Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1882-05-04
The Yellowstone Geysers.

All gevsers have not the same action,
and most of them, in style of action, in
the duration of their eruptions, and in
the intervals that elapse between them,
are apt Individually to vary. Some play
with labored pumping, Others throw d
continuous stream, some wear them
selves out in a single effort, others sub.
side only TO recommence again repeat.
edly. Thus an eruption may extend
from two 10 twenty minutes-the APP.
proximate time occupied by the Grand;
or even to one hour and twenty minutes
"a period that the Giant has been timed
10 play.
The colors that tinge the edges OF
some craters. and stain the course OF
the streams that they send forth. are
indescribably beautiful. The snowy
wilderness of the grounding is relieved
by dainty bufs, pale p;nks. and softest
ecrus, deep yellows shot with brown.
orange streaked with vermillion or
straying into crimson, chocolate merg-
ing into black. and interlined with
lemon-by colors, in fact, run riot. and
all glistening wet beneath the clearest
crystal water. that in the center of the
crater deepens into the heavenliest blue
From such brilliancy it is relief To
turn toward the sullen hills of purple
pines.
Extinct domes and craters. over
grown with fiourishing trees. or
mounds still bare, and even steaming.
with otherwise only their immense Size
10 indicate the mighty power that
formed them, are found here and there.
among those well known to be still ac-
tive. MANY craters are surrounded by
the skeleton trunks of trees that they
have killed. and which. under the ac-
ton of their mineral waters. are rapid
ly becoming petrified; while in the con-
ilict between desolation and verdure.
which, owing 10 the frequent variation
of the centers Of action, is constantly
in progress, the lowly bunch-graSs
steals ground wherever it dare draw 4
blade
OF all the geysers whose eruptions We
witnessed, the Grand was. think, the
most interesting. 1t played each even
in at a regular hour. We were thus
enabled 10 get comfortably into front
seats. focus our glasses. and discuss the
programme. as il We're, before the per-
formance commenced. This it did very
abruptly, although the activity dis
PLAYED by small vent hole. and
the furious bubbling in another orifice
connected with it. might be ac-
cepted as premonitory symptoms. Sud
denly. with single predatory squirt.
the Grand shot a vast stream of
water over two hundred feet Tito the
air For few minutes this pressure
was maintained with undated vigor.
then it suddenly ceased. and the waters
shrank back out of sight in the cav
ernous hollow of the crater Mean
while the vent and cauldron were still
furiously laboring. and subterranean
thunder shook the ground on which we
stood. After minutes cessation. the
geyser again burst forth without warm
ing. and with even greater violence.
This continued until nine successive
pulsations had occurred The latter eff
forts. however. perceptibly diminished
in grandeur.
1t Is impossible 10 coniure mp in words
any idea of the majestic fury of the
scene. The maddencd rush of scalding
water bursting for a moments freedom
from lis mysterious captivity. the gigan-
tie columns Of dense vapor, the clouds
and clouds of lace-like falling spray or
diamond showers, the lance-tipped wa
ter-ietS. pennoned with puts of steam.
the subteraneous reports. the wondrous
effects of the evening sun on the silver
sheaf of water-spears that with light
ming rapiditv flashed forth and van
ished- broke and reformed, and the rain
bow that shone through the drifting
masses of gauzy mist, battle entirely my
powers of description. could only
gaze and marvel.-N5IetsenM Century.