Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1885-1890, 1885-10-10
THE NATIONAL PARK.
WONDERLAND'S WORLD OF
WONDERS.
An Article Descriptive Of the Various
Objects OF Interest Found in the
Yellowstone National Park.
By THos. ". MURPHY.
WRITTEN FOR THE TRIBUNE.


ure and enjoyment is small tract o.
land situated in the northeastern
corner Of Wyoming, extending slight
ly into Idaho and Montana, is thf
Yellowstone National Park, which is
laid out by the Government for The
purpose Of giving to those who are
fond of Natures wonders, which in
cludes nearly every one Of US, an op
portunity of satisfying their curiosity
in the world of wonders
It was bright and beautiful morn
ing in August when the cars came
rolling into the neat and industrious
little town of Bozeman, with the
necessary provisions for journey
through the Park.
Everything was previously and quite
mechanically arranged. Wagons
horses, carriages, saddle-horses, tents.
and assistants, all stood in readiness
to convey us to the land of wonders.
Our party consisted of eleven-six
ladies and five gentlemen Consider
able confusion prevailed during the
forenoon, as there is on such occasions,
while making preparations for trip
devoted strictly to pleasure.
At $50 p. ~, however, our prepar-
ations being adequately consummated
we bade our few friends adieu and
started. Some chose saddle-horses,
others the carriages, and as there was
ample allowance made for both, all
were well satisfied Our first nights
camp was on beautiful little noun
tain stream six miles from Bozeman.
Its charming meadows, intermingled
with the daintiest of wild flowers, up
on which we pitched our tents, afford
ed US and our animals very pleasant
and commodious abode for the night.
The gray dawn of light the follow
ing morning, peeping through craggy
canyons and rocky peaks Of wooded
mountains, found our camp circle ami
mated and vigorous. Thus far we
had in one whom we recognized as
leader, and thought such a person
quite an essential element to speedy
and harmonious progress-and the
writer being more accustomed to camp
life than the others, was awarded the
honored position. Our attendants
consisted of three teamsters, horse
herder, cook and assistant cook, who
also acted as waiter. Consequently
all the tourists had to do was to feast
on the grandeur of their surround
ings. At an early hour, however, with
rs miles before us, we contiued our
journey.
Our anticipation of what lay in
store for us was extravagant and mix
ed, as each had a different opinion to
express, but all upon hearsay. We
would occasionally find ourselves wan
dering off into dreamland, picturing
out the boiling pools, the steaming
excavations, the spouting geysers, the
roaring and rumbling sounds; and, in
fact, everything that could be imag
ined of such wonderful place. The
brooks along the road were literally
filled with trout, all Of which were as
hungry as grasshoppers, and afforded
us great sport in the fishing line; con-
sequently the IS miles seemed remark
ably short, and our long-looked for
destination reached the third day.
The Mammoth Hot Springs, with all
their splendor and stupendous gran
deur, stood up before us like vast
mountains. All our party seemed
highly elated over finding them SO
much larger than they expected. The
springs are situated on the south side
of Terrace mountain, covering vast
acres of land with a sheet Of snow
white cement, over which the con-
slant oozing and boiling Of water for
centuries past, has formed huge
mounds from the mineral which the
water contains, hard and crisp in ap-
pearance and as smooth as the sand
along the sea shore You may place
a cup, a horse shoe, or any small ar
ticle, in one Of these springs, and in
36 hours it will be coated over with a
white porcelain substance, compact in
its form, as plaster OF paris, which
will glisten and shine in the sunlight
and will wear for years. The diam
eter is rs feet and the water is as clear
as crystal and of a brilliant blush
cast. The whole surface is constant
boiling turmoil, which causes the wa
ter to flow over tops of the vats in
beautiful waves. Methinks person
can look down into this bottomless
abyss a distance of 200 feet, and still
there is no indication Of bottom, or