="v2n4macolby.jpg" alt="Ma Colby" align="left" border="1" hspace="10" width="296" height="540">Sunday morning they continued down the canyon though the water in the widened stream was now waist deep. Soon a crashing of water was heard and it was realized none to soon a waterfall was ahead. Closer investigation led them to discover a 30-50 foot fall. It begins to hail again and rain was coming down in sheets. The men had to head back up the canyon the way they had come. Halsted at one point falls completely into the water and the others with no regard for themselves go in after him. Cold and drenched the six men continue on soon finding a snow-covered trail and a stump of a tree that had been recently cut. Another thirty minutes up the trail and they smelled smoke and came upon a pen for cattle or pigs. All was not lost. At last they saw a house with smoke pouring from the chimney.</font></p> <p><font size="3">Halloo! Ma and Delos Colby heard the noise and on investigation they were surprised to see a group of frozen men in business suits. Realizing quickly their predicament the colbys, took in the strangers and gave them sanctuary from the elements. Their clothes were removed and hung to dry across the room. Ma Colby pulled out all the stops when it came to feeding the men whom hadnt eaten for 24 hours. They told of their flight and though Delos Colby disagreed at first, it was determined they had landed near Strawberry Peak one of the most jagged peaks in the San Gabriels. </font></p> <p><font size="3">On Monday the men rested most of the day, as the weather was so bad Delos would not guide them out to Switzers the location of the nearest phone. </font></p> <div align="center"><center><table border="1" cellpadding="10" width="75%"> <tr> <td align="center" width="60%"><img src="v2n4mueller.jpg" alt="Captain Mueller on a snowy trail, March 23, 1909" align="middle" border="1" width="256" height="454"></td> <td align="center" width="60%">Captain Mueller on the snowy trail Tuesday March 23, 1909. Photo by Harold Parker, courtesy of Donald A. Parker</td> </tr> </table> </center></div><p><font size="3">Tuesday morning the weather broke and Delos Colby guided the men to the trail that would take them over to Switzers Camp. Colby would not go all the way himself. The men broke the trail Indian style and at 2:30 Tuesday afternoon the search party resting at Switzers heard another "HALLOO!" The balloon party had reached Switzers. They were quickly rushed inside to warm by the fire and promply had to field a barrage of questions from the press. </font></p> <p><font size="3">A phone call was made to the paper and another to the power plant and before long across the valley two long blasts of the steam whistle blew. The entire balloon party was safe!</font></p> <p><font size="3"><em>This is a book that needs to be read by all Echo Mtn. Echoes subscribers. It contains wonderful clips of history in the Pasadena area and a factual accounting of a real life event in our history that captivates the reader from beginning to end. My thanks to Donald L. Parker for allowing me to use photos and excerpts of his book, PERILOUS VOYAGE OF THE BALLOON AMERICAN, in order to bring this story to you. Also thanks to Harold A. Parker for his insight to photograph the event and to his wife and descendants for maintaining a scrap book to be the source of inspiration for Donald Parker to write this wonderful book. </em></font></p> <p><font size="3">THE PERILOUS BOOK OF THE BALLOON AMERICAN can be found at <a href="http://www.abaa-booknet.com/catalogs/dawsocat/intro.html" target="UrlWindow" onclick="UrlWindowOpener("http://www.abaa-booknet.com/catalogs/dawsocat/intro.html")">Dawsons Books</a> and at Vromans Books. Local libraries have it as well as the Altadena Historical Society.</font></p> <p align="center"><font size="3"><img src="v2n4balloonpic.jpg" align="middle" border="1" width="403" height="256"></font></p> <hr> <table> <tr> <td width="50%"><p align="center"><font color="#800040" size="6" face="Times New Roman"><strong>Walt Wheelock<br> 1909-1997</strong></font></p> <p align="left"><font size="4"><img src="v2n4walt.jpg" alt="Walt Wheelock" align="left" border="1" hspace="10" width="256" height="358"></font><font size="3">Im saddened to report the death of Walter Whitman Wheelock on November 12, 1997. </font></p> <p><font size="3">I first met Mr. Wheelock when he was 90 years young. I had gone to his publishing house to purchase a number of books he put out under the name La Siesta Press. At the time I was involved with prospecting, scouring the <a href="http://www.ptw.com/~muroc/desert.html" target="UrlWindow" onclick="UrlWindowOpener("http://www.ptw.com/~muroc/desert.html")">mountains</a> and desert for mines and leads to new discoveries. My Land-Sea Discovery Group was only a few months old and two of our biggest sellers were Mines of the East Fork and Mines of the San Gabriels which he published. </font></p> <p><font size="3">Rather than having the books shipped I asked to pick them up in person and it was a rewarding experience for me. Walt and I chatted about about Publishing and then about the books he published.</font></p> <p><font size="3">When we got to subjects on the desert and Baja, Walt jumped up on the counter top leaned back and while he spoke of his love, his eyes sparkled. I was thrilled when he gave me a copy of his first book, Rope, Knots, and Slings a work you could tell he was still proud of 30 years later.</font></p> <p><font size="3">He will be missed by many and I for one wish I know him better.</font></td> <td><hr> <p align="center"><font color="#008080" size="6" face="Technical, Book Antiqua"><strong>Snow on the Rails</strong></font></p> <p align="center"><font size="3">By Michael Patris</font></p> <p><font size="3">The mountain top gem of the San Gabriel Valley known as Mount Lowe was a sight to behold for many years. During the colder months of the year an occasional storm would transform these peeks into a winter wonderland.</font></p> <p><font size="3">Distant travelers as well as local residents would take the incline to the top of Echo Mountain and in less than a mile their surroundings would change from a fertile green valley to an alpine frost forest.</font></p> <p><font size="3">Young and old alike would frolic and play in the snow and have some good old-fashioned fun.</font></p> <p><font size="3">One local resident, John Hall, the son of a Pacific Electric conductor, was one of those who would frequent the incline and Alpine Tavern areas as a child. Now 85 years young, John has recounted many wonderful stories about his dad and the fun they used to have up on the hill. </font></p> <p><font size="3">One story in particular stands out as being a whole lot of fun. John and his friends would ride up the incline and pick up the Alpine Division trolley at the top of Echo Mountain with their <a href="http://www.grayandholt.com/sleds.htm" target="_top" onclick="UrlWindowOpener("http://www.grayandholt.com/sleds.htm")">Flexible Flyer sleds</a> in tow. Once reaching the Alpine Tavern the boys would turn around with their sleds and ride on their bellies back down to Echo Mountain  right in the middle of the train tracks! John says they had to be careful doing this "because the electric trains made almost no noise." So with a gleam in his eye, the story continued, "we would sled down the hills and be ready to jump off at a moments notice or be faced with running head-on into a train." John says jovially he and his compadres sleighed the center of the tracks many times over the 20 years his father was a conductor  all in the name of good clean fun. </font></p> <p><font size="3"><img src="v2n4snowplow.jpg" alt="The rusty remains of the snowplow on Echo Mountain displayed for all" align="left" border="1" hspace="10" width="381" height="256">A special v-shaped plow was made and used at Echo Mountain when Mother Nature was especially harsh. The plow was attached to the front of the Alpine Division trolley. This custom steel early day snow plow shaved snow and ice right off the tracks, pushing it off to the sides as it went along. When a not in use, it was detached and stored near the mechanic pits behind the electric house. The rusty remains of his special tool can still be seen up on Echo Mountain today, right over the mechanics pit. </font></p> <p><font size="3">The old roadbed between Echo Mountain and Alpine Tavern can still be traced, much of it fire road maintained by the forestry service. The campground at the side of Alpine Tavern has a few recognizable ruins as a reminder of the once great hotel that stood there. What wasnt destroyed by fire in 1936 or flood in 1938 was dynamited and bulldozed by the forestry service in 1959. Regardless of the time of year, however, a cold winter like chill can be felt standing in the presence of the rock facades and remaining steps. A cold reminder of the once great landmark called "Ye Alpine Tavern."</font></p> <blockquote> <p><font size="3"><em>Michael Patris is a collector extraordinary of Mt. Lowe material and was featured recently in an issue of collectors Magazine. </em></font></p> </blockquote> <hr width="85%"> <table border="1" cellpadding="10" cellspacing="0" width="100%"> <tr> <td align="center" width="100%" bgcolor="#808000"><font color="#FFFF00" size="7" face="Artistik, FormalScrp421 BT"><strong>Flora and Fauna</strong></font></td> </tr> </table> <p align="center"><font color="#FF0000" size="5" face="Impact, Arial Black"><strong>What's the Poinsettia?<br> </strong></font><font size="3" face="Arial"><br> </font><font size="3">By</font><b> </b><font size="3">Jake Brouwer </font></p> <p><font size="3"><img src="v2n4xmas.jpg" alt="Mt. Lowe Railway Christmas postcard" align="left" border="1" hspace="10" width="540" height="356">Whats the point of the poinsettia you ask. Sure its a beautiful plant with its vibrant red bract leaves and yellow berries, but why do we have it abounding in our homes and offices at Christmas time? I thought most of our Christmas customs derived from Greek and Roman festivals, Norse pagan ceremonies and English Druid rites. In similar pattern most of the plants associated with Christmas like holly, <a href="http://www.culture.fr/culture/noel/angl/gui.htm" target="UrlWindow" onclick="UrlWindowOpener("http://www.culture.fr/culture/noel/angl/gui.htm")">mistletoe</a> and evergreens are also from Europe and the Mediterranean. How did we come to take up the poinsettia as a Christmas plant and where did it come from?</font></p> <p><font size="3">First lets look at the variety of names attached to this plant. Officially it is Euphorbia Pulcherrima, a member of the spurge family, Euphorbiaceae. More commonly known as the poinsettia, this all but common plant has attracted such names as Christmas star, lobster plant, fire flower, flower of the holy night, painted leaf, Mexican flame leaf, and Cueslaxochiltl. Judging by the last names you may have guessed by now this plant has its origins in the New World. In fact we can trace it back to the pre-Hispanic times of the mighty Aztec Empire. </font></p> <p><font size="3">It is an ancient Aztec legend that says the first appearance of the plant came from an Aztec maiden who loved unwisely. The drops of blood from her broken heart showered upon the earth and everywhere the drops fell they took root and grew into the crimson plant.</font></p> <p><font size="3"><img src="v2n4aztec.jpg" alt="Teotihuacan, the great Aztec Empire" align="right" border="1" hspace="0" width="319" height="256">The Aztecs called the plant Cueslaxochiltl. Its name represented purity and signified "flower that withers, mortal flower that perishes like all that is pure." During the times of this great empire beautiful botanical gardens were grown. Flowers were cultivated for their beauty and their medicinal purposes. The crimson Cueslaxochiltl was cultivated and admired but rarely touched. It was an exotic gift of nature given by the gods as a reminder of the periodic sacrifices given in agreement with the creation of the <a href="http://www.greenheart.com/billh/aztec.html" target="UrlWindow" onclick="UrlWindowOpener("http://www.greenheart.com/billh/aztec.html")">Fifth Sun</a>. The bright crimson red of the leaves is said to represent Chalchimimatl, the precious liquid of the sacrifices that was offered to the gods.</font></p> <p><font size="3">As we move through the centuries the plant takes a less ominous tone with the injection of Spanish influence into the culture. Originally symbolizing Aztec blood sacrifices it now becomes the symbol of the blood of Christ and represents Christmas.</font></p> <p><font size="3">A legend in 16<sup>th</sup> century Mexico says Franciscan friars evangelizing the area around Taxco celebrated one Christmas with a lavishly decorated nativity scene. Around the nativity luscious green plants were placed, Rosarys and a litany were prayed, a piñata broken, gifts exchanged, and a mass was held. During the mass the plant decorating the <a href="http://www.udayton.edu/mary/advreflect.html" target="UrlWindow" onclick="UrlWindowOpener("http://www.udayton.edu/mary/advreflect.html")">nativity</a> turned bright red. After that the flower was called Flor de Noche Buena or Flower of the Blessed or Holy Night.</font></p> <p><font size="3">Another early Mexican legend tells of a poor young girl on the way to church on Christmas Eve. She weeps because she has no gift to place on the altar of the virgin and child. Though her tears an angel appears and instructs her to gather plants from the dusty roadside. The other children mocked her gift but as she placed them on to the altar all were amazed as they transformed from the wilted greens to a starry crimson flower.</font></p> <p><font size="3"><img src="v2n4poinsett.jpg" alt="Dr. Joel R. Poinsett" align="left" border="1" hspace="10" width="256" height="486">In 1825 Dr. Joel Roberts Poinsett served as the first U.S. Minister to Mexico. Poinsett was also a botanist who traded seeds with friends around the world. He first saw the wild plant growing along the dusty Mexican roads. Later at the market he noticed customers buying huge bunches of cuttings to decorate their homes and churches. He learned that the plants leaves turned brilliant shades of red in November and December in response to the longer nights. When learning of the legends and customs surrounding the flaming red plant he became determined to see it grown in his own homeland. He shipped cuttings back home to his friends in Greenville, South Carolina. The plants were well received. By 1829 Poinsett was asked to leave Mexico because of his brash enthusiasm for Mexican politics. He had previously been recalled from other South American posts because of indiscrete support of local revolutionaries. Back home Poinsett began to propagate the cuttings he brought back from Mexico in his greenhouses. He also sent some to Philadelphia where they were grown in hot houses. At first they were thought to be a new species of a new genus and the plant was named after Dr. Joel Poinsett. So the poinsettia had taken root in the United States. </font></p> <p><font size="3">Soon the poinsettia was being grown all over the southern states particularly in Florida and California. The poinsettia has become the Christmas plant in America. Today florists sell them by the thousands to folks like you and me to decorate our homes, offices, and bring us a little holiday pleasure. <br clear="all"> </font></p> <hr width="85%"> <p align="center"><font color="#800040" size="7" face="Impact, Arial Black">Aqueduct Echoes<br> </font><font size="3">By Jake Brouwer</font></p> <p><font size="3"><img src="v2n4cascades.jpg" alt="Monument at The Cascades" align="left" border="1" hspace="10" width="537" height="702">On October 25, 1997 a group from the Altadena Historical society mounted a blue and white bus and headed out on a tour of the Los Angeles Aqueduct. The tour was presented by the historical society and our guide for the day was Mr. Paul Rippens.</font></p> <p><font size="3">Our first stop was at the cascades in the North San Fernando Valley. Unfortunately the water was not running over the cascades that day but it was easy to visualize the crowd of thirty of forty thousand waiting for the gates to be opened and the water released the first time in 1913. As the crowds moved towards the cascades to get a better view that 15<sup>th</sup> day of November, Mulholland had turned to Mayor Rose and said, "There is, take it." </font></p> <p><font size="3"><img src="v2n4altacrowd.jpg" alt="Altadena Historical Tour" align="right" border="1" hspace="0" width="363" height="256">Mulholland had finally completed the project that that voters of Los Angeles had approved back in June of 1907. The aqueducts beginnings were in the Owens Valley, flowing from the river through concrete lined conduit, into various reservoirs, through tunnels and siphon pipes, penstocks and powerhouses to the final glorious vision of water coming down the cascades.</font></p> <p><font size="3">Our guide took us into the Santa Clarita Valley and up into Bouquet Canyon and past the Bouquet Reservoir. This was a pleasant ride through the meandering canyon bordered by small streams and rustic houses. Farther on up we entered the Leona Valley and finally dropped into San Francisquito Canyon. Along the way numerous spots were pointed out where the aqueduct would cross a canyon or rise up a hill or under a bridge.</font></p> <p><font size="3"><img src="v2n4powerhouse.jpg" alt="Powerhouse Number 1" align="left" border="1" hspace="10" width="256" height="386"><img src="v2n4insidepower.jpg" alt="Inside Powerhouse Number 1" align="right" border="1" hspace="0" width="256" height="331">At San Francisquito Canyon we stopped at the site of Powerhouse #1 which has been in operation since 1917. Here we took a lazy tour of the Powerhouse and its museum of artifacts. Afterwards lunch was served and stories swapped until it was time to load up for the next destination, the site of the <a href="http://edweb.sdsu.edu/courses/EDTEC670/stfrdam/start.html" target="UrlWindow" onclick="UrlWindowOpener("http://edweb.sdsu.edu/courses/EDTEC670/stfrdam/start.html")">St. Francis Dam disaster</a>. </font></p> <p><font size="3">Thanks to the pictures and books passed around the bus before arriving at this site one could more easily picture the placement of the dam and the damage it caused. Pieces of the dam that were bigger than houses are to be found quite a ways downstream. </font></p> <p><font size="3">It was an interesting day to see the trouble man has gone through to make Los Angeles green. <br clear="all"> </font></p> <hr> <p align="center"><font color="#008080" size="6" face="Courier New, Courier"><strong>News of our readers</strong></font></p> <p align="left"><font size="3"><img src="../v2n1/newsof.jpg" align="left" border="1" hspace="10" width="276" height="417">October 4, 1997 members of the <b>Scenic Mt. Lowe Historical Committee</b> met at Inspiration Point after a three-month summer break. Present were <b>Brian Marcroft</b>, <b>John Harrigan</b>, <b>Scott Neilson</b>, <b>Bill Crouch</b>, <b>Robert Wilde</b>, <b>Lee Varnum</b>, <b>Bruce Chubbuck</b>, <b>Jim Beckwith</b>, and <b>Jake Brouwer</b>. Work projects were planned and scheduled for the months of October and November. An event was announced for the 6<sup>th</sup> of December 1997, celebrating the last run of the Mt. Lowe Railroad. After the meeting the group went to the Mt. Lowe Campground and excavated a sidewalk and steps that had been covered since the 1920s.<img src="v2n4smlhconecho.jpg" alt="SMLHC clearing brush on Echo Mt." align="right" border="1" hspace="0" width="380" height="256"></font></p> <p><br clear="left"> <font size="3">In subsequent visits by the above members and others, brush was cleared around the tavern area in preparation for the event. Later the group went up to <b>Inspiration Point</b> with the purpose of moving the <b>flagpole</b> from off the side of the ravine to a position approximate to its base. With wire rope, a heavy-duty truck, and a bit of manpower the heavy pole was put into place.</font></p> <p><font size="3"><img src="v2n4recoverflagpole.jpg" alt="SMLHC flagpole recovery" align="left" border="1" hspace="10" width="256" height="387">The <b>SMLHC</b> has many projects planned for the up coming year including but not limited to the following: Preserving the wood on the structures at Inspiration Point, reinstalling the flagpole, install an interpretive sign for Easter Rock, repair and align Observation tubes on Mt. Lowe, repair benches, reinforce trails from the Cape of Good Hope to Echo Mt., and rebuilding the station at Dawn. These and other projects are usually performed on Saturdays and provide a chance for you to return some of the joy the mountain brings to you by working to preserve, protect and inform others about the Scenic Mt. Lowe Railroad. If you would like to help out contact us at the paper and well get you on a notification list. You can also help with donating money or materials to a specific project. </font></p> <p><font size="3">The Internet brought some new friends to us. <b>Bob Daniels</b> from Fairfield, Ohio found the Echo Mtn. Echoes web site. He was raised in Altadena and used to hike the trails as a Boy Scout. </font></p> <p><font size="3">Also in November the great grandson of <b>Charles Lowe</b>, Thaddeus Lowes brother, contacted us. <b>Gordon Allen Lowe Jr</b>. lives in <b>New Hampshire</b> at the foot of <b>Lowes Path</b>. Lowes Path was the first path cut to the top of the Presidential Range of mountains and is traveled by people from all over the globe. Mr. Lowe says his grandfather Charles Lowe took 37 years to build it cutting waterways and stairs into the mountain using nothing but hand tools.</font></p> <p><font size="3"><img src="v2n4panchobook.jpg" alt="Pancho, The biography of Florence Lowe Barnes" align="right" border="1" hspace="0" width="256" height="407">I recently found on the Internet a book written by <b>Barbara Hunter Schultz</b>, called <b><i>Pancho, The biography of Florence Lowe Barnes. </i></b>Anyone looking to learn more about the Lowe family should pick up this book about T.S.C. Lowes granddaughter Florence. Pancho, as she preferred to be called was an aviatrix involved with stunt flying, setting womens speed records, and later in life owner of the <b>Happy Bottom Riding Club</b> near Edwards Air force Base. The book can be purchased in the <a href="http://aaaim.com/echo/Market.htm" target="UrlWindow" onclick="UrlWindowOpener("http://aaaim.com/echo/Market.htm")">mountain marketplace</a> section. </font></p> <p><font size="3"><em>Readers are encouraged to send in their news for consideration to be printed. News of events, finds, studies, books, and activities pertaining to the Mt. Lowe experience are all welcome. </em><br clear="all"> </font></p> <hr width="85%"> <p align="center"><a href="../Market.htm"><img src="../mmbanner.jpg" alt="MOUNTAIN MARKETPLACE" border="1" width="500" height="50"></a><br> <a href="../Market.htm">Visit Mountain Marketplace</a> - updated with every new issue.</p> <div align="center"><hr align="center"> <div align="center"><center><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"> <tr> <td align="center" width="100%" bgcolor="#808080"><p align="center"><br> <img src="../v2n1/editor.jpg" border="1" width="320" height="114"></td> </tr> </table> </center></div></div><p><font size="4" face="Lucida Bright, Brush Script MT"><strong><img src="v2n4letterA.jpg" align="left" border="1" hspace="10" width="82" height="256">nother year has come and gone in wonderful Southern California. I hope it has been a good one for all of you.</strong></font></p> <p><font size="4" face="Lucida Bright, Brush Script MT"><strong>Although it took nearly the full year our little paper has reached our first goal of obtaining over 100 subscribers. I would like to thank you all very much for your kind support of the Echoes.</strong></font></p> <p><font size="4" face="Lucida Bright, Brush Script MT"><strong>Our web site is doing well also attracting attention from as far away as New Hampshire and Ohio. I hope you will bookmark this site and take the time to follow some of the links as they often lead to interesting new discoveries.</strong></font></p> <p><font size="4" face="Lucida Bright, Brush Script MT"><strong>I would appreciate any comments, suggestions, or feed back you may have on the Echo Mtn. Echoes that you would like to offer. Doing most of this myself I often wonder if I'm meeting your expectations or if there is more you would like to see. Let me know.</strong></font></p> <p><font size="4" face="Lucida Bright, Brush Script MT"><strong>I have some plans for 1998 that I hope to pull off in addition to the paper, which include a gathering of Mt. Lowe collectors open to all, and a presentation about Pancho Barnes. Let me know if this interests you.</strong></font></p> <p><font size="4" face="Lucida Bright, Brush Script MT"><strong>Well, I'm off to get our tree about now and prepare for the holidays. I wish you all well and safe for the holidays.</strong></font></p> <p><font size="4" face="Lucida Bright, Brush Script MT"><strong>Jake</strong></font><font size="2"><b> </b></font></p> <hr> <p align="center"><font size="2"><b><img src="../v2n2/emecvr1.jpg" border="1" hspace="5" vspace="5" width="540" height="349"></b></font></p> <hr> <h2 align="center"><font size="4">Land-Sea Discovery Group Contact Information</font></h2> <div align="center"><center><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tr> <td><p align="left"><strong>Postal address:<br> </strong>Land~Sea Discovery Group<br> PO Box 401904<br> Hesperia, Ca. 92340</p> <p align="left"><strong>Electronic Mail:</strong><br> Sales: <a href="mailto:jakelsdg@earthlink.net">jakelsdg@earthlink.net</a><br> General Information: <a href="mailto:jakelsdg@earthlink.net">jakelsdg@earthlink.net</a><br> Webmaster: <a href="mailto:Echowebmaster@aaaim.com">Echowebmaster@aaaim.com</a></td> </tr> </table> </center></div><hr> <p align="center">[ <a href="http://aaaim.com/echo/_private/issues.htm" target="index">Issues</a> | <a href="../search.htm" target="index">Search</a> | <a href="http://aaaim.com/echo/websites.htm" target="index">Help</a> | <a href="http://aaaim.com/echo/_private/subscribe.htm" taget="index">Subscribe</a> | <a href="http://aaaim.com/echo/_private/comment.htm" target="index">Comment</a> | <a href="../websites.htm" target="index">Websites</a> ]</p> <hr> <p align="center"><font size="1">Send email to <a href="mailto:Echowebmaster@aaaim.com">Echowebmaster@aaaim.com</a> to report any problems.<br> Last modified: January 26, 1998 </font></p> <hr> <p align="center"><font size="1">No part of this paper may be reproduced in any form without written permission from:</font><font size="2"><br> <strong>Jake Brouwer<br> </strong></font><font size="1">All articles and photos were provided by:</font><font size="2"><br> <strong>Land-Sea Discovery Group<br> </strong></font><font size="1">Copyright © 1997 </font></p> <hr> <p align="center"><font size="2">site design and hosting provided by:<br> </font><a href="../../index.htm" target="_top"><font size="4" face="BankGothic Md BT">Triple A Internet Masters</font></a></td> </tr> </table> </body>