, 1885-06-19
oeYssas IN ACTION.
ecaIdInE Water aud Hot Mud Pot. Of the
Upper Basin-Proyo valley.
sH.. U.ts . a. u...HI


Upper Basin-Proyo valley.
Cor. Salt Lake Heraid.l
Soon we reach the first installment
Jf these beautiful springs or wells,
which abound in such numbers that to
count them would be a task. Nature
has apparently used the arrange-
ment OF the solar spectrum in obtain
ing her eject, which is startling
in its brilliancy. Imagine a deep,
round pool Of yiyil emerald, or sui
phurous blue, and then surround it with
cones Of yermillion, crimson. dun. prim-
rose, and deep yellow, on n white or
gray mound, and YOU have n correct
that they show all degrees Of
action. from perfect calm to n gentle
simmer, on to bubble and gurgle, and
finally to those which Loil with passion
and vehcmence Undesirable. That
many Of the springs should be- named
after the spirit yulgarly called the devil
is natural. There are devils wells,
caldrons. and punoh-bowls; why no one
has thought to give him "A kettle Is a
mystery to me
once fairly among the famous geysers
OF the upper basin, you hardly know
which way to turn. Here are the fierce,
spasmodic Grotto, the powerful Giant,
the massive Castle, and last, but by no
means least, majestic Old Faithful. We
had not pitched our tent before it was
time for that standby to give an exhibit
ton, and, true to his reputation, il came
to the minute; at first two or three pre-
liminary Jets, as though he were trying
his strength, and then the waters shot
TO n height of over 200 feet. 1t marks
a period in ones life, the witnessing of
that grand display. During our stay
the Ca tie INDUCED in an eruption
which lasted, with varying force, for
several hours. Old Faithful Joined in
seyeral times, his periods of action be-
ing fifty five minutes apart; while those
two were playing, a third geyser fol-
lowed their example and sent a rocket
like stream skyward. IL was the Spleen
did. on the opposite side of the river;
so tho three played in sight at once.
On walking over the Blue Crested
spring, and viewing the Castle from
that point, the outlines seemed familiar
to me. | certainly had seen them else
where. | was in the Provo valley, of
tab, which undoubtedly at one time
was the theatre Of exactly such per-
formances as are now taking place in
the ellowstone The big boiling pot
and attendant spring must have been in
their youth n counterpart of these two
now before me. Moreover, Provo
valley bears u strong resemblance
TO Fire Hole basin; u high conf
cal hill, Il striking object in the valley.
has It's duplicate in the basin. The Provo
canyon also bears the same relative
position as the canyon OF the Madison.
Ages past, then, Provo valley was occu-
pied by thermal springs and geysers,
subject 10 the same laws as those in the
park ow, in their old age, their
mounds are grass grown, and the tiller
Of the soil run his plow to their very
foot, ana of their crumbling geyserine
builds u wall around his field. When
lrovu valley WIS first discovered, other
denizons than these held possession: the
deadly rattlcsnakc, attracted by The
lingering warmth in the old basins, had
made there his home. Five hundred of
these reptiles were destroyed in a single
day by the invaders Of their strange
lwunts.
ONE Of the geyscrs in the park are
lacking both con and mound, and in n
state Of rest, and can not be distin-
cuisine from the springs. The Foun
tain is of this description. Endless are
tie forms, material and texture of the
,rntr rims, polished, rough, faky;
some are named from their popularity
in this respect, as the Sponge. some are
surrounded with globes, hard as cannon
balls, aud others are fritted as with
boar frost. the basins of many are seal
lopel and embroidered with delicate
patterns. there are welded and single
geysers. aud whole family groups.
Take my advice and indulge in the
lsXury Of a solitary walk; it will repay
you. Don't take a guide look; never
mind the names; try and forget they
have II name, and so experience omo Of
the thrill of the first beholders. such a
luxury was ours after shutdown, and
many were the sights and maryels we
seemingly discovered. The strangest
OF these was a round pool, tranquil at
FIRST. Without warning, n mass of
water lelched up from the center, max
ing the whole pool in commotion. By
the time it had subsidized to quiet, an.
other election took place, and so con-
tinually In the twilight threading be-
tween the ssures became a feat of
so q difficulty. The scalding water
would spit %vciously and the hot mud
pots We're a constant trap roth tent
aud supper were welcome.