The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1882-09-17
A MONTANA MANS STORY
bow ToUhIsT FELL INTO GEY-
sER's CRATER AND How Is Es-
CAPPED THERRFROM.

|
a party OF four persons returned
yesterday irom'a trip to the YeAow-
eione National Park. Jos. Y. Long
don, C. E. Kanlner, J. g. Mont
gomery, and Walter Wo;s0a are the
names OF the persons, AMI they pIo-
iees they have had, with one excep
ton. a most delightful time They
were examining tne crater Of a geyser
ebout two and la: miles iEom the
Fire Hole River. Notwithstanding
it ia forbidden 10 cary specimens
away from the PARK, CT despoil in
any way the foTustiOn, these semitic
men were desircus OF securing come
mementoes Of tdeir tlip. AID seeing
in the crater some beautiful lorms-
tons, Watson volunteered to attempt
a descent and secure q piece Of the
beautiful co!ored work OH the interior
for each member of the party. He
carefully descended q distance Of
probably twelve feet. taking care
that each time his hold was secure,
He reached the formations, secured
what he desired, and attempted to
ascend. Reaching overhead, he
grasped projection and putting his
entire weight upon it. it gave way,
and he wac precipstated into the
seemingly yAwning abyss. His com.
! panions, who were watching his
! movements, shrieked ss they saw
him fall. They Immediately pro-
cursi light and lowered it into the
crater for as great a distance as they
could with the means at their COM
mand. Nothing could be seen; but
By dropping pebbles and bits OF wood
they discovered that at depth of
about fifty feet the crater was filled
with water. In their CONSERVATION
at the disappearance of their com.
rade they mad not heard his body
strike the water. They gave him up
as lost, and with sad hearts lett the
scene. Going to the river they made
camp, intending to start Tor Bozemsn
at daybreak. Next morning they
made preparations to start, but were
delayed by Mr.. Lsngdon becoming
suddenly sick. They then concluded
to remain where they were until
they should be in s. condition to
travel. About noon another party
from the geyser basin came in sight,
and seeing the camp Of the gentle
men at once approached.
| Imagine the Joy and surprise OF
ILangdon, Kautner, and Montgom
cry when they sswsamOugst the new
corners their frieuii Watson, alive
and we'll. They could not believe it
vas ne until he had taken the hand
of each and assured them that it VAS
no other than ne, and gave them the
promised specimens from the crater
Of the geyser. How ne escaped Is
best t0ld in his own words:
"When the projection upon which
had placed my weight gave way, l
felt that was indeed lost. l was not
wholly conscious after l commenced
falling. When I struck the water,
feet FIRST, experienced feeling of
relief. seemed to sink thousands
of feet, but OF course sank but short
distance. l grasped around wildly,
but nothing but the water could be
felt. was rising 10 the surface and
knew it, I'd feel 'Hg suddenly came
over me that l was to be saved. How,
l knew not, but still I was certain
that was not te be left in the crater.
On coming to the surface l reached
out and friendly rock gave me sup
port. l heard the shouts Of my
| friends, but could see nothing and
was unable to call oat IN reply. At
ter what seemed TO me ages the
shouts ceased and l reEIizad that my
friends had given me up fol. lost. It
was just after noon when We reached
the crater; l suppose it was nearly
5 O'Clock when [ beard what sounded
like distant thunder. The noise
grew more and more distinct, the
water around me began to be
troubled. I then realized that was
in the crater Of an active geyser, and
that in short time the whole space
would be filed with water. I at
tempted to raise myself, but could
find no support for my hands which
bear my weight. The walls of the
csster were rough, and while IN the
water I could easily keep my head
out By clinging to them. Suddenly
I discovered that the water was ris-
ing. This gave me Che hops that
might be able to keep sfost until
the surface was reached. The water
continued TO rice more rapidly, and l
at last. found myself st the point
from which had fallen. Although
Well-nigh exhausted, I exsrted my
remaining strength in climbing to
the 81 face. This reached / man
aged 10 crswi some distance away
from the mouth of the crater where |
lost consciousness. When / recov.
cred l was being cared for by strang-
ers-the men VINO conducted me to
my comrades"
Upon being Questioned further
Watson said that as near as he could
Judge the crater at the point be
struck water was about twenty-five
feet IN diameter. The water was
warm, but not uncomfortsbly so IN
til a few moments before he left
when It began to be decidedly not
q ~ - b1,1