The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1872-04-06
THE YELLOWSTONE.
TIFF GREAT AMERICAN MARVEL.

THE YELLOWSTONE.
TIFF GREAT AMERICAN MARVEL.
DESCRIPTION OF THE WONDERFUL SCENERY
OF THE REGIoN-"THE BATHS OF THE
ANGELS THE UPPER AND LOWER
FALLS. AND THE GRAND CANYoN-YEL-
LowsToNE LAKE-THE GEYsER REGION.
Day by day the marvellous scenery OF
the Yellowstone region is being unfOlded
to the world, and each fresh development
adds to the wonders previously described.
1t is now proposed to constitute the head
waters of the Yellowstone into grand
national park, in order that our tire acher-
Gus civilization may not mar the beauties
of this wonderful section. The region
which is so abundant in natural marvels is
situated about the sources of the Yellow
stone river, in the Territories of Wyoming
and Montana. Although many years have
elapsed since glimpses of its wonderful
scenery were first given to the world in the
reports Of miners and trappers, it was not
until 1859, that systematic attempt at its
exploration was made. In that and the
following year, a party under the command
of Colonel William F. Reynolds, of the
United States Engineers, attempted to pen
citrate the Yellowstone Basin by way of
the Wind River Mountains, but the expe-
dition was rendered abortive by reason of
the depth of the snow and the ruggedness
of the mountains. Last year the party of
General Washburn, accompanied by an
army escort commanded by Lieutenant
Doane, contrived to enter the region, and
to give tbs world glowing account of its
beauties. This year another party, sent
out by Lieutenant-General Sheridan, under
the command Of Lieutenant Colonel John
W. Barlow, has explored the region, and
from the reports of this expedition Wash
ington correspondent has compiled the
following highly interesting sketch
The maps will show that the Yellowstone
river is tributary of the Missouri, into
which stream, after leaving the northwes-
tern part of Wyoming, and flowing through
nearly the whole length of Montana, it
empties Just east of the boundary line be-
tween Montana and Dakota. But the head
waters of the Yellowstone are the scene of
the phenomena to be indicated, and these
are approached by striking the river at a
point some distance above the boundary
line running east ana vest, between Mon
tana on the north and Dakota on the south,
and by thence following the river up
stream that is to say, nearly due SOUTH
towards its mountain sources. 1t will be
observed that the Yellowstone river flows
at first from south to north before it takes
its eastern direction through Montana to
Join the Missouri
The progress of the traveller from what
is called the middle canyon up the valley
of the Yellowstone, develops before him a
series of surprises. The middle canyon,
rough and INSTRUCTED by masses Of volcanic
rock, at length widens out into beautiful
valley, affording the finest pasturage and
camping grounds. The river swarms with
trout. Farther up the stream tall noun
tain ranges arise on either side. Rocky
spurs shoot out from these and intersect
the trail. Lovely little lakelets sleep be-
tween the ridges, within a short distance
from, the river bottom. The DEVILS s. ide,
a ragged mountain colored deep red by
salts of iron, is seen along the way.
Fifteen miles above the middle canyon
the warm creek called Gardeners river
empties itself into the Yellowstone from
the southwest, whence it descends down
mountain gorge of singular beauty. Five
mites up tbs left bank Ct this river the first
great scene Of the theatre OF natural Won
dcrs into which the traveller has entered is
exposed to view. lie is at the foot of Soda
Mountain, which might have been more
whimsically named the Baths of the An
gels. As seen from distance it may be
compared to Il frozen cascade which had
broken out from the side Of the mountain.
But OH nearer approach 1t is seen TO con-
sist mainly of the deposits Of Il system Of
calcareous springs, the like of which can
not probably be found anywhere else in the
world. Based upon broad, flat terrace,
on which, in the forms of old chimn eys and
irregular openings like entrances to cav
ems, are plainly visible the remains of cnae
active springs, the mountain rises up, dis
closing at first o series of basin-like pools,
from four to eight feet deep, and having
semi-circular rims exquisitely s0olloped,
and underneath these rims depend rows of
stalactites, with every variety Of ornamen-
tation on the surface. From these basins
or baths rises declivity of about hun
dred and fifty feet, in steps formed of SINH
lar white and parti-colored basins. Upon
the terrace above arp numbers Of active
springs, with basins twenty to fifty feet in
diameter Three hundred feet farther up
on the sides of the mountains are few
living springs and tine remains of hundred
of those extinct. The lower terrace eXhib-
it's remains sufficiently curious. Among
the extinct geySers here is a cone called the
elderly Cap Il circular deposit Of car
Donate of lime fifty feet high and about
twenty-five feet in diameter at the base