The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1871-12-16
NOTES ON THE WAY 70 WONDERLAND,
A Ride to the zHtesssul Re0joNs.

NOTES ON THE WAY 70 WONDERLAND;
A Ride to the l,vesss-ul Re0ions.
By C. c. cLAwsoN.
tContinued.j
Not wishing to spend another night in
this vicinity, after breakfast (Aug. 17sh) We
divided up to search for way leading out
of the dangerous looking neighborhood,
knowing that 1t was IN entirely different
locality from that described BY the Wash
burre party. Raymond and Eilers rode in
the direction of the Madison. several miles
to the northwest, while Others afoot went up
the creek and to the East Seeing . large
steam cloud hanging over the woods to the
southwest, I followed that course. The
cloud suddenly disappearing no
doubt, by the geyser becoming inactive-1
returned through tho great woods that here
extend from the creek on which we camped
to the river. In many places the ground
was covered with q substance resemblin z
alkali, but drmer. In this the trees and
grass had taken root, although the latter
was but sparsely distributed. Tracks of
elk and deer were visible on oil sides. The
earth Jared when walking over 1t - though
it were hollow underneath. and rang like
footsteps in deserted church aisles or in
dresry caverns. Even the voice came back
with dismal ringing a. frm su bterranean
passages, and gun fired caused the earth
to CULVER. Doubtless here was once field
Of geysers, the aperturcs closing up, as they
often do, the water finding vent in other
places.
When we had all returned, it was decided
to follow up the creek and over to the
Yellowstone Lake. and photograph the
geysers Yn our return. the larger ones being
to the right and several miles further up the
Madison. A few soldiers of the Hayden
escort having been over on scout from the
lake, We followed their trail, which led Us
BYA WAY WE KNEW NOT,
and by hell, which We will never 60 by again
1t is a fit path only for the soldier who
contracts to wrestle with Death, or the
Christian whose lamp is ever trimmed and
burning. None others should take their
chances on this trail It was some three
miles to the foot of the mountains from
where we started. The valley was nearly
mile in width, bat narrowed - We advanced,
like funnel. For some distance the ground
was msrshy. and It was with great difficulty
the horses could keep from miring down.
Then again VIC found 1t hard ~ stone and
washed clean by the water that at times
rushed down from the geysers. Here and
there, stood petrified tree. white as snow.
As We advanced, geysers, little lakes of boil.
ing water, cisterns, steaming and putting
mud holes-some Of them perfect wonders-
grew thicker and thicker, until our path was
beset with pitfalls, divers gaping csverns
whose tongues of sulphuroue vapors and OBJ
noxious gases were ready to lap 10 up, the
like of which VA. enough to put to fight .
BunyanS Pilgrim. With all these
VISIBLE rERRORs STARING AT %,
And our nostrils filed with the fumes of
oil it needed to complete the pic.
,ure land cause . stampede) vas for the
,rongs of pitchfork to be seen rising up
'ut Of . geyser. We felt that We were
reading in the jaws of death, where one
nisstep of an animal would place the rider
sors du combat for life; and that the gates
# the Internal Regions were not only sjar
,ut clear off their hinges. cannot recon-.
mend this trail TO persons on . pleasure ex.
,ursion. as it 10 too risky to he enjoyed
We had to trust great deal to our horses
o pick the way-they seemed to have . bet.
er knowledge of the ground, and knew
,ctter how to distinguish the bad places
rom the good, than the men. Blind horses
would hardly answer on this trip; neither
would shying one be Of service. The in.
about the large geysers are gen.
rally solid to the edge and are not lisbleso
1--WE way; It 10 the thin crusts through
which steam issues from cracks around
which the danger lurka While passing this
AISLE OF DEATH,
We were all fearful lest one Of the large
prings We had to pass would suddenly
'egin to spout (as they had done the night
the result Of which can only be
with horror.
Sitting on our horses, We could look .
'reat distance down into the blue.water
:aves - we passed them. The edges of |
ONE were lined with
N0eT BEAUTIFUL FORMATIONS,
>lingfng like icicles or hanging like fringe |
md embroidery to the walls. Some Of these |
vells were curiously shaped. One We caleb |
he Diamond Geyser, which was . perfect
'eauty. It was about twelve by six feet in
ize - far ~ our eyes could reach down
here was no bottom. Another We named
THE WELL OF DEATH,
For In It We discovered plumber of bones,
'robably petriied, down some eight or ten
eet under tho water, lying on . projection
t the wall that resembled . shelf. We |
ould not distinguish whether they were of |
X, moose or horse. But there they 10y
upon the shelf. telling the sad fate Of some
'oor animal Il may even have been IN
UNFORTUNATE TRAPPER