The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1872-08-31
The Yellowstone Park


luz AAN@A go N1@@a A~~H1&E 1880" 49,
known ie the outside world, which Congress has the
past winter set apart rs a Great National Plrs or
Pleasure Ground, Is attracting vide attention on
account Of its natural curiosities, its remarkable
scenery, its varied phenomena Of scientific Interest
as vel IS Of artistic beauty. Il Is a tract of land,
containing more than twenty-five hundred square
miles, situated about the sources Of the Missouri snd
Columbia rivers, In Wyoming and Montana terrific
ries. The entire AREA comprised within the limits Of
the reservation Is over 5000 feet above the sea level,
and is h emmed in by ranges Of mountains that rise
70 the height Of 1900 feet ana are covered with
snow all the year. During the summer, the climate
is pure and most invigorating, with scarcely any
rain or storms Of any kind but the Thermometer fire.
auently sinks in summer as low as 20 degrees, and
frost falls every month IN the year. Consequently
the land Is not susceptible Of cultivation with any
degree Of certainty, and the winters are too severe
for stock raising. The Park abounds in marvels VI
the most novel and stupendOus character; fountains
OF variously tinted waters Of every conceivable form
and Of astounding height and volume; huge noun
tains Of sulphur, volcanoes Of mud, spOuts and jets
Of steam, mineral springs Of all tempecatures-in
short, all the phenomena. ON the most elaborate and
extended scale, Of subsiding volcanic energy. The
hot springs aud geysers represent the last stages
the vents OF escape pipes-of these remarkable man
i~festations Of internal force. The geysers Of Iceland,
which have long been objects of interest for the
scientific men and travellers of the entire world, sink
into insignificance in comparison with the displays
Of the Yellowstone and Madison basins. The most
practicable approach 10 the Park Is from Fort Ellis,
Montana, through the Bozeman Pass; from there
nearly due south, till the route strikes the Yellow
stone river, aud continues along near the bank OF
the stream amid the widest imaginable scenery OF
river, rock aud mountain.
About twenty-five miles from the entrance of the
Park stands q remarkable freak of nature known as
the Devils Slide" 1t consists of two parallel
vertical walls of rock, projecting from the side Of Il
mountain to the height Of one hundred and twenty
FIVE feet, and traversing the mountain from base TO
summit, n distance Of 1900 feet. The sides are as
even as il they had been worked by line and plumb
the whole space on either side of them having
been completely eroded and washed away. These
walls do NOT exceed thirty feet in width, and their
tops for theFwhole length are crowned with a growth
of pines.
Near the mouth Of Gardeners river, which comes
in from the southwest and joins the Yellowstone 4
few miles further on, occurs the first noteworthy
group of hot springs. Out of the hills pours a boil
ing hot torrent OF water, six feet wide and a foot or
two in depth, perfectly clear though steaming hot.
This is probably the outlet of a vast subterranean
reservoir of hot water which supplies the large
system of boiling springs upon the mountains side
above. Near this hot brook are several warm
mineral springs, beside which a few invalids have
formed u camp, and whose curative properties they
loudly praise.
Five miles beyond this camp OH the left bank of
Gardeners river is a system of hot springs of great
beauty, flowing from the top and sides of a hill of
calcareous deposit, called Soda Mountain The
side of the hill down which the waters of the hot
springs fOW, have become terraced into steps Of
various heights and widths, some being twelve inches
in diameter, while others are as many feet. In each
terrace there is generally a pool of water, standing
in a scolloped basin of gypsum, whose sides are
being constantly raised by a deposit from the water
as it becomes cooler. These basins are often tinged
with pink, gray and yellow colors, giving to the
whole a very beautiful effect.
To the west of the springs is a high, red topped
mountain, near which Mr.. Evarts, who was lost in
the Yellowstone Basin in the summer of 1870, was
Kicked up, and which bears his name. The principal
boiling spring at the base of the hill is in a constant
state of ebullition and sends up a column of water
two to four feet. 1t has a basin about Is feet in
diameter and gives forth q huge column of steam.
The rim of this spring is a marvel of beauty, being
regularly s~colloped and covered with the most beau
tifully tinted bead work. The most interesting
objects here are the sand springs, which are of every
size from one inch to 20 feet in diameter. One of
the largest is filled with fine, light brown mud,
which is in constant agitation, its surface covered all
over with puffs like hasty pudding. The bubbles,
often two feet high, explode with a report, and
emitting a villainOus smell.
4 little further up, in another cluster of hot
springs, is q most singular phenomenon, called the
muddy geyser. 1t presents a funnel shaped orifce,
in the midst of a basin $50 feet in diameter. with
sloping sides of clay and sand. The orifice at the
summit is 80 by 90 feet In diameter. 1t tapers quite
u uniformly to the depth of 80 feet, where the water
may be seen when the geyser is in repose. The flow
of the geyser is regular every six hours. The water
rises gradually, commencing to boil when about half
way to the surface, and occasionally breaking forth
in great violence. When the crater is filled, it is
from it in splashing, scattering mass, 10 or
Is feet in thickness, to the height of 40 feet. During
period the waves dash against the sides of the
basin, vast clouds of steam escape, and a noise like
the %rumbling of an earthquake is heard. Suddenly,
after about 10 minutes of this connection, the waves
recede and the waters sink again to their lowest limit.
At the head of u small ravine still farther TO the
NOrthward. is IA cavern extending fifteen feet into
the side of the hill. and about six feet across at the
opeuing. But the great geyser district lies about
-ba Isaf wa tors nf the Madison rIvnv and h.s rn-
crivcd the name Of the Fire Hole Valley The
lower part of this valley is filed with myriads of
groups of the most curious aud beautifully painted
and decorated springs, which, but Tor the greater
of the upper part of the basin. would COM
mIud the liVeliest admiration. OF the many won
icrfIl geyseTs of this basin, whose action has been
observed and described, we selects few OF the most
conspicuous. Entering the gate OF the valley on
he north. on either side of the river stand two
lively geysers, called the d" Sentinels.I The one on
he LETT is in constant agitation. its waters revolving
horizontally with great violence, and occasionally
;pOuting upward 10 the height of 20 feet. the lateral
direction being 50 feet. Enormous masses of steam
are elected. The crater of this geyscr is three feet
~ ten. The opposite Sentinel = is not So con
SANITY active, and is smaller. y few hundred
Yards farther up a remarkable group OF geysers is
discovered. One of these has a huge crater i've
in diameter, and is called the Giant" It
hrOws q column OF water the size OF the opening
u the measured attitude of one hundred and thirty
and continues the display for an hour and a
laif. The crater OF the Comet = geyser is very
beautiful, though being bu tslightly elevated above
ne general slope of tht plateau. The Castle"
ituated on the summit C an incrusted mound forty
above the river. is the largest and most i'm
POSING crater in the basin. Its resemblance 10 a
Uined castle or tower is very striking. Perhaps
he most astonishing geyser in the basin is the
Giantess." which rises abruptly out of a large
aperture on the hill side, the diameters of which
re eighteen and twenty-five feet. When inactive.
10 water Is visible. though it can be distinctly
eard. gurgiing and boiling at a great distance be-
ow. Suddenly it begins to rise. boiling and splut-
ering and sending out huge masses OF steam.
hen within forty feet of the surface il becomes
though foaming and surging at a terri
lie rate. All at once, as If seized with a fearful
pasm. it rises with incredible rapidity and bursts
the orifce with terrific momentum IN a column.
he full size Of this immense aperture. to the height
T sixty feet and through and out OF the apex of
bis vast aqueous mass, five or six lesser Jets OF
iater. varying in size from six to fifteen inches in
iamntpr arn nrnianfad 10 the narrallnrS hni.,ht Of