Wisconsin herald, and Grant County advertiser. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1844-1845, 1845-10-11
From the Evening Post.
Uaptain Fremont,s Second Expedi-
ton.
ton.
CONTINUED.


August 81, suggested the following OBJ
seryahons:
1--WE were now entering region
which for us possessed strange and
extraordinary interest. We were up
on the waters of the famous lake which
forms the salient point among the re-
markable geographical features OF the
country, around which vague and SUI
perstitious accounts of the trappcrs had
thrown a delightful obscurity which
we anticipated pleasure in dispelIing,
but which, in the mean time, left
crowded field for the exercise OF our
Imagination.
ain our occasional conversation with
the few old hunters who had visited
that re gon, it had been a subject OF ire
quent speculation; and the wonders
which they related were not the less
agreeable because they were highly
exaggerated and impossible.
"Htherto this lake has been seen
only by trappers who were wandering
through the country in search OF bea-
yer streams, caring very little for geo
graphy; its islands had never been
visited; and none were TO be found
who had entirely made the circuit OF
its shores; and no instrumental obser-
vations or geographical survey, of any
description, had ever been made any
where in the ncighboring region. 1t
was generally supposed that it had no
visible outlet; but among the trappcrs,
including those in my own camp, were
many who believed that somewhere on
its surface was terrible whirlpool,
through which its waters fonnd their
way to the ocean by some subterranean
communication. All these things had
made frequent subject of discussion in
our desutory conversations around the
fires at night; and my own mind had
become tolerably filled with their indie
finite pictures, and insensibly colored |
with theirromantic descriptions, which,
in the pleasure of excitement, ! was
well disposed to believe, and half ex-
pected TO realize"
"HuguSt 25.-We made our en- |
campment in a grove of cedar imme-
diately at the Beer Springs, which on
account of the elierveseing gas and
acid taste, have received their name
from the voyageurs and trappers of the
country, who, in the midst of their rude
and hard lives, are fond of finding some
fancied resemblance to the luxuries
they rarely have the fortune to enjoy.
"Allhough somewhat disappointed
in the expectations which various de-
scriptions had led me to form,of an un-
usual beauty of situation and scenery,
j found it altogether a place OF very /
great interest; aad traveller for the
first time in volcanic region remains
in constant excitement, and at every 4
step is arrested by something remarka-
bic and new. There is a confusion Of
interesting objects gathered together
in small space. Around the place of
encampment the Beer springs were nu-
merous; but, as far as we could ascer-
tain, were entirely confined TO that To-
caliIy in tho bottom In the bed OF
the river in front, tlev were very abun-
dant; the eileryescing gas rising up
and agitating the water in countless
bubbling columns. In the vicinity
round about were numerous springs
of an entirely different and equally
mineral character. In a rather pic
turesque spot about 1890 yards below
our encampment, and Immediately on
the river bank, is the most remarkable
spring OF the place. In on opening on
the rock, white column of scattered
water is thrown up, in form like n jet
a. EN-, to n height oil about three feet,
and, though it is maintained in con-
slant supply, its greatest height IS at
tanned only ut regular intervals, accor-
ding to the action of the force below.
1t is accompanied by subterranean
noise, which together with the motion
of the water, makes very much the i'm
preston OF steamboat in motion; and
without knowing that it had been al
ready previously so called, we gave TO
il the name Of the Steamboat Spring.
The rock through which il is forced is
slightly raised in a convex manner,
and gathered at the opening into an
urn.mouthed form, and is evidently |
formed by continued deposition from
the water aud colored bright red by
the oxide of iron. 1t is hot spring,
4 Al 4 i.