Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1874-09-18
The Geysers in IceIand ,

uuuc, ucrCiioSS tio Nioib VI NihS Shiie'
tian and others, including the American
party in Iceland, to the Geysers. The
Great Geyser was obstinate, and would
not exhibit its peculiarities, although
the party waited long and anxiousIy.
While waiting, the King, to pass time
away, carved upon rock letter &C."
inclosing the Roman numeral " TX" sur.
mounting the date 1874" The follow.
ing extracts from Mr.. Taylor's letter are
highly interesting:
"a space four hundred yards in
length by one hundred in breadth in
cludes the two Geysers, the Strokr, and
about twenty smaller springs. Beyond
them came the Strokr, larger and more
furious pit, then patch of green turf,
on which the tents were already pitched
for the royal party, and beyond it low,
crater-like elevation, half veiled in steam,
which was rather reluctant to recognize
as the Great Geyser. But there was no
other caldron beyond it; half dozen
men were standing about the brim-yet
it looked SO natural and harmless
Some of the Kings attendants, while
advising us where to encamp, states that
the Geyser had spouted once that morn
ing and twice the day before. This was
unwelcome news, for the guides had al
ready told US how capricious it could be,
sometimes going off several times in
quick succession, and then remaining
sullenly quiet for a week. The tent was
pitched on turfy slope near the highest
boiling spring (Which is close beside the
Great Geyser, but seems to have no con-
nection.) At my suggestion the cook
placed some canned meats in the spring,
which prepared them for use in very
short space of time. Half an hour later
the King arrived, and the whole place
became to the eye, a sort of holiday pic
mic ground, where the steaming pillars
suggested only cooking.
slept soundly, but some members of
our party were excited and restless. To.
ward morning, there we're several under.
ground thumps, which sent them posting
to the Geyser's brim ; but only densei
steam and hea vier overflow of water
followed. The scene in the morning wa;
curious. We took our toilet articles and
went, half dressed, to the hollow between
the Geyser and the spring, where the
surplus overflow is shallow and luke.
warm. 1t was already occupied a roy
al chamberlain was scooping up water
in his hands, an admiral was dipping his
tooth brush into the stream, Copenha
gen professor was laboriously shaving
himself by the aid of looking glas
stuck in the crack OF the crater, and th,
King, neat and fresh as if at home, stood
on the bank and amused himself will
the sight. The quality of the water j,
exquisite; it is like down and velvet tt
the skin, soap becomes finer substance
in it, and the refreshment given to tht
hands and face seems to permeate tn,
whole body. If one could only have /,
complete bath A days labor woulc
make pool Sufficient therefor, yet th.
idea has never occurred to single soul
native or foreignl
| did not dare to venture quarter o
a mile away from the Geyser during thu
whole day. We all fell into condition
OF nervous expectancy which could no
be escaped, comical as were some of it
features. There was pile of turf-per
| haps a cart load-beside the Strokr
which lay just below our tent, and W,
were told that the caldron would be com
PEELED to spout for the King, as soon a
he had finished b is breakfast; so we sa
down contented to the second plover stew
which Mr.. Gladstone and DR.. Hayes hat
provided for US.
The Strokr is a pit about five feet il
diameter and eight feet deep, to the or
dinary level of the water, which is al
ways in furious boiling state. Profes
sor Steenstrup assured me that it is no
connected with the Great Geyser, as th,
analysis of the water shows difference
but the peopleare equally convinced tha
it Is, and that to provoke its activity di
minishes the chances of the former
spouting. However this may be, tn,
royal command was given. The pile o
turf was pitched into the hole, and al
gathered around, at safe distance, wait
ing to see what would follow.
For ten minutes we noticed nothin,
but the diminution of the steam theI
the water rushed up to the level of tn
soil in state of violent agitation sub
sided, rose again, spouted the full breadtl
of the hole to height of 10 or 20 feet
sank back, and finally, after anothe
moment of quiet, shot hundred feet in
to the air. The boiled turf, reduced I
the consistency of gravel, filed the ie
and darkened the central shaft, but