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

CAPPED IHERFFROM.
A party OF four persons returned
yesterday from a trip to the YeAow-
stone National Park. Jos. V. Long
don, G. E. Hammer, ]. 6. Mont
gomery, and Waite. Wo;soa sEe The
names OF the persons, AM they pro-
iess they have had, with one txcep-
ton. a most delightful time They
were examining tne crater Of s geyser
Pb0ut two and bal. lal!es iEam the
Fire Hole River. Notwithstanding
it Ia forbidden 10 cary spec!meus
swsY from the park, or despoil in
any way the ioEulsuon, these gentle-
men were desiTCus OF securing come
mementoes Of their tip, AID seeing
IN the crater some beautiful lorma-
tons, Watson volunteered to attempt
a descent and secure piece Of the
beautiful colored work on the interior
for each member of the party. He
carefully Gescended 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 bis
entire weight upon it, it gave way,
and he was pTecipstated into the
seemingly yAwning abyss. His com.
panions, who we're watching his
movements, shrieked &c they saw
him fall. They Immediately pro-
curs1 q light and lowered il 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 q depth of
about fifty feet the crater was filled
with water. In their CONSERVATION
at the disappearance of their com.
rsde they mad not heard bis body
strike the water. They gave him up
as lost, and with sad hearts left the
scene. Going to the river they made
camp, intending to start for Bozemsn
at daybreak. Next morning they
made preparations to start, but were
delayed by Mr.. LaDgdon becoming
suddenly sick. They then concluded
to remain where they were until
they should be in g condition to
travel. About noon another party
from the geyser basin came in sight,
and seeing the camp Of the gentle
men OF once approached.
Imagine the Joy and surprise OF
Langdon, Kautner, and Montgom.
cry when they ssw.amongst the new
Corners their frieni Watson, alive
and well. They could not believe j,
was ne Until he had taken the hand
of each and assured them that it Was
no other than ne, and gave them the
promised specimens from the crater
OF the geyser. How be escaped is
best t0ld 10 his own words:
"When the projection upon which
| had placed my weight gave way. l
felt that l was indeed lost. | was not
wholly conscious after l commenced
falling. When I struck the water,
feet FIRST, / experienced feeling of
relief. l seemed to sink thousands
of feet, but OF course sank but short
distance. l grssped around wildly,
but nothing bat the water could be
felt. l was rising 10 the surface and
kuew it, = I'd 3 feeling suddenly came
over me that | was to be saved. How,
| knew not, but still / was certain
that l was not te be left in the crater.
On coming to the surface / 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 out in reply. At
ter what seemed 10 me ages the
shouts ceased and | reSlizad that my
friends had given me up to,. lost. It
MAS just after noon when We reached
the crater; l suppose it was nearly
5 O'Clock when [ heard what sounded
like distaLt 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 a short time the whole space
woHld be filled With water. I at
tempted to raise myself, but could
find no support for my hands which
bear my weight. The walls of the
csater were rough, and while IN the
water could easily keep my head
out by clinging to them. Suddenly
| discovered that the water was ris-
ing. This gave me the hope that
might be able to keep sfoat until
the surface was reached. The water
continued TO rise more rapidly, and
at last, found myself at the point
from which had fallen. Although
Tell-nlgh exhausted, I exerted my
remaining strength in climbing 10
the surface. This reached / an
aged 10 crswi some distance away
from the mouth of the crater where |
lost consciCusness. 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 uncomtortably so un.
I'll q few moments before be left
when 1t began TO be decidedly not
anu 70 boil mora furionzlv- Ha WAS