The Benton weekly record. [volume] (Benton, Mont.) 1880-1885, 1880-05-14

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MAMMOTH HOT SPRINGS
50 often rcsorted to by inyalids and,
many instances, with highly beneficial r,
suits. IN the immediate vicinity are to |
found numerous "chimneys," Or crater
OF once active springs. They vary j
: height from four to five feet above the SUI
face. Where the stream of hot water a
luded to empties into GARDENERS river ca
be seen traces of what were once rude fol
tlhcatlons erected many years ago by til
Snake Indians as a defence against attack
from the Grow nation.
Passing up the side of a hill, terrace i
reached containing Il few hot springs, bu
being eclipsed by others yet to be seen
they merely deserve a passing glance. Fol
lowing the winding trail leading up til
next hill, we reach the first terrace of tn
Mammoth Hot Spli5gs. The sight whicl
here greets the eye is one always to be re
membercd. The first and nearest attrac
ton to strike the beholder with wonder i
the "Cap Of Liberty" This is a cone rising
from magnesium plain to the height O
| fifty feet 1t is in fact the crater Of once
active spring. AT one time an intrepid
hunter, with much difficulty, succeeded ii
scaling the cone, and ascertained that the
summit was pierced by minute holes, thus
showing that the mineral constituents OF
the water had finally clogged, as it wereE
the aperture and was forced to find an out.
letcisewhere. Opposite this and situated
on the side Of the next terrace is an almost
similar formation, known as the s'Bec
Hive" Between the two is Il large spring
having temperature of 100 degrees, FIJI.
This spring has connected with it a bath
house, 2ne Of four erected by the parties
who located at the Springs in 1871. The
spring is clear and deep, having the color
Of ultramarine blue. The water rushing
over the brink forms pools and natural
bath-tubs Of semi-circula= shape, varying
in length from few inches TO ten feet and
some of them holding water to the depth
of five feet. The fronts and rims of these
Wondrous pools are covered with kind Of
lead work, while the exquisite tlacery and
sculptured work on others leads one TO i'm
agine that Canova or Michael Angelo had
chiseled them. This entire collection of
pools and springs is in semi-circular
form and, though not SO extensive as 9TH
ers, yet, it is conceded that in point of
beauty they stand unrivalled. Beyond.
and rising to a height 200 feet, are thou
sands of similarly formed basins, apprepri-
ately termed .'Jupiter's baths" To give
even an approximate idea of the many va
riegated hues and tints here abounding, of
the delicate bead-work, the exquisite tra-
Gerry, the stalactite formations, and all the
beauties, which meet the eye at every step,
is beyond the power Of pen to depict The
gifted artists brush alone would nearer
giving an adequate idea Of the
splendors of Jupiter's baths.
The water pouring into and over these
basins proceeds ftom two
springs on the plateau above, being the
largest embraced III this collection TO the
rear of these Mammoth Springs and on the
same level isanother almost as large which
its volume of water over 4 fiat.
to disappear in the numerous tissures in the
vicinity. On tWo sides of this
spring and running at right angles are two
''Back-bones, = varying in height from ten
to fifteen feet with an average width at the
top Of six feet, and in length about 200 feet
A tissure runs the entire length of both
which is filled with water bubbling and
seething as if determined to break its
bonds. just in the rear Of the western one
is the Magic" beautiful cone-shaped
spring with creamlike hue pervadiug the
whole. Still west of this are to be found
ruins of springs WINCH, III the
opinion Of many, present rs much Of wild
grandeur as their living and active sisters
do Of glowing beauty.
The Grotto in the Glen is located at the
head Of a wooded rayine and consists Of
scores of little jets of hot water issuing
from a mound twenty feet high. Close by
are springs containing carbonic acid gas.
According to Prof. Hayden, the principal
of the Mammoth Thermal
Springs are lime, iron, alumina, magnesia,
silica and carbonic acid. The gases evolv-
ed are sulphuretted hydrogen and carbonic
acid. The top of the gorge, where the
springs are situated, is 1856 feet above th9
level of the river. 1t will repay the trav-
eler to tarry here few days and gaze up
on the wonders SO lavishly strewn around,
and of which but few have been mention
ed in this sketch. Prominent among these
are the different falls on Gardeners river.
Above the river are the Three Forks. The
eastern one boasts of two falls, one of fifty
and the other Of 100 feet in height. On the
side of this branch are some of the finest
The falls on the middle fork are upward of
$50 feet high. These are more difficult Of
access than the others. The falls on the
west fork deserve flying visit, and pleas
ant trip could be made to the basin beyond
with its charming lakes and parks.
The trail from tile Springs crosses Gar
diners river and passes near the falls on
the east river, thence over Blacktail Deer
creek, through the stDevil's Gutter" and
pleasant Valley" to the Yellowstone at a
point where Bmonette's bridge stood be
fore being destroyed by Joseph, the Nez
Perez chief Not many yards below the
east fork cmpties into the main river. Be-
tween llae two streams can be seen the so
called Specimen Mountain,' about ,0G0
feet i'll height, its summit being entirely
destitute Of timber. Some very fine erys-
tails Of amethyst can here be found, also
agate, jasper and silieitied wood. The
point at which the most are found is dis
tant from the main river 10 miles. From
Baronette's bridge the trail leads Up the
Yellowstone, on the right side, to where 1t
from a deep canyon. II this Vi
cinity are myriads of hot springs, some Oh
the rivers brink, and others actually in
the bed Of the stream. The air is strongly
with the sulphurous yapors
arising; Nnlle Eile otsors are iiol tiie iiioss
agreeable to the sensitive olIactory nerves
Of strangers when they first scent them
from afal.. Or, to put it into the fofcible,
though not elegant language Of y party
who has been there, The first smell is the
hardest to tackle. Get over that, aud one
could then inllale the fumes from all the
glue factories III the world consolidated,
with satisfaction, if not pleasure!' y
The trail next brings to view Tower
Falls. These are on the creek Of the
same name. Here il seen an unbroken
sheet Of water which plunges over 4 preci-
pice to the depth Of 100 feet. Above, and
guard over the falls, are immense