The Andrew County Republican. [volume] (Savannah, Mo.) 1871-1876, 1873-11-14
Scrambles in Wonderland
By One of the Scramblers.

THE GEYSER BASINS.

Nboieu Will SIldll plne tIceS' anu uTdillcu
by the Fire Hole River, is presented.
Clunp. of small timber intersperse the
grass p!atS on every side. Between the
Uppcf and Lower Basins there intervenes
eight miles of wooded valley, quite free
from Hot Springs or GeyScrs. The Fire
Hole fork ofthc Madison is clear, cold
and rapid. averages thirty to forty feet
in width and bears northward. These
are general characteristics. The special
| feature of the Lower Basin is the
lot SPRINGS.
Which abound in such variety that a full
DESCRIPTION would require a volume.
Some groups are marked with white sill
cipuS mJlnls covering several acres of
ground; Others occur in the most unlocked
for plac~cS-skirting a patch of timber,
the brink of the river. in Il nook of the
forc>t-everywfere they pre.ent features
of weird novelty. Columns Of dense
steam arise from MANY. whiried off by the
fearful commotion of boiling waters. while
others, less hot. look as serene as a
placid lake. The hot springs are, almost
universally, like ponds. margined with
delicate ~siliclte formation.
flNELt BLE.NUED Inns AM III r.
-Ad0rn their caycrIous depths, in which
spong.torm masses of rare elegance are
revealed, extending fathomIess leagues
into ETHEREAL water. Their outflow is
usually a smlil channel encased with
peariy >~illcate, but some overflow their
rims almost uniformly, thus spreading
the drainage th;nly over much surface. !
.AS the water coolS. a growth of exceed
insiv delicate diiroms takes place, which
tasrinate the beholdcr with an indescri-
bully beautiful glow of brilliant ~colorS.
Liquid fire could not exceed these SHIN
merin% corruscatlonS. Indeed, it seemed
to me. with favorable relations of sun
shine, these lu>trous co!ors were the
most fascinating sights pre-entcd BY hot
Sprlng-.
Rambling along on the west side Of
the river. TO Which several u! IL. finding
a good place. had wddc!. | saw al mid
day visions Of surprising beauty in the
clear, deep,
FAIRY LIKE CHAMBERS
OF many large springs a few 70 Is Distant
from the RIVER. In one were sen all the
vlr!et!e4 OF blue. from the darkest shade,
of Indigo To III" iichtcst tint> oi' Ky blue.
The rock on the vduited cayitic. seem
~chcckcrci with a reOmrtr.c cleavage
which fairly scint!llaicS with i ~izzliuc
brightness aS the springs surface r.p,'r-
- the light breeze. In another spr.n.
tints aud shade, present the sam
enchanting appearance of radiant cross
lines inclo'ln@ squares of in;cn-c dcrth
c%0.Orlng. Spring, OF v~lrirratc,i green
aud other c0l0rS show Il similar fantastic
arrangement. In most deep SPRING.
however, the prevalent color Is blue.
The most noticeable group in the
Lower Basin is situated on
WHITE Mor Nd,
East Of the river aud about a mile from
IT. Here are several gey-crs of moderate
power. and numcrou, boiling springs.
r Ifty or more acres, quite destitute Of
are thus occupied. being Gov
cred with a white o%il.cious incrustation.
which Is constantly receiving additions
from the mlncral-laden waters overflow
Ing 1t: La some place, there seems to
have Deena NOISY growth which is now
dressed with "A fir ,sty deposit,
rendering IT exceedingly fragile. Further !
up. and across 4 point of timber. is the
Fountain 'Ieyscr; also one that amused
Us by It's regular >pt>moiic action having !
commissions and intervals of ole minute
,
Near these reysers is superior novel i
ty IN the way of {
LAKES OF BOILING CLAY. :
Their substance, Of the consistency Of i
Is apparently the finest quality
Of porcelain clay. \ constant %putinr
and ~blnbbering by cbulition makes them
resemble huge mush pots. They differ !
N consistency and color. Some are ,
white, Others pink, others yellow. In :
ONE the clay is stiff enough to stand up |
m little cone shaped chimncys, out Of !
which issues steam and mud flakes.
THESE PAINT POTS.
as they have been designated, have
iround them extensive deposits of clay
md chalky substances which nav some
line be utilized. \. boiling clay vat near
'ur camp elected much remark from its {
Unique contour, being shaped like a huge ,
at the smaller end of which an j
enormous bubble aro-c and broke with a
.h'i that sent the mud several feet up q
lgainst the sloping %cmbankment. /
On the verge of the river are many {
Wonder exciting hot springs. One is en- I
'ascd to the height Of five or six feet in a t
like formation, which is constantly /
prinkled by the %furious splitter of hot
boiling with prodigious intensity.
Many OF our party, including myself, !
,
IL TWIN BrTTES, ,
on the west side of the river. :
The trip was made on horseback, though :
t was rather rough scrambling through !
he thick set pine, on the intervening t.
hillside. The rocky cminence, once at.
commands a comprehensive view :
# the Lower Basin. n. p. Langford'sl
inciful idea of numerous ''manutac.ur.
NJ villages where groups ofsprings send ,
p curling clouds of vapor, is best apprc-
lated from this elevated, distant posi- ,
ion. :,
\ charming cascade. described in Hay |,
ems Report, is near the Buttes, and was :
,lalnly seen leaping in foamy spray over Ii
no gloomy precipice. q
At the extreme upper verge of the e
lower Basin, on the west side of the
liver are $
TWO INDUSTRIOUS HOT SPRINGS, ,
from tho immense volumes off 81
team ascending, early attracted the at "
enti0n Of Messrs. Stuart, McCabc and 81
,,,or u.ha ,.tl A. -