The Billings herald. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1882-1885, 1883-03-08
THE YELLOWSTONE VALLEY
The Valley From Soda Butte Greek
to the Mouth of Clark's Fork.
BY \. III. UERSEY.

BY A. ii. HERSEY.
On the left bank Of Soda Butt
creek, about three miles above il
mouth, stands the remarkable fo1
r nation from which it derives it
: name. 1t consists of a lofty cone
r shaped mound, composed of a gray
ish white substance, containing
) variety of minerals, among whicl
can be distinguished by color an,
taste, soda, sulphur and alum. Oh
its summit is a crater-like depres
sion, perforated by a number G
irregular shaped holes leading int
cavernous depths below, as indicat
ed by deep and reverberating echoes
and there is no possibility of doub
that this strange heap is the endur
ing monument of a giant geyser ex
tinct perhaps thousands of year
ago. At its base a small minera
spring issues with a temperature O
about 80 degrees F., whose waters
are nauseating both in taste ant
small. They are however knowr
to possess valuable medicinal prop
critics which the Indians of tn,
Bannock, Shoshonee and some 9th
er tribes have long understood, az
it is said it was for many years ;
traditional custom with them to re-
sort annually to the spring for thu
purpose of using the waters as q
cure for saddle sores, ETC., upon
their horses.
About fifteen miles from the
mouth of Soda Butte, the trail
skirting the base OF the Amethyst
mountains, we reach the main
Yellowstone just above its junction
with its east fork, and cross by
means of a substantial bridge own
ed and kept as toll bridge by one
OF the early pioneers of this region.
Here the atmosphere becomes so
redolent of sulphur and the waters
so impregnated by it that the abor-
iginal idea which fixes the dwelling
place of the evil spirit near at hand
seems not an altogether unreason-
able superstition. Numberless
springs containing this salt exist in
the vicinity, and extensive deposits
OF the same in singularly pure
state, very much resembling the
birthstone of commerce, are found
in various places, the residum of
ancient springs, whose fountains
have long sincs become exhausted.
From the summit of a low range Of
of bluffs near here magnificent
views may be obtained of the
Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone,
and near its mouth the Tower
Falls, only rivallcd in height and
beauty by the Bridal Veil of the
Yosemite Valley, Of California.
Passing over q succession of
thickly-wooded hills, stony flats
and deep and rocky gorgcs, we
reach Gardeners river, and crossing
its foamy, noisy torrent, we reach
the National Park. Five miles
above this crossing are the Nam
moth Hot Springs on Gardner's
river, the largest mineral springs in
the world, clouds of vapor arising
from which arc plainly visible from
the bridge. From a point near
here the Gallatin mountains may
be seen, at the base of which the
Gallatin river, one Of the main
tributaries of the Missouri, takes it's
rise. A grim and frowning old
monster, its towering summit lost
amid the clouds, and it's rugged
slopes clothed in perpetual SHOWS.
From here also on the distant hor-
izon the famous Glass mountain
can be dimly discerned, SO called
from sort of natural glass, technic-
ally known as obsidian, of which it
is chiefly composed, interesting not
only because OF its anomalous geo.
logical formation, but from being
historical ground and associated
with number of legends and ira
ditions of Indian origin. 1t was
near the Mammoth Hot Springs
that the famous Evarts was found
after being lost for thirty-seven
days in this vast solitude, during
which time he subsisted upon
thistle roots and grasshoppers.
Beyond Gardner's river the road
passes for a considerable distance
along the dizzy brow OF q narrow
bounded on either side by
cliffs Of towering and overhanging
rocks, through which the river
rushes with frightful velocity, his
sing, seething and bursting into
clouds of mist and spray, over
enormous boulders which have
fallen from the heights above. I'll
forms scene of impressive gran
deur, and as we stand upon the
bristling crags and gaze down upon
the madly rushing waters far below,
a part of the view afforded from
the table rock at Niagara is strong
ly and wildly brought to mind.
Near this place stands one of the
kings, a peak pronounced
by Prof Hayden to be one of the
loftiest in this part Of the range, its
summit being 10000 feet above tide
water, and 5000 feet above the level
Of tho river which flows at its base.