The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1871-03-02
NEW DIsCovEsIEs IN MoNTA-

The scientific record in Harpe,s Week
y furnishes the following
For many years past the terra iiacog-
nito of the United States has been the
region forming the head waters OF the
Yellowstone River, to the north part Of
the Wind River Mountains. Traditions
have prevailed for long time Of the ex
istence there of large lake, and of boil
ing springs and spouting fGuntains, of
terrific waterfalls, and other wonderful
works Of nature. Trappers have looked
into the mysterious region from the sum-
mlts of the neighboring mountains, but
did not dare any nearer approach, owing
to the physical obstacles and the Indians.
Colonel Reynolds, III his last expedi-
ton into the Upper Missouri region, in
which he was accom- panied by Dr.. Hay
den as geologlst, aimed to reach the 10
callty referred TO, but was prevented by
deep SHOWS and other impediments, We
now learn from Montana Journal that
party of bold explorers from Helena,
fourteen in number under the lead Of
General Fl. D. Wa~hburn, have at last
solved the interesting problem, having
visited the country, and returned, after
an absence of six weeks, with report of
their discoveries. They left on the 18th
of Augest, and proceeded to Fort Ellis,
were Joined by an escort of FIVE soldiers.
Leaving this fort on the 2od of the
month, the y continued their route,
through Bozeman's Pass, and after a
short time reached the valley of the Vel
lowstone. Up this stream they advanced
for several days, until they arrived at
the Great Fall on Cascade Creek. This
was found to be upward of $50 feet 10
height, and Of great magni6cience, its
swift waters flowing afterward through
cannon in some places 1000 feet in
depth.
Still farther up tbe river they came to
a region Astounding in hot sulphur and
mud springs. the heated vapors steaming
forth perpctually through the openings
in the soil.
Leaving the falls and proceeding up
the river they met with another renarka-
bic series Of springs and mud volcanoes
On one hill they found large spring,
fiIled with boiling water, gushing up in a
basin formed Of pure, solid birthstone
Around this were other springs of differ
ent characters, while sulphur occurred in
inexbaustibe abundance. 4 series of
springs were seen IN which the mad was
constantly bubling up in kin OF thick
mush, one of them forming volcano,
from which the mud was elected to a
great height.
The most remarkable discovery of the
party, however, was that of valley
abounding in seysers of enormous dimen-
sions, the largest throwing a solid col
unn OF water from $50 to $50 feet in
height. There were a dozen of large
size, while the smaller ones were almost
iunumerable. As usual in these hot
springs, the borders were constituted by
a hardened deposit from the water Of
silic;ous character and Of gieat beauty,
looking as if carved out by the art Of the
scu ptor
In the course of the expedition a lake
of steaming hot water was found 450
yards in diameter, resting in basin
which had been built up by It's own over
how to height Of 50 feet The ultimate
destination Of the party-namely, the
Yellowstone Lake-was ascertained to be
a body OF water about twenty-five miles
in width, at the level above the sea las
shown by the barometer] Of about 5000
feet.
The length Of time which the party
was able to spend In this region Of won
ders was too limited to determine wheth
er still greater marveis might not exist
IN the neighborhood and we presume
1t will not be long before thorough ex-
ploration Of the whole region will be
made, and all its hidden curiositics
brought to light. One Of the party Mr.
n. Z. Langford: is. we understand, now
in the East, for the purpose of deliver
ing some lectures on the subject of the
journey; intending also to prepair de-
tailed account of it to be published In
one Of our leading magazines