The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1884-07-11
FRONTIER HISTORY
DISCOVERY or THE yELLowsTosE
NATIONAL PARK.
A CHAPTER OF EARLY EXPLORATIONS
IN THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS.
Peter Koch (Bozemdn) IN Magazine Of Amer
lean Hstoryl

IN THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS.
Peter Koch tBozemdn) IN Magazine Of Amer.
lean Hstorv.l
lCoHtiRued from last soeek
The earliest published account Of the aey'
sers Of which have any knowledge was In
1912, In a newspaper, called the Wasp, pub.
llshed by tie Mormons at Nsuvoo, Illinois
and as IL Is of exceptional interest, copy 1t
entIre:'
al had heard In the summer Of 1888, while
at rendezvous, that remarkable boiling
springs had been discovered on the sources
of the Madison, by q party Of trappers on
their spring hunt, of which the accounts
given were SO very astonishing, that deter
mined 10 examine them myself before re-
cording their description, though had the
united testimony of more than twenty men
on the subject, who all declared they saw
them, and that they really we're as extensive
and remarkable as had been described. Hay-
Ing now an opportunity Of paying them q
visit, and as another or better might not
soon occur, parted with the company after
supper, and taking with me two Pen d'Oreil.
les (who were induced TO make the excursion
with me by the promise of All extra presently
set out at round pace, the night being clear
and comfortable. We proceeded over the
plain about twenty miles, aud halted until
daylight at fine spring flo wing into Camas
creek. Refreshed by few hours sleep we
started again, after a hearty breakfast, and
entered a very extensive forest, called the
Pine Woods, continued succession of low
mountains or hills, covered by dense growth
OF this species Of timber, which we passed
through, and reached the vicinity of the
springs about dark, having seen several
small lakes or ponds on The sources of the
Madison, and rode about forty miles, which
was a hard days ride, taking into considera.
tion the rough irreguarIty Of the country
through which We had travelled
ave RECALLED ourselves with cup of coffee,
the materials for making which we had
brought with us, and Immediately after sup
per lay down TO rest, sleepy and much
fatigued. The continual roaring of the
springs, however, which was distinctly heard,
for some time prevented my going to sleep,
and excited an impatient curiosity TO exam
Inc them, which was obliged TO defer the
Qualification of until morning, and filled my
slumbers with visions of waterspouts, cata-
racts, fountains, jets d'eau Of immense
dimensions, ETC., etc.
"When arose In the morning, clouds OF
vapor seemed like dense fog TO overhang
the springs, from which frequent reports or
explosions of different loudness constantly
assaulted our ears. / Immediately proceeded
TO inspect them, and might have exclaimed
with the Queen of Sheba, when their full
realty of dimensions and novelty burst upon
my view: THE half was not told me- From
the surface Of rocky plain or table burst
forth columns Of water of various dimen-
sions, projected high in the air, accompanied
by loud explosions and sulphurious vapors,
which were highly disagreeable TO the smell.
The rock from which these springs burst
forth was calcareous, and probably extends
some distance from them beneath the soil.
The largest Of these wonderful fountains
projects a column OF boiling water, several
feet In diameter, TO the height of more than
one hundred aud fifty feet, In my opinion;
but the party of Alvarez, who discovered 1t,
persist In declaring that IL could not be less
than four times that distance In height, &C.
companied with a tremendous nolse. These
explosions and discharges occur at intervals
OF about two hours. After having witnessed
three of them, Iyentured near enough to put
my hand into the water Of the basin, but
withdrew II instantly, for the heat of the
water in this immense cauldron was alto
gether too great for my comfort, and the agl-
tation Of the water, the disagreeable efflu.
vium continually exuding, and the hollow,
unearthly rnmbling under the rock on which
l stood, so Ill accorded with my notions of
personal safety, that retrested back pre-
ciptately to respectful distance.
"The Indians who were with me were
quite appalled,, and could not by any means
be induced TO approach them. They seemed
astonisbed at my presumption in advancing
up TO the large one, and when / safely re-
turned, congratulated me on my narrow es-
cape. They believed them to be superna-
tural, and supposed them to be the produc-
ton of the evil spirit. One of them remarked
that hell, Of which he had heard from the
whites, must be In that vicinity.t Tie
diameter of the basin, into which the waters
of the largest jet principally fall, and from
the center of which, through hole In the
rock Of about nine or ten feet 10 diameter,
the water spouts up as above related, maybe
about thirty feet. There are many other
smaller fountains that did not throw their
waters up so high, but occurred at shorter
intervals. .... ...ur
ain some instances the volumes were pro-
jected obliquely upward aud fell into the
nelghboring fountains or on the rock or
prairie. But their ascent was generally per-
pendicular, falling In or about their own
basins or apertures. These wonderful pro-
ductions Of nature are situated near the CEN
ter OF a small valley, surrounded by pine
crowned hills, through which small fork
of tho Madison flows. a s.a a5sa+
aFrom several trappers who had recently
returned from the Yellowstone, received
an account OF boiling springs that differ from
those seen on Salt River only In magnitude,
being on q vastly larger scale. Some Of
their cones are from twenty 10 thirty feet
high and forty to fifty PAGES In circumference.
Those which have ceased TO emit boiling
vapor, ETC., of which there were several, are
full Of shelving cavities, even some fathoms
In extent, which give them inside an appear
ance Of honey-comb. The ground for sew
eral acres extent In the vicinity Of the
springs Is evidently hollow, and constantly
exhales hot steam or vapor Of disagreesble
odor, and q character entirely TO prevent
vegetation. They are situated In the valley
At the head Of that river near the lake which |
constitutes Its source.
"a short distance from these springs, near |
the margin Of the lake, there Ia one quite
different from any yet described. 1t 10 Of
circular form, several feet in diameter, clear,
cold and pure; the bottom appears visible TO |
the eye and seems seven or eight feet below |
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