Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1870-10-27

We caught the welcome sight of camp among
suffered trees close by therivcr's side. Sup
per was nearly ready, and we were quite
50. Such vcnison and trout as we had
would be sweet to take under any cir.
cumstanccs, but for keen relish commend
inc to q days riding and pleasurable sight
seeing. ...aM. +..-. .m.....
Dense clouds of vapor risng from neigh.
boring pine grove, and low, snllen, booming
sounds that made the earth tremble, gave
notice that grander scenes awaited us. Hun
ger 10 easier satisfied than curiosity. We
were soon following sight and sound
in south west direction. General
Washburn having been III advance,
became our guide, and took US first
to see most singular spring that issues
from tile mouth of cave. The substance
| Of the top and sides of this cave seem like
decomposed marble, purely white, but tile
dashing Of the water and the constant exha-
lations Of steam have left deposit Of the
| over much of the surface, contrasting beauti-
fully with the white, as well as with the per-
fectly clear water in the bottom of the cave.
The debris from the crumbling sides had
been carried out and built up by the dashing
waters into an embankment of pure, white
sand, about . foot high, and little out from
the mouth of the cave Back of this the waters
rose to the brim, and overrun, at each spas
modlc exhalation of steam, recurring almost
rs regularly as those Of steam engine. This
cave seemed to beat the head of . ravine and
at the baseof pine. covered hill The mouth
of the cave was about six feet in diameter,
and its top sloped rapidly to the surface Of
the water, touching i at about 25 feet from
its mouth. In any other vicinity it would
have attracted more attention.
About a dozen rods distant, perhaps
twenty, the most singular phenomenon that
had yet been seen in this region, prolific in
wonders, attracted and absorbed our attcn-
ton and interest. From out the murky
mouth OF mud-covered mound were roll
ing rounded voumes Of commingled smoke
and steam, surcLa ged with sulpurous gas,
an intermittent. rather irregular booming
sound, as of mighty engine, which echoed
beneath us, and prbduced Z feeling ofaweas
VIC cautiously approached the brim of the
crater. At intervals the smoke would roll
back for an instant, and we could see the
shape and dimenti0ns of the opening. It
was nearly circular, thirty feet in diameter
at the top. then appearing to contract like
the neck of an urn, swelling out again fur
ther down: At another VISIT the day follow
ing, and after most thorough watching and
examination, gained an indelliblc impress
sion Of its force and appearance, whilst my
wonder Was proportionately increased. In
one respect different from anything seen on
our whole trip, this monster was Of very
recent date. Alone by itself. on the slope Of
q wooded hill, 1t had evidently burst forth
In an instant, hurling stone, soil, trees and
muddy lava In hot and promiscuous ruin In
a n 1nn0 obi S~n. 1>r14
the mound rises thirty feet; on the side next
the hill it is but very little above the
natural surface. The entire surface of the
mound is covered with lead colored, very
rough, indurated mud. The same substance
covers oil the surrounding trees and bushes,
dried on just as It fell, with no rain or snow
storm to dissolve or loosen it SINCE The
wind has sh aiken these trees in vain. In all
the rough fanttstic shapes in which this
plastic mud had first fallen, the sun had
baked i, and SO we saw it. We tried to
transport some specimens Of small limbs
thus covered, but they crumbled. For .
radius Of 4UO feet traced this mud on earth
and tree, while other trees that stood along
the crest of the hill above the crater, 200
feet above. were shorn of limbs. watched
with With Others m for hours trying in vain TO catch
crater, whose surging and splashing We
could distinctly hear, sometimes seemingly
thrown almost to the top. This vcritable
mud volcano was surely Of most recent date,
probably not two months old, possibly not
two weeks old. Should there yet be found
In this region full fledged volcanoes ena,eting
smoke, cinders and molten lava, It would
any stronger that this was . region Of active,
volcanic forces
Between the mud volcano and the Nyef,
about quarter of Z mile distant. IL . remark
able hot spring, becoming st times . spout
ing geyser of magni6ciept proportions In
. basin OF about eight rods In diameter and
containing several small springs Of various
qualities, this one spring has afunnelshaped
feet deep, showing an aperture of no more
than 10 or 18 inches. When empty the sides
of this bowl become almost white It has q
beautiful mottled appearance, ruff1cd and
rtdged all over. This spring Is recent, or
tho mineral solution slight, for the deposit
is quite thin. though solid, specimens of which
I brought away with me. Gradually and
quietly this basin fills, when suddenly bursts
forth the most terrific agitation; the whole
mass Of water turns to fr0th and leaps up Ii
wild, irregular spouts. Sometimes the whole
volume seems lifted at0nce Probably someof
these jets reached the hight of 50 feet. The
geysers that we subsequently saw In the ladi-
son valley were radically different in al
their features, but this one was in our eyes
20 marvellous that we felt ourselves more q,
pense OF the trip. During this violent agitar 1.
ton. not more than ten ui1ptee leag, . depssa
volume Of stesn IT. - 4 cloudy II.
column that can bs 1een 1lAAy ndles aWty.
These spasms are very M ~, end many
hours ai ono time ~ - 1nlao the neiils. ~
boring pines awaiting the tseqbllng OF NJ
w.tesa Il cane q 6 seee sxeitinG dieplay