Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1885-1890, 1885-10-10

nature wonders WIS0 the same Gnllg
occurs twenty or thirty times day
A little before sunset we arrived at
Lower F'irehole Basin, distance OF
so miles from our camp Of the previ-
Gus night. Now that we We're in the
midst Of the geyser country, we con
cluded to camp for few days and LET
our horses rest. Among the curiosi-
ties Of region which was attractive,
our guide book directed us to one
known as the
QUEEN LAUNDRY.
From a distance it has the appear
ance Of a large mound, about rs feet
in heighth, but on reaching the place
you find it to be an immense boiling
spring, 100 feet across, whose water
will cleanse the dirtiest garment al
most instantly You ascend on the
south side while the water flows off
on the north into the beautifully turn
ed watts or tubs, from two to three
| feet in diameter, and Is to 20 inches
IN depth, arranged in a mechanical
manner; one just a little lower than
the other, which allows the water to
| flow in'furling wayelets over each, re
plenishing the evaporation as it goes
-
boiling, but q short distance away it
is just nice bathing temperature.
After leaving the Queens Laundry
we returned to camp with the most
rayenous appetites ever consigned to
humanity, and found the dinner table
set, abounding with all the delicacies
of q western market, awaiting our re-
turn. I believe I said the table was
set, and SO it was; but in primative
way. It was not a wooden table, how
ever, but merely the spreading Of an
oilcloth or wagon sheet out on the
ground to prevent the grass or dirt
from getting into the victuals When
the cook shouts grub piler' the for
malities Of etiquette are forgotten,
and each find q seat on the ground,
near the center Of attraction, and pro-
ceed to partake Of the bountiful re-
past. When the circle is complete,
what a happy family they are! All
grouped together turning jokes recip
rocately from one to the other-talk-
ing Of the adventures and misadvan-
lures Of our tour-all is life and
gaiety Suffice it to say ours was, with
out doubt, the most facetious party
[ was ever with. Hearty peals of
laughter, which made the surround
ing woodland ring gleefully, were
heard incessantly After the meal is
over and each has eaten until they
feel that they will never want any
thing more, a shady nook is sought
where they can languidly repose for
al hour or SO, and even take nap, if
you feel inclined. Shortly afterward
you arise, feeling very much refresh
ed, and are prepared to watch the
geysers until dark
Surrounding our present encamp-
ment are great many geysers, but
none Of any great importance, com
pared with those in the Upper geyser
basin, though we We're very much in
volyed in enthusiasm over them. new
ertheless, as they were the most pic
turesque of any we had seen thus far
on the trip. When rest and recuper
alton has served it's mission, we once
more proceed to the higher aspira-
tions of humanity, and continue-all
on horseback-up the Firehole river
to Upper geyser basin. But before
going any further, we must pay hom-
age to the valley we are just leaving.
On either side are high mountains,
thickly covered with tall pines, and
underneath the climbing ivy spreads
its tendrlls, intermingled with those
Of the wild raspberry and ferns. Be
low is beautiful valley of about five
miles across, over which grows dense
forest, irregularly dotted with parks
Of various sizes, speckled over with
wild flowers and foliage Of the rarest
hues, numberless little streams trink-
ling along leisurely, and the birds
sing their songs in the tree tops fill
all tender hearts with a cheerfulness
that will never be forgotten.
As we continue our journey we are
fairly dazed BY the blessings that are
cast upon us, and are forgetful of the
outside world until suddenly our
dream is broken by seeing the steam
gushing yehemently from the ground
a short distance to the left OF the
road. Our curiosity is at once raised
and we aresoon found Investigating
the cause OF this eommotion. Arriv-
ing at the place we find the whole
country q bed OF Kissing. excavations
and bubbling Paint Pots. Also three
or four geysers, but of little or no
consequence. While there / made
11sa Of 1n1E tima hr nrnel1.inc q little