The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1882-12-31
In Gcyscr's Cratcr-A Tourists Al.
Nnnfnrc I'm Mnninnn.


A party of four persons have returned
! from trip TO the Yellowstone National park Joe
/ v. l.ongdot, &. w. kanter j. +. Montgomery aud
they profess they have had, with one exception a
most delightful time. They examined the crater Of
! geysor about two and half miles from the Fire
Hole River. Notwithstanding II Is forbidden to
carry specimens away from tho park or despoi In
any way the formations, these gentlemen were de-
stouS of securing some moiueut0s " their trip and
seeng In the crater some beautiful formations, wat.
son volunteered 10 attempt descent and secure q
piece ot the beautiful coorcd work ON the interior for
each member vt the party lie carefully descended =
distance Of probably twelve feet taking that each
time his hold was secure. lie reached the forma-
lions, secured what he desired, and at
tompHd TO ascend. Reaching overhead, he graspcd
ptONctlon, and, putting his entire weight upon ~,
It gave way aud he was preciptatcd into the SEEM
ingy yawnlng abyss. His companions who were
watching his movements, shfeked rs thoy
saw him fan. They Immediately procured q
light and lowered 1t into the crater for as great dis
lance as they could with the means ut their command.
Nothing could he seen; hut hy dropping pebbles and
bits Of wood they discovered that nj depth Of about
nifty feet the crater was filled With water In their
Consideration at the disappearance of their Comtade
they had not heard his body strike the water. They
gave him up rs lost, aud with sad hearts left the
scene. Going 10 the river they made camp, intend
lug to start for Bozeman at daybreak. Next morning
they made preparations to start tut were delayed by
MIR. Longdon becoming suddenly sick. They then
concluded To remain where they until he should
be In q condition to travel. About noon another
party from the geyscf basin came In sight, aud,
Ing the camp OF the gentlemen ut once approached.
Imagine the Joy and surprise OF Longdon, Kauter,
corners their friend Watson, alive and we'll. They
could not believe II he until no had taken the
hand OF each and assured them that It was othcr
than he, aud gave them the promised specimens from
the crater OF the geyscr How he escaped Is best told
In his own wordsi
"when the projection upon which had placed
my weight gave way felt that | was indeed lost.
was not wholly conscious after I commenced fall
Ing. When struck the water, feet first, | cNpe-
rlcnced feeling OF relief. I seemed 10 sink thou
sands Of feet but Of course sank but short distance
grasped around wildly, but nothing but the water
could be felt. was rising to the surface and knew
II, and feeling suddenly came over me that | was
to be saved. How knew not, but stll | was GER
tain that was not 10 lie left In the craters reach
Ing the surface reached out and n friendly rock
gave me support. heard the shouts Of my friends
but could see nothing aud was unable to call out In
reply, After what seemed to me ages the shouts
ceased, and realized that my friends had given me
up for lost. II Just after noon when we reached
the crater suppose II was nearly Ave O'Clock when
heard what sounded like distant thunder. The
noise grew more aud more distinct, and the water
surrounding me began to 10 troubled. | then
realized that was In the crater OF active geyser,
and that In short time the entire space
would be filled with water | ATTEMPTED TO raise
myself but could find no support for my hands
which would bear my weight The walls OF the
crater were rough, and while In the water could
easily Keep my head out by clinglng to them. Sud-
denly discovered that the water was rising. This
gave me the hope that might be able to keep afioa
until tho surface reached. The water continued
to rise more rapidly aud Ut last found myself at the
point from which had fallen. Although well. nigh
exhausted, exorted my remaining strengthen climb
ing to the surface. This reached | managed to
crawl some distance away from the mouth OF the
crater, where | lost consciousness. When | re-
covered was being cared for 10y strangers-the men
who conducted me to my cOmrades.n
Upon being questioned further Watson said that
as near as he could judge the crater at tho point he
struck the water was about twenty Ave feet In diam
eter. The water was warm. but not uncomfortable
so, until few moments before he left when 1t began
to he decidedly hot and TO boil more fuTlOusly He
was found by the party who rescued him about
O'Clock In tho evening, -Butte Inter- Mountain.