Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1873-03-13

IA -. i'I"li 9.t:Etzf,ci' -ilii:i.'- -,
,aru'eG- =. nc ,!rjr:n :nii7 III the water over
.i.c Ina-s III, OF the basins"
His description of one gcyscr from
which column of water is forced to the
height of two hundred feet IS interesting.
Only tw. operations OF this geyser oc-
Cured while the party were in the To-
cality.
ave camped the evening of August 5,
in the middle of the Upper Geyser B;lsin,.
in the midst of some of the grandeSt gey-
sers in the world. Soon after reaching
camp n tremendous rumbling was heard,
shaking the ground in every direction.
and soon column OF steam burst forth
from crater near the edge of the easI
side OF the river. Following the steam,
arose, by n succession of impulses, a col
umn of water, apparently feet in di-
ameter, to the height Of 20o feet, while
the steam assembled thousand feet or
more. It would bc diflirult't0 describe
the intense excitement which attended
such display. 1t is prnllablc that if We
could have remained in the valley sew
eral DAYS. and become accustomed to all
the preliminary warnings, the excite
ment would have ueasod, and wo could
have admired calmly the marvellous case
and beauty with which this column Of
hot water was held up to ;hatgreat height
for the space of twenty minutes. After
the display is over, the water settles down
in the basin several inches and the tenn
peraturc slowly falls to lj00. We called
this the Grand Geyser, for its power
seemed greater than any other of which
we obtained any Knowledge in the val
ley"
Amid these vent holes or safety-valves
Of the internal forces below, and among
these tremendous mountains whosesum-
mits arc white with perpetual SNOW, Il
most beautiful lake was discovered and
surveyed. 1t is about % miles long by
an average of ten to fifteen in width, and
was named Yellowstone Lake. Wequotc
few paragraphs of Mr.. Haydens de-
scription of this body of wator which is
1927 feet above the level of tide water:
"On the 2Sth of July we arrived at the
lake, and pitched our camp on the north
west shore, in beautiful grassy meadow
or opening among the dense pines. The
lake lay before us, vast sheet of quiet
water, of most delicate ultramarine hue,
one of the most beautiful scenes have
ever beheld. The entire party were filled
with enthusiasm. The great object OF
all our labors had been reached. and we
were amply paid for all our tolls. Such
q vision Is worth lifetime, and only one
of such marvellous beauty will ever greet
human eyes. From whatever point OF
view one may behold it, it presents 4
unique picture"
"The water Of the lake has at allseason9
| nearly the temperature of cold spring:
water, The most accomplished swim-
mer could live but short time in 1t;
the dangers attending the navigation OF
such lake in small boat, are thereby
greatly increased. The amount of vege-
table matter in the lake is enormous. at
certain seasons of the year, the waves
throw upon the shore wind-row of drift
ed vegetation. Frequently, after strong
wind, the water of the entire border Of
the lake for several yards from the shore
will bio filled with minute fragments OF
vegetation broken by the waves, render
ing tho water quite impure. Several spe.
cies of plants grow far out into the deep
waters, and / have seen them growing
thickly on the rocks at the bottom 10,to
20 feetiin depth. We ware able 10 dis:
ooovor but tee one species Of fish in the lake
and that WAS trout, weighing from two
to four pounds oach. Most Of them are
infested with peculiar intestinal worm.
In describing the vicinity of one Of his
camps while surveying this lake, the
following alluslon to the hot springs In
the lake itself, and to catching and COOK
ing fishes, occurs:
"Tho belt Of springs at this place, =
about three miles long and half mus
wide. The deposit now can be seen ia'
out, in the deeper portions OF the lake
and the bubbles that arise to the surface
iii Various places indicate the presence a
the oriflce of Il hot spring beneath. Som'
of the funnel-shaped craters extend ou
so far into the lake that the mem bers Q
our party stood upon ths silicions MOUND 1,.ata,
and caught the trout and cooked them II
tho boiling spring without Eemovini