The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1859-09-22

each side the mountains rose from 1000
to 1900 feet, and as is usual in all the
California ranges, their sides were cut up
with innumerable ravines, or lesser ca
mons. In one Of these last the Geysers
are found.
Crossing the river Pluton, as the little
stream is called which winds through the
canon, and receives the waters dischar-
ed from tie springs, we followed the
trail which soon brought US to 1.-The
DEVILS Wash Tub, situated in little
depression in the side of the mountain.
and about a hundred feet above the level
of the Pluton river. Here are . large
number of assures in the earth and rocks
near together where the waters boil with
great intensity. and send up jets of steam.
Flour of sulphur is deposited around the
oriices and for considerable space the
earth is hot, soft and spongy, and one
may run stick into it for considerable
depth. The rocks are partially disinteg-
rated and everything gives evidence of a
powerful chemical or other agency at
work. Turning now to the left we could
see at the distance Of some twenty rods
the steam arising from the Great Geyser,
which was not itself visible. however.
being hid by an intervening ridge. Fol-
lowing the trail to the top Of the ridge.
we reached a projecting point called
"The Mountain of Fire." from which we
could look down into the f" Devils Ca
non," and there most astonishing sight
broke upon our vision. The depth of
the ravine or gorge in the mountain side
is about fifty feet from where we stood.
and all along for the distance Of an eighth
of mile or more on both sides, and from
the top to the bottom, jets of steam arise
from multitudes Of oriices in the earth.
filling the air with vapor and sulphurous
smells. After gazing at this exhibition
with astonishment for a few moments, we
began to descend from our elevation. to
wind our way cautiously along the bot.
tom and sides Of this wonderful canon,
following the trail which had been made
| by previous visitors. where the earth was
most solid and it was safe to tread. When
about half way through this that had
been called 1.-The Chamber of Horrors"
We reached the locality of the principal
II =
because the noise that it makes is like
that of a powerful high pressure boa.
letting off steam. On ascending little
from the bottom Of the ravine, we stood
beside this fountain Of vapor, and shud-
dered at the thought of the earth giving
way beneath our feet and plunging down
into the terrible furnace or boiler below.
The degree of temperature in this
Geyser | could not learn, as no lhermom-
ter has ever been used to test it. that
could indicate what it is. II must bo
very great. Such is the heat on the
surface around it that one can stand near
it but for few moments. My feet were
heated and almost soorched in the brief
period that stood looking upon it. A
little further down, and on the same side
of the gorge, we came to large round
basin in the ledge. at least six or eight
feet in diameter, which presented truly
appalling sight. 1t was apparently three
or four feet deep and half filled with per-
iectly black sulphurous mud of the con-
sistency of thin hasty pudding. heated to
the very highest possible degree, and
boiling and sputtering and throwing up
jets in the liveliest manner. This is call
ed by some " The DEVILS Punch Bowl"
and by others /" The Witches Cauldron..'
II presents fearful sight and indicates
fierce heat below. All around you as
you pass down the canon you hear the
simmering of hot water and the Kissing
Of steam, the earth ia heated and in many
places soft, SO that ii will not bear tho
tread of human fso., smoke and steam
issue from the earth or every hand. and
you perceive the smell of vapors of diff
ferent kinds which are commingling in
the mysterious chambers below.
In this immediate spot there is little or
no vegetation. but not far OFF it appears
to be stimulated by the heat. High
mountains shut in the place Innumer-
able empty cavities appear which are ap-
parently extinct fountains. where the
same process had once been in operation
that is now going on in the active basins
All together, largo and small, there are
not less than two hundred fountains and
assures from which vapors issue. and
what is most remarkable. there are here
congregated together in immediate yicin.
age to each other springs of every degree
OF temperature from very cold to the
intensest conceivable heat. and Of great
variety of ingredients. There are said
to be springs of pure alum, pure salt.
pure sulphur, white, blue and black, and
springs in which all are mingled. and
others in which iron aud magnesia are
added. Pure epson salt. alum. and SUI
phur OF different colors can all ba gath
cred here BY the handfall. Wha. a grand
natural chemical laboratory is here IS
Such is this strange locality. parallel
| to which. SO far ~ Iknow, does no, exist