Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1882-09-10
A MONTANA MANS STORY,
How . Tourist Fell Into = Ge,s,,
Crater and How He Escaped Thu,

Crater and How He Escaped Thu.
From the Butte (Montdnn) Inter. M,vi,.
August o.
A party Of four persons returned y,s-
day from a trip TO the Yellowstone -
tional Park. Joe Y. Longion, e. T.. Kr
Ing, J. F. Montgomery and Waiter VS.
son are the names OF the persons, and In,
profess they had, with one exception |.
delightful time. They were examining
the crater OF geyser about ~
and half miles from the I'll
Hole River. Notwithstanding il is fors.
den TO carry specimens away from the pan
or despoil in any way the formations tas
gentlemen were DESTROYS Of securing sal
mementoes of their trip, and seeing ia ts|
crater somc beautiful formations, Wias
volunteered to attempt descent and d
cure q piece OF the beautiful colorei vn|
ON the interior for each member Of 81
party. He carefully descended a dIs.a.,
of probably - feet, taking care that "a
time bis hold was secure. lie reachN al
formations, secured what he desired. r.|
attempted to ascend. Reaching oycrass.
he erased projection and putting bis u
tire weight upon IL, II gave way AMI n
w.s nrecipitated into the seemingly yir|
inc .byss. His companions who usr
Watching his movements, shrieked - Ar|
saw him fall. They immediately procgr
A light and lowered II into the crater ias|
great A distance as they could with VI
means at their command. Nothing e1ss
be seen, but by dropping pebbles and DO
of wood they discovered that at depih .
about fifty feet the crater was filled 81
water. In their CONSERVATION .! "
disappearance OF their cOmrsde ,e
had not heard his body strike the uis
They gave him up as lost, and with ~
hearts left the scene. Going TO the rw
they made q camp, intending 10 star! VI
Bozeman at daybreak. Next morning tyr
made preparations to start, but were D.
layed by Mr.. Longdon becoming ,udienI
sick. Then they concluded TO renri
where they were until he should ~ IA Z
condition 10 travel. About noon aDg'Sr
party from the Geyser basin came In seas
and seeing the camp Of the gcnI!emi
once approached.
Imagine the JOY and surprise Of bt
don, KantRer and Montgomery when M
saw among the newcomers their irsa
Watson, alive and we'll. They could ~
believe il was he until he had taken ~
hand OF each and assured them that u "
none other than he, and gave them u
promised specimens from the crater Of W
geyser. How he escaped is best told IN b
own words:
When the projection on which J b.
placed my weight gave way, felt ns
was indeed lost. Was not vssi
conscious after commenced iAihh
When ! struck the water, feet first l.IP.h
enced q feeling OF relief. ] seemed 70 rs'
thousands OF feet. but Of course sank bai
short distance. ! grssped around .Ii&I
but nothing but the water could BE- iet
was rising TO the surface and knew H. -,
q feeling suddenly came over me th'I
was to be saved. How, knew not, bgtaI
I was certain that was not 10 be lei' !,
the crater. On coming 10 the sur"
reached ont and 0 friendly rock gave "a
support. heard the shouts Of my h.ena'
but could see nothing and was unso"
call out In reply. After what seenr'
to me ages the shouts cessea
and I realized that my fnees
had given me up for lost. II was Just hs
noon when we reached the crater, ] "f
pose II was nearly O'Clock The nss
grew more md more distinct. and the sis
surrounding me began TO be troubles,
then realized that was in the crater o.
active geyser, and that in q short tine y
entire space would be filled with watf
attempted To raise myself. bat could ~.
no support for my hands which woG!d -
my weight. The walls OF the crater VI
rough, and while In the Sv
I could easily keep my o.
out BY clinging 70 them. Suddenly )
covered that the water was rising ~
gave me the hope that might be abe
keep afoat until the surface was reNg n.
The water continude TO rise more 'ap'al,
and at last found myself at The pbs'
from which bad fallen. Although ~
nigh exhausted, Iexerted my remain. ~.
strength In climbing 10 the surfsoe; ~
reached, / managed 20 crawl some dis's..
away from the mouth Of the crater VI VI
lost consciousness. When reoo'e'e.
was being cared for by stranger,-'bs -
who conducted me TO my comrades,
Upon being questioned further n,
said that ~ near - he could Iuop ~
crater at the point he struck tbs sse :.
about Is feet in diameter. Tbs Wsts
warm. but not uncomfDrtably 70 %.
few moments before be left when " -
10 be decidedly hot and 70 boi! 20
furiously. He was found by the %
who rescued him about o's.ock 10