The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1872-04-06

around itself until it died out at the sum-
NIT of the cone which it had created, are
arranged on the sides of the cone like straw
on matched roof The terrace above,
where most of the active springs are stu
ated, is on a near inspection indescribably
charming. The wonderful transparency of
the waters, the brilliancy of the reds, pur-
pies, yellows, and green's, of the deposits
on the rims of the springs and along the
channels through which the waters are
carried away, and the grace and delicacy
of the mineral formations, are spoken Of
with enthusiasm by every visitor. And
those who have seen the mountain aver
that its sides still further above present the
remains of an exhibition of natural archi-
lecture that must have been on even
more beautiful and grander scale than any
of the others. Here are found splendid
series of semi-circular basins rising in steps
to the very summit; but the rich scolloped
borders, resting upon rows of stalactites,
are now fast going to decay under atmos-
pheric influences. The few small springs,
which send up small jets two to four feet
high, burst out of orifices lined with
light cream-colorod substance, which also
covers the sides of the declivity over which
the water flows with this brilliant coating.
The springs on the middle terrace below
have loftier jets and warmer temperature.
The temperature of all the springs varies
from 80 to 100 degrees.
What place would this have been for
Tennyson's Lotus-eaters! Reclined.
Like gods together, careless of mankind
on the terraces of this magnificent noun
tain, they might have united to the sleepy
influence Of the lotus the lazier luxury of
the bath until, blissfully dying, their bod
les should be embalmed imperishably in
soda and carbonate of lime, and turned into
griffins and caryatides for the establishment
of future tourists.
Descending to the mouth of Gardeners
river, the traveller continues the trip up the
Yellowstone. The mouth of the east fork
of the river is next approached-a stream
which finds its source many miles to the
east and southeast, among some of the
Hottest peaks Of the Rocky mountain range.
An elevated rolling country, several miles
in extent, lies in the angle of the fork and
the main river. 1t is intersected by numer
Gus streams fed from the melting SHOWS
en- the neighboring mountains. Here
number of small lakes are discovered, their
surfaces covered with ducks. Near the
centre of the area stands mountain of
remarkable appearance, nearly square,
with precipitous sides, known as the
Square Butte"
Above the mouth of the East Fork the
vally of the Yellowstone narrows again.
The walls which enclose the valley, COM
posed of volcanic conglomerate, capped by
| basatic columns, tower hundreds of feet
above the river level. In many places
| graceful pinnacles arise far above the tops
of the columns, increasing the picturesque
! splendors of the vista. Steam jets, and
other evidences of the hot springs which
abound in nearly all the valleys of the up
! Per Yellowstone basin, are visible near the
rivers edge. Several miles further on, the
stream called Tower creek enters into the
! Yellowstone. Just before seeking the
! river, this fine torrent drops from the midst
Of a group of tower-like crags-some of
| them rising upwards of hundred feet
! above the declivity whence the waters leap
forming sheer white fall of hundred
and tifty-six feet into shallow BASIN
| Thence it rushes down in a series of rapid
aud roaring cascades to the point of its
junction with the Yellowstone. Its wild
channel and the channel of the main river
in the vicinity are fringed with growths Of
pine and hemlock.
! A short distance above the mouth of
! Tower creek beautiful undulating coun
try comes in sight. covered with grass and
/ flowers. Though the elevation here reach
ed is some 1000 feet above the sea level, the
effect of the cold msts on the verdure is
like that of healthful dew. Beyond appears
the formidable mountain IA nge named the
| Elephants Back, in the heart of which is
the Great Canyon, Of the Yell wstope.-
The trail aslends this range at a consdera-
BILE distance from the river, the view OF
which is for some time lost in the midst Of
sublime mountain scenery. Mount Wash |
burn, one of the highest peaks Of the range.
rears its head hundreds Of feet above the
pine wildernesses that cover the surround
ing SUBMITS, and the fields Of snow that fill
the intervening gorges. Stupendous verti- |
cal canyons are worn through this noun
famous region, down which innumerable
torrents fed by incipient glaciers tumble
towards the deep, hidden course Of the
river This the trail returns to at point |
above the Upper Fall of the Yellowstone.
For several hundred yards before reach
ing the brink of the Upper Fall, the river
descends over series of cascades. The |
solid rocks on either side converge until |
the channel is narrowed to a width of
about eighty feet. The velocity Of the cur
rent becomes intense. At the crest OF the
fall the whole volume Of the river is pro-
iected eutwards and separated at once into
conical masses of foam. These soon lose
their individuality, and gradully blend
together, forming dense white mass,
which spreads out at the bottom with un-
paralelled force and beauty. At the foot
of this fall the Canyon of the Yellowstone
finds les beginning in delightful gorge
between two and three hundred feet in
depth. The river flows swiftly though |
smoothly over rocky bottom, to the edge |
of the Lower Fall half mile below. Here
it makes its prodigious leap to the bottom
of the Great Canyon.
The spectacle of the Lower Fall and the
,;reat Canyon is from any point Of view
sublime But it is from the bottom of the
canyon, into which it is possible to descend
on one side down the steps Of an appalling
lateral fissure, that explorers have derived |
their most vivid impressions Of these paar- I
vels The walls of the canyon, nearly YER
/ teal, rise from thousand to fifteen hun
dred feet above the river. Their faces pre-
I Of l,oo