Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1882-11-04
A Wonder of the Yellowstone.
GORGE WHERE THE ATMOSPHERE IS A
NON-CoNDUCToR OF SOUND.
IFrom the Helena llIontana7 Herald.

From the Helena (AIontana) Herald
James Carroll, well known citizen
of Helena, recently made remarkable
discovery in the Yellowstone Park. He
was alone, waiting for his fellow-excur-
sionists to come up. But let him fell
his own story -" While waiting T dis
mounted and sat down on rock wifi
my Winchester laying across nv knees
Around me was scene of grandeur
was in deep gorge which led down into
the valley. On each side the gray cl;ffs
lowered to magnificent hei0ht Re-
hind me was the steep path down which
| mad come through a thick growth oi
stnnted pines, while In front ~ ond
below me was the gorge "a auarter of .
mile wide) its bottom covara.I- -, tho
foot of one cliff 10 The OF II
heavy growth of timber. Al 80,
awhile L stood up and listened exnect-
ing to hear my friends apprCqchinr
But not sound met my ear. Thest3l.
ness was so deep that feeling of uneasi.
ness came over me and ! ATTEMPTED -
call out to my companions. Brt n.
though l opened my mouth and went
through all the details of good ,ustv
yell, not sound could | make tried
again and with the same resnI+
couldn't understand it. NV horse
wlich had been standing quietly bv me
noticed movement of the bushes near
by, and probably thinking her equine
friends were near, attempted n swhin-
ner 1t was sad failure. tor she could
not make a sound. She was evidently
as much astonished as l end became rs
uneasy. | was on the point Of MOUNTING
and starting back up the mounting,
when a fierce-looking wild animal of
the panther tribe stepped out Of the
bushes within about thirty feet of where
| was standing. 1t saw me instantly and
stopped to spring at me. | hastily
brought my gun to my shoulder and
fired, shall l say? No. | pulled the
trigger, but there was no report, al
though the smoke pulled out OF the end
OF the gun and the wild beast fell as if
struck. 1t Immediately jumped up and
hobbled into the brush. but leaving a
trail of blood behind it. | was now con.
flrmed IN my former suspicion that !
was III land of enchantment, and. al
though not at all superstitious under
ordinary circumstance, | would not
have been much surprised now to see
the devil himself Jump ont from behind
a rock. l Immediately jumped on nv
horse and started back up the path. In
about hundred yards / met my com.
panions, who were all standing close
together trying to talk to each other.
but although they seemed to be shout
ing at the top of their voices they were
really as dumb as the dead. Although
felt that Old Nick himself was Just rs
likely as not to be on my trail / could
not help laughing ut their odd gestures,
grimaces and red faces from their efforts
at making themselves heard. They were
pretty badly frightened, too. | passed
by them and beckoned them to follow
me back the way We had come. No at
tempt was now made at conversation.
After going a quarter of mile in silence
| lost my way. One of my comrades
who seemed to think he knew the way
back to the trail came up close TO me
and bending over SO that his mouth was
close to my ear, with a superhuman
effort yelled Let me lead 2 His veil
nearly bursted my tympanum. We had
got out Of the charmed air. "