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

Leaving this conglomerated, 1ncom-
prehensible region We travelled four
miles without stopping, which brought
us to Hell's Half Acre Our atten-
ton was first turned to large excav-
alton 200 feet across and nearly round.
A finger-board, which stood near by,
informed US that this was the Excel
sior Geyser-safe to say, the largest
geyser in the world. It was full to
the brim with water, which lay APP
parently dormant, with the exception
Of an occasional convulsion in the
centre, which would throw large
body Of water Is or 20 feet heaven
ward at intervals Oft tixe or six min
utes and then settle down to its form
er state with a splash The history
OF this geyser is a brief one, as there
is but little known Of it, and opinions
concerningit differ. It is said, though
| by old timers, that once a year it has
an eruption which lasts a week, dur
ing which it throws water to the
enormous height Of 325 feet, sending
such food as to consummate del
uge in the Flrehole river below.
Near the Excelsior geyser is lake
full to overfowing with clear, cold
water. In walking along the shore,
you will observe the crystal sheet be-
fore you, change from sparkling,
transparent. crystalline glow to shade
Of the brightest golden; thence to
flushing pink, tinged with the bril-
iancy of blooming rose; and thence
to an auburn hue, blended with the
rich tapestry of an autumn lawn as
the sun gives its last parting rays to
a brilliant forest, with all the magnif-
cence Of the nine transformation
scenes in ''Ialma, all Of which is
caused by the rich changes of the
formation beneath.
The formation around all these
ge,ysers and excavations Except the
lake Just mentioned) is of white or
grayish cast and as firm and compact
in its form as cement. You frequent
ly see little slat hanging out over
the orifce of an old burned out geys-
er, of which you try to break off a
piece, but find it very difficult. A
pencil mark will show for ages, how
ever strange it may seem, affording
tourists a glowing opportunity Of in
scribing their names where people
from all over the world may read
them. During our stay in the Park
we saw almost an innumerable list of
signatures written on the white porce-
lain-lined vessels, in all manner of
shapes imaginable. Some were Of
friends that had gone before, and
others whom we did not know; also
some of our most eminent statesmen.
Among them we found the names of
Chester A. Arthur, and party, Henry
Ward Beecher, and party; likewise
people from all parts of the world,
giving their names, residence and
date of visit. Some of these, how
ever, were eight years old and still
quite legible.
While continuing our journey up
the Firehole river we were invariably
found gazing into the beautiful pools
and sprin ys by the wayside. So grand
and picturesque that q person
could not restrain from doting over
them with a feeling of admiration
and wonder as they passed along, or
stopped for moment to take glance
at the fathomless depths of these
azure fmled cisterns.
We arrived at the Upper geyser
basin about o'clock on hot, sultry
August afternoon, and camped IN a
charming grove a few hundred yards
from Castle Geyser, which begins to
give vents to its pent-up force in NUT
tering thunder, and then with a rat
tie and quivering Of the earth, and
the roar Of a tempest, river bounds
upward like a rocket, submerging
broad acres with the descent Of it's
boiling flood You may climb to the
top Of the crater, regardless OF its
trembling, to the verge Of the ram
pant steam and water; you may place
your finger almost against the rising
column, il the wind will kindly con-
sent to carry away the steam. For
nearly an hour this continues, rain
bows dancing on the sunny stream.
You sit rapttlrously gazing at this
phenomenal spectacle till it has sub
sided to an occasional throb within
the cone, which has adorned within
the daintiest beadwork; then your at
tention is turned to some others SINH
lar in grandeur Now that we were
in the midst Of steaning geysers, hiss
ing steam vents, humping convul-
sions, and vociferous eruptions, we
concluded to see a small portion of
Natures work before leaving. About
fifty Yards from on. eamn could he