The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1882-04-15
THE YELLOWSTONE GEysERs.

We will proceed at once toward the
Upper Geyser basin, passing en- route
the lower basin with its so termed
stpaint pots'' or tscream pots''-boiling
watts of semi-silicious clay, which
varies in color from creamy white to
pink or slate. The next point Is
ttHell's half-acre." The pools here are
at once the most impressive and beau
tiful in the park. turned aside twice
upper basin, and again on my return.
On these occasions saw them under
completely diverse aspects; for on the
first day thunderstorm darkened the
usually serene beauty of the sky.
They are situated near the bank of
formed by deposits from the numer-
GUS tiny springs that bubble up on all
sides. The first pool is of comparative
unimportance. The second, from which
the locality derives its name, consider
ably exceeds half an acre in extent.
present dimensions. These are appa-
rently daily increasing; and it bids
fair, if its devouriDg energies continue
undiminished, to join forces with its
fellow pools, and form lake some
acres in extent. Numerous cracks and
tissues scallop the edges of the yawning
gull, and indicate the direction of future
encroachments. 1t is with feelings not
altogether devoid of apprehension,
therefore, that the stranger to these in
fernal regions cautiously approaches to
Windward of the steam, to gaze into
the awesome abyss below. The boil
ing hiss and roar of many waters issues
increasingly from Its cavernous depths,
but heavy clouds of steam veil them
from view, and the miniature cliffs, all
jagged and crumbling, that plunge pre-
cipitately down into the sea of white,
are speedily lost in its enveloplng folds.
Anon the wind sweeps past, and mo-
mentary glimpse is obtainable, through
a rift in the steam, of the perturbed
and seething surface of water. It is a
wonderful sight. Alone it would repay
the labor of the journey. And seen
as first saw it, when thunder rolled
overhead, and the broad heavens were
filled from time to time with tho glare
of lightning, the impressive character
Of the scene was enhanced.
Unlike "Hell's half-acre," the third
and largest pool is brimful, and over
flows its edges, forming, with the min
erals its waters contain in solution, a
succession of steps and tiny ledges
which entirely surround it. 1t is i'm
possible to conceive anything more
beautiful than the brilliant coloring here
presented. Its waters are of the purest,
brightest, cerulean blue, but near the
shallow edges are reflected the inclosed
rocks, and the glorious blue is lost in
yellow, pale green, or red, whilst chem.
ical deposits, in exquisite arrange
ments, such as the genius of nature
alone can suggest, of ecru and ivory,
lemon and orange, buff, chocolate,
brown, pink, vermillion, bronze, and
fawn, encircle the pool, or paint with
ribbon.like effect the tiny streams that
trickle from its overflow. Nor is this
dAl. III thc SIduophISut CuIEcul VI IlS.
ing steam, as it is gently waited across
the pine-wood landscape, dim refiec-
tion of all these wondrous colors slowly
dissipating and melting into thin
air, is distinctly visible. The sleepy
stiffness, the appearance of profound
depth, and the moist brilliancy of the
coloring, defy all efforts at description.
The brush of the greatest artist, the
pen of the finest writer, would alike
be laid aside in despair, and the genius
of man perforce must bow before the
power of nature, were it tasked to con.
vey ina faithful picture the fantastic
beauty of this unearthly scene.
We passed on through pine forests,
scared and blackened by recent fires,
and through the middle of Gcyser
basin, with its columns of steam, its
subterraneous rumblings, its hollow
echoing of horses trampling, its Kissing
craters and its bubbling springs, that
sometimes lay within few feet of the
track. Toward evening we entered the
upper basin. Imagine the head of a
valley walled in by SOmbcr hills and