Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1877-10-24

I ..
scented series of hot springs, or basins
of water, coming up from below, hot
enough to scald your hand, boil a ham,
eggs, or anything else-clear as crystal,
with basins of every conceivable shape,
from the size of a quill to actual lakes,
a hundred yards across, one feels that
in moment he may break through
and be lost in a species of hell. Six
miles higher up the West Madison is the
| Upper Geyser Basin-the spouting geys-
ers-the real object and aim of our visit.
To describe these in detail would sur
pass my ability, or the compass of Il
| letter They have been described by
Lieutenant Duane. Hayden, Strong,
Lord Dunraven, and many others. The
maps by Major Ludlow, of the engineers
locate the several geysers accurately
We reached the Upper Geyser Basin at
II noon of one day, and remained there
till 4. p. m. Of the next. During that
time we saw the old Faithful perform
at intervals varying from sixty-two min
utes to eighty minutes,
The intervals vary, but the perform
ance only varies with the wind and sun
The cone, or hill, is of soft, decayine
lime, but Immediately about the hole,
which is irregular, about six feet across
the incrustation is handsome, SO that
one can look in safely when the geyser
is at rest So regular are it's periods oil
activity, -thakwe could foretell its move
ments within few minutes Sometimes
we stood near enough to feel the hot
spray, at others we sat at our camp,
about 800 yards away. Each
eruption was similar, preceded by
about minutes of spluttering, and
then would arise column Of hot water
steaming and smoking, to the height OF
125 or $50 feet, the stream going a hun
dred or more feet higher, according to
the state of the wind 1t was difficult to
say where the water ended. and steam
began, and this must be the reason why
different observers have represented
different results. The whole perform
ance lasts about five minutes, when the
column of water gradually sinks, and
the spring assumes It's normal state of
rest. This is but one of some twenty
Of the active geysers of this basin For
the time we remained, we were lucky,
for we saw the Beehive in eruption;
the town and grotto were repeatedly in
agitation, though their Jets did not rise
more than twenty feet. We did not
see the Giant or the Grand in eruption,
but they seemed busy enough in bubbling
and boiling One is fairly brilliant by
the variety, extent, and activity of these
boiling and bubbling caldrons of hot
water. They do not seem to me to be
volcanic, but rather the result of chemi-
cal action underneath, which produces
heat and gases, which give force and
activity to these geysers. Externally,
they are not as beautiful as the formal
ton Of some under the water, exquisite
in form, but crumbling in the hand,
and slaky when dry. The specimens
gathered by the curious and carried off
amount to nothing. The real thing is
the quantity, variety, and forms of ac-
ton of these geysers.
On our return trip we again visited
points of most interest and some new
ones, and, on approaching our wagons
at the mouth of Gardeners River, we
took in the mammoth spring, called
Soda Mountain. This, also, is the re-
suit of hot spring or geyser action, but
not comparable with the upper Geyser
Basin. We got back yesterday,
bringing back every horse and mule in
good condition The reason was our
party was SMALL and we carried nothing
but the smallest possible baggage and
soldiers rations only; no luxuries, no
superfiuities. The whole distance trav-
eled was about 800 miles, and the time
fifteen days 7 would give these data
as about the least time needed to see
these great natural curiosities. The
trip Is a hard one. and cannot be soft
ened
The United States have reserved this
park, but has spent not a dollar in its
care. The paths are mere Indian trails,
in some places as bad as bad can be-
There is a little game in the park now,
We saw two bears, two elk, and about
dozen deer and antelopes, but killed
none. A few sage chickens and album
dance of fish completed all we got to
supply our wants. The whole park is
high and healthy, with abundance of
good grass and water at this season.
The general elevation above the sea is
from 1000 to $1,000 feet, and in winter
must be simply uninhabitable and unap-
proachable. We found good weather,
and were highly favored in every re-
spect: In some parts the musquito and
horse-hy were active, but not as bad as
described before we started. We saw
no signs of Indians, and felt no more
sense of danger than We do here. Some
four or five years ago parties swarmed
to the park from curiosity, but now the
trail is very slack. Two small parties
of citizens were in the park with us,
and on our return we met some others,
but all small.
The BRUTE CREATION.-But what is
poodod for tho rrocoot 70 J,,o rooorJ