The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1873-10-11
6cRlllBlE8 m WOnDERL AND
oy osg OF rvs scRAmOLGRs.


0OUUuuu O660 IN UOVO6U6UNOs
oy ONE OF rvs scRAesLERs.
| Nonbes n
TEE 0EYsER BASINS.
Agrassy valley. averaging one to two miles
In width. between hills thickIy wooded With
small pine trees, and drained by the Fire
Hole River. Is presented. Clumps of small
timber inserspsrse the grass plsts ON every
side. Between the Upper and Lower Basins
there intervenes eight miles Of wooded val
Icy, quite free from Hot Springs or Geyscrs.
The Fire Hole tork Of tho Madison 10 clear.
cold and rapid. averages thirty to forty feet
in width. and hesrs nor,hward. These are
general characieris,ics The special feature
of The Lower Baair Is the
NOT SPRINGS
Which abound In such variety that full
description would require volume. Some
grOups are marked by white silicious mounds
covering several acres Of ground; Others &c.
cur In the most unlocked for places-skirt
ing patch Of timber. in the brink ut the
river, in nook If the forest-evsrywhere
they present features of weird novelty.
Columns of dense steam arise from many
whirIed off by the fearful cOmmOti0n Ut
boiling waters, while Others. less hot, look
a serene - placid lake. The hot springs.
almost universally. are like ponds, margined
with delicate silicate formations.
FINELY BLENDING TiNrs AND HuEs
Adorn their cavernous depths in which
spong'form masses of rare elegance are re
vealed. extending into fn,l,omless leagues
Ut ethereal water. Their outflow il usually
small channel cncased with pearly sil,caie,
but some overflow their rims almost uni.
formlv, thus spreading the drainage thinly
over much surface. A. the water co0ls. .
growth Of exceedingly delicate disto,Ds
takes place which fascins,e the beholdcr
with an indescribsbly beautiful glow Of
brilliant colors. Liquid fire could not
exceed these shimn,ering corruscations.
Indeed, it seemed to me. with favorable re.
lati0ns Of sunshine, these lus,rous colors
were the most fascinating sights presented
bv hot springs.
Rambling alone ON the west side Of the
river, 10 which. several Of Us, finding favora
bic place had wadct', saw Il mid day vic
ions of SURPRISING beauty in the clear, deep,
PARRY LIKE CHAMBERS
OF many large springs few rods distant
from the river. In one were seen all the
varieties of blue, from the darkest shades
Of indigo to the lightest tinis Ut sky blue.
The rock on the vsulted cavities seem check.
eret, with geometric cleavage which fairly
scintillates with dazzling brig htness as the
springs surface ripples to the light breeze
In another spring yelOw tints and shades
present the same enchanting appearance of
rsdisnt cross lines inclOsing squares OF in.
tense depth Ut ooloring. Springs Of vasi>
ega,ctl green and other colors show similar
fantastic arrangement In most deep
springs, however. the prevalent color is blue.
The most noticeable group in the Lower
Basin 10 ,ua.ed on
AwulTE MOUND,
East of the river aud about . mile distant
from it. Here are several geysers of moder
ale power, and numerous boiling springs.
Fifty or more acres, quite destitute of ".
gei"'ion. are thus occupied, being covered !
with white s,liciOus incruslation which IL
receiving fresh additions from,
the mineral. laden waters oycrfi0wing il
In some places there seems to have been Q
Messy growth which 10 now superbly dress.
ed with frosty dep'sit, rendering it ex>
ceedlngly fragile. Further up, and across a
point Of timber, 10 the Fountain Geyser:
A'so one 'h"t amused u by ito regular spas
mod'c action, having commissions and inter.
vals Of one minute each.
Near these geysers 10 surprising novelty
10 the way of
.... LAKES OF BOILING CLAY.
Their substance. Of the cons,stence OF
mortar. u apparently the linest quality If
porcelain clay. A constant putting and
DlabbeTing BY ebulision mates them resem.
Die huge mush pota They differ In con,
'is'ency and c''lor. Some arc white, other,
pink, Others yellow. In some the clay IL
''id enough to stsnd 10 in little cone shaped
'h'mneys "ut ut which issued steam and .
mud fakes. IL
..... TnEs8 PAINT P0Ts,
- they have been designated, have arosud :
hem extensive deposits Of clay and chslky
uhs'ances which may sometime bo utilized.
boiling clay vat noar COR camp elected
much remark from ito unique CONTOUR, he
ng shaped like huge funnel. at the small.
er end Ut which IN enormous bubble arose.
md broke with thud that sent the mud =.
cveral feet up against the slipping embank.
nent
On the verge Of the river are many won.
Ter exciting hot springs. One IL encssed to
be height Of 6ve Or six feet in . tub like
ormati"n which Is constantly sprinklcd BY
he furious spluties Of no, water, boiling
nth prodigious intensity.
Many of our party, including myself,
listed 5, II
,.,. THE TWIN BUrTEs
'itusaed ON the west side Ut the river. The
nip Was made on horseback, though Il WIS
a'her rough scrambling through th. thick
1t pines on tho intervening hillside. The
ocky emincnce once attained commando
comprehensive view of the Lower Basin
!. T. Langfordis fanciful idea Of numerous
manufacturing villages" where groups Of
p'inss send up curling clouds of vapor. il
cot appreciated from this elevated, dis,an, =.
OsiliOn. f.. .r.r;. .5.. q. -.
A charming cascade, described IN Hay.
ems Repor', ia near ths But,ss, and was
'a'"ly seen, 'eaping in fosmy spray oyer
be gloomy precipice. .Gt 0,s.,s
A. The extreme upper verge Of the Lower
sssD, a the wess side Of The river are
TWO AoHsTRous HOT w1lnas Ill.
9hich, fN,,s ~ immease volumes n a,eam
lcsndiag. early attracted ,hs ssssnsseo Of I
|ssere 3ssase ,AsCahs end Rsasss VIE I
's'ied ihe0 ioosdiaasly after e,npjas.