The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1885-06-20
THE GETSERS,
A Great Natural Curiosity Newly Waited
-Scaidfng Water and Hot Mud Pots,
lfrom the Salt Lake Herald.l

pine-bordered road, as we came down
from the hill-tops toward the Fire
Hole River. Jolting over deep ruts
and projecting stumps OF the newly
made road, suddenly, against a back
ground OF blue gray hill, arose a col
umn OF soft white steam. For few
| moments 1t attained a lofty height.
and then slowly dissolved into air.
inVoluntarlly we had taken off our
mats ana made our bow. at is the
Great Fountain In the Lower Basin"
SAID our communicative driver. The
river bank presented an animated ap-
pearance as We reached the top of the
overhanging ridge; wagons and tents
dotted the level in all directions:
camp-hres were being lighted, and all
the BUSY preparations for approach
ing night were engaging the attention
OF the campers. But to us the pillars
OF steam rising on all sides and hover
ing overhead like 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 MOTEL. This early riser had been
named the Cleveland by some OF the
admirers OF the then Democratic nom
lnee for President. Thenoti bearing
the name had been removed, however,
and one bearing the words "Officially
named the Crevice" substituted in its
place; but the first, like Banauo's
ghost, would not down, and so the
war waged.
In the morning the whole basin was
| filled with steam, condensed during
the night. In thefollowing description
| intend only to speak of the geysers
IN picturesque sense, not trying to
make theory IN regard to their ac-
ton; neither will | infiict a certain
oatmeal theory" being unable to ac-
cept 1T myself. We were not at the
geysers under any remarkable circum-
stances, as is claimed by so many
| tourists; there was no special exhibi-
ton of water Jets for us. The marvels
OF the Geyser basin are enough, with
| out extra sensations. Neither do |
| consider 1t matter of Importance to
| tell those things which so soon pass
| from the mind-exact distances,
heights, etc.
The three basins, Upper, Middle, and
| Lower, seem to me to have been about
SIX miles in length by half a 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 swiftness, an eruption of
the Giant is said 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 too close inspection-but / antici-
pate. 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 Hgeria Springs, or Mid
| die basin. Raised in high terrace,
! they cannot be seen from the road;
| only the water which comes pouring
over the brink is visible. More of
| them anon.
Soon we reach the first installment
| OF those beautiful springs or wells,
which abound IN such numbers that to
| count them would be a task. Nature
has apparently used the arrangement
OF the solar spectrum in obtaining her
effect, which is startling in its brill
|
vivid emerald, or sulphurous blue, and
then surround it with cones of vermill-
| ion, crimson, dun, primrose, and deep
yellow, on a white or gray mound, and
| you have a correct image of it your
self, remembering all this, that they
show all degrees of action, from perfect
| calm to a gentle simmer, on to bubble
and gurgle, and finally to those which
| boil with passion and vehemence indie
scribable. That many of the springs
should be named after the spirit vul-
carly called the devil is natural.
| There are devils wells, caldrons, and
punch-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, ma
jestic Old Faithful. We had not
pitched our tent before it was time for
that standby to give an exhibition,
and, true to his reputation, it came to
the minute; at first two or three pre-
liminary Jets, as though he we're try
ing his strength, and then the waters
shot to a height of over two hundred
feet. 1t marks a period in ones life,
the witnessing of that grand display.
| During our stay the Castle INDUCED in
an eruption which lasted, with vary
ingfOrCe, for several hours. Old Faith |
full Joined it several times, his periods
of action being fifty-five minutes apart;
while those two were playing third
geyser followed their example and
sent a rocket-like stream skyward. 1t |
was the Splendid, on the opposite side
of the river; so the three played in
sight at once.
On walking over to the Blue Crested !
spring. and viewing the Castle from
that point, the outlines seemed famil- |
lar to me. l certainly had seen them
elsewhere. 1t was in the Provo valley,
of Utah, which undoubtedly at one
time was the theater of exactly such
performances as are now taking place
in the Yellowstone. The big boiling
pot and attendant spring must have
been in their youth counterpart OF
these two now before me. Moreover,
Provo valley bears a strong resent
blance to Fire Hole basin; high
conical hill, striking object IN the
valley, has its duplicate IN the oasih.
The Provo canyon also bears the
same relative position as the canyon
of the Madison. Ages past, then,
Provo valley was occupied by thermal
springs and geysers, subject to the
same laws as thosein the park. Now,
in their old age, their mounds are
grass grown, and the tiller OF the sol!
| runs his pillow to their very foot, and
of their crumbling geyserine builds
| wall around his field. When Provo
valley was first discovered: other den
liens than these held possession; the
deadly rattlesnake. attracted by the
lingering warmth IN the Ola basins
had made there his home. Five nun
bred of these reptiles were destroyed
in single day by the invaders OF their
strange haunts.
| Some Of the peySerS in the mark are