Omaha daily bee., 1885-04-24
ctYSERS OF THE NORTHWEST.
fte Peculiar Regions Of lhi Yellow
stone National Park,
The Grand, the Beautirul,the Wonder
fal-Nature's% Startling Freaks
First Glimpse OF Geyser.
Correspondence Salt Lake Herald.

My frat glimpse OF a geyser In action
was at the end of q long perspective of
pine bordered road, as we came down
from the hill.tops toward the Fire Hole
river. Joltlng over deep rats and pro.
j~ectins stumps of the newly.made road,
suddenly against q background of blue
gray hill, arose a column Of soft white
steam. For q few moments 1t attained a
lofty height, aud then slowly dissolved
into air. I~nvoluntarily we had taken off
our hats aud made our bow. at is the
Great Fountain in the Lower Basin"
said our communicative driver. The
river banks presented an 'limsted APP
pearance as we reached the top OF the
overhanglng ridge; wagons and tents
dotted the level in all directions; camp
fires we're being lighted, and all the busy
preparations for approaching night were
engaging the attention of the hampers.
But to us the pillars of steam rising on
all aides aud lowering overhead like q
cloud, were the first objects of attention.
The latest item of wonder was a new
geyser that had broken out, and each
morning played Its waters In sight of the
hotel. This early riser had been named
the Cleveland by some of the admirers of
the then democratic nominee for presi-
dent. The notice bearing the name had
been removed, however, and one bearing
the words, "Oficially named the
Crevlce" substituted in its place; but the
frat, like Banquo's ghost, would not
down, and 80 the war ragged.
In the morning, the whole basin was
filed with steam, condensed during the
night. In the following description, 1
intend to speak of the geysers only In a
picturesqu e sense, not trying to make a
theory In regard to their action; neither
will l inflict a certain ''oat-meal
theory" being unable to accept 1t my
self. We were not at the geysers under
any remarkable circumstance, as
is claimed by 80 many tour
lists; there was no special exhibition
of water Jets for US. The marvels
of the Geyser Basin are enough, without
extra sensations. Neither do l consider
1t q matter of Importance to tell those
things which 80 pass from the mind-ex.
act distances, heights, etc.
The three basins, Upper, Middle and
Lower, seem to me to have been about
ak miles In length, by half q mile in
width on the average. The Fire Hole
river flows through each, and drains the
outpourlng waters, and, although this
stream is of considerable width, depth
and swlftness, an eruption of the Giant
Is sald to almost double its volume. We
were not fortunate enough to see the
monster In anger, but looked down his
throat in repose. Even then his heated
breath forbade a toe close inspection, but
l anticipate. The road follows along the
river bank after leaving the first group
of geysers, of which the Fountain is the
most important, and shortly after passes
by the Egeria Springs, or Middle Ba.
ain. Raised In a high terrace, they can
not be seen from tho road; only the
water which m pouring over the brink
Is visible. More of them anon.
Soon We reach the first installmens Of
those beautiful spring, or wells which
abou I'D In such numbers that to count
them would bs a task. Nature has ap.
psrently used the arrangement of the
nolar sp sctrum in obtaining her effect,
whi,h is at ,rtling in It's brilliancy. I'm
agins a deep, round pool Of vivid en-
erald, or sulphurous blue, and then sur
round it with stones of vermilion, GRIM
son, dun, primrose, and deep yellow, or
a white or gray mound, and you have a
correct image of yourself, remembering
also this, that they show all degrees OF
action, from perfect calm to q gentle
simmer, or to bubble and gurgle, and
finally to those which boil with passion
and vehemence indescribable. That
many of the springs should be named
after the spirit ~vulgarly called the devil
is natural. There are Devils Wells,
Cauldrons and Punch Bowls; why nc
one has thought to give him q kettle is q
mystery to me. Once fairly among
the famous Geysers of the Upper Basin.
you hardly know which way to turn
Here are the tierce spasmodic Grotto,
the powerful Giant, the massive
Castle, aud last, but by
no means least. msjestic Old Faithful
We had not pitched cur tent before II
was time for that stand. by to give an ex
hibit.on, and, true to his reputation, il
came to the minute, at frat two or three
preliminary jets, as though he we're try
Ing his strength, and then the waters
shot to a height of 200 feet. 1t marks 4
period In ones life, the witnessing of that
grand display. During our stay the cas-
tie INDUCED In an eruption which lasted
with varying force for several hours,
Old Faithful Joined it several times, his
periods of action being ffty-fve minutes
apart; whilst those two were playing 9
third Geyser followed their example and
sent a rocket.like stream skywsrd; il
was the splendid, on the opposite side Of
the river. 80 the three played In sight al
once.
On walking over to the Blue Crested
Spring and viewing the castle from tina
point, the outlines seemed familiar to me
i certainly had seen them elsewhere. II
was in the Provo Valley of Utah, which,
undoubtedly, at one time wa.
the theatre of exactly such per
formances Is are now taking
place In the Ysllowatone. The Big Boil
ing Pot and attendant spring must have
been In their youth . counterpart of thess
two now before me. Moreover, Prove
Valley bears q strong resemblance tc
Fire Hole Basin; . high, conical hill, Q
striking object in the valley, has Its du.
plicste In the basin. The Provo Canyon
also bears the same relative position q.
the canyon of the Madison. Ages past,
then, Provo Valley was occupied by Their
NAL sprilgs and geysers, subject to the
same laws as those in the park. Now, ir
their old age, their mounds are gra.l
49, aud Tho fllIar nf fha .ou .N l.: