Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1851-06-27
Geysers in California.

nifty OF accompanying Proi. Shephert
TO most romantic and beautiful valley
probably one thousand feet or more in
depth, aud formed, no doubt, by the ren.
ding of mountains asunder, when, al
once burst upon the eyes Of the aston.
ished spectator one of the most extraor-
binary scenes ever presented TO the con-
temptation Of man. II seemed as if the
worlds great workhouse was laid open,
and natures hidden cnginery exposed 10
view. About sunrise you could count
from fifty TO one hundred columns OF
steam rushing and shooting up rapidly,
from the size OF our ocean steamers
down to engines of one or, two horse
power. This is the view from the over
hanging peaks. But as you approach
the Geysers the interest increases until
il reaches the highest pitch of sublimily.
Connected with some of the steampipes
are jets of steam aud showers of scald-
ing water thrown out to a distance oi
some 20 or 30 feet. Prof. s. was once
badly scalded by coming in contact with
one of these extra elected showers
While YOU are gazing al this with youl
back to the sun, you see your own shad'
ow embodied in the new formed cloud
and beautiful rainbow around youI
head. As you then advance towards
some of the other Geysers, YOU hea,
The rushing of boiling whirlpools under
your feet, and you hesitate to go, for
ward. lest the next step you break
through into the fiery abyss. In the
mean time, the ground sinks under you,
and ycu fall PROSTATE on the heated crust
or grasp the branch Of tree, or stone,
or anything, to save Yourself from the
certain destruction that awaits you, pro.
vided you sink beneath. One of these
places, terrific in lis appearance, is call
ed Agassiz Mael storm, another, thai
boils up with violence above the surface
and is naturally surrounded with a beau.
tiful basin, with a powerful stream at It's
side, called Silliman's Fountain; anoih-
er PlLt,s Cauldron, &c. Great mum
bers Of Grizzly bears make their beds
upon the warm earth; also panthers,
deer. hares aud squirrels, make their
habital,ons in the immediate vicinity.
One OF the Geysers is called Panther
Geyser, from the circumstance that Prof.
5. reused up huge panther that was
comfortably warming hims.lf thereby,
and seemed quite unwilling to YIELD the
territory TO scientific investigation. Veg
citation exists in the greatest exhuberance
IN this extraordinary spot; except where
mineral salts are fonnd in great protu-
sion. Pure and crystal streams. of ho,
water, as well as those angry and iurbid,
are flowing from the seat of action 10
the river Pluton, which is an eastern
branch Of Russian river. The finest
baths at all Temperatures are 10 be had
here, also shower baths, hot and cold
as many sf the springs have fall of SO
nr 100 feet. In the opinion of Prof. s.
tropical fruits and trees may be grown
here on the grounds irrigated bv the
warm water; and he is already prcpa-
ring To plant seeds from the lslhmus.
One thing remarkable is The change up.
on The rocks. Granite is made soft, su
that you can cut it as easily as a loaf ol
bread. The hardest flint is either moul.
dered to powder or melted into new
conglomeratc rock. The serpine rocks
are consumed like wood. Prof. s. has
many specimens of wood Of different
kinds imbeddcd, aud carefully watches
the action upon it. In some banks you
may find wood entirely pe,riiicd, and in
others charged TO Ignite or charcoal.
In the space of 36 hours green tree
we pu, in, was SO disfigured as not TO be
known, except by the part exposed out
side, and beautiful crystals of sulphur
formed at the point of contact with the
external cold air. Il is impossible e
describe fully the intense interest this
spot awakens. 10 be appreciated i
must be visited. The route lies through
the beautiful valley of Napa, either by
Benicia or Vallejo. along past the extra.
ordinary thermal springsof Col. Richie
Mount st. Helena, through Beyreas;
Valley, to Mr.. WIN. McDonell's, wher,
| Mr.. b. Briggs will conduc, visitors tc
this region of wonders San Francis
co Courier.