The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1886-09-09
NOTES BY THE WAY.
Editor Herald:

NATIONAL PARK, Sept. l, sc.
After leaving you ut Sank Centre,
l verify thought 1 would send you
each week notes of any special inter
est. But 1 simply cannot because 1
have not the time, and there is 80
much to see.
On Thursday afternoon we reached
Livingstone, where we leave the main
road for the side trip to Yellowstone
Park. Livingstone is in reality the
gateway to the park.
Here the mountains appear to bar
any further progress, but as we ap-
proach, the high walls seem to swing
open and we glide along the banks of
the Yellowstone river into one of
the most beautiful valleys I have
ever seen. Indeed it is well named
Paradise Valley.
Here the high mountains open
their rocky arms to fruitful fields
and happy homes.
Through this we rush for twenty.
five or thirty miles, to where the riv-
CT swings little more to the east,
and we follow the Gardner river
through deep canyon that presents
magnificent view of mountain seem
cry.
We reach Cinnabar at four p. NJ.
to find stages to convey us to Mann
moth Springs. 1 inquired why tho
railroad did not run to the park, and
was told it was impossible, but as L
had no dictionary and did not know
the meaning of that word, l was kept
in ignorance and took seat in a four
horse coach for q rough ride that
gave one capacity for supper.
Well, We reached the springs at
7'30, and were so wearied that after
supper we found the bed a most de.
lightful place.
Friday morning at early dawn We
were on the move and were delighted
with the view from the hotel, which
is built at an elevation of $500 feet
and near the springs.
Mammoth Springs, indeed! terrace
after terrace built up of calcareous
held in solution and deposited as the
boiling water flows from the springs.
Liberty Cap and theDevil's Thumb
are columns Of this same deposit,
once formed by immense geysers.
AS you climb up the novelty and
magnificence Of the scene is Devil
dering, and in the morning sunlight
the pure white stalactites and stalag.
mites that support the crown are
beautiful beyond description.
We climbed for several II undred
feet to what is called the Devils
Kitchen, into which, as preacher,
felt bound to enter. forty feet deep
by one hundred and fifty feet long,
and hot-WelI, think his Satanic
Majesty fed at my approach, for 1
saw nothing of him; but left my
card however.
AS we left the cavern we met a
man and wife with a six.months-
old child, which they placed upon
the stones while they climbed the
cliff to DEVILS Kitchen, when the
devil, taking advantage of the wo-
mans curiosity, stole around, in the
form of great buffalo snake, which
cautiously approached the child. AS
we caught sight of this impersona-
ton of his majesty, we called the
soldier on guard, who shot the snake
through the body, and whether Sa-
tan received wound 1 know not; but
really; wonder succeeds wonder until
it is only in the darkness of night,
that living over the scenes of the
day, gain some conception of the
magnitude and grandeur of this
wonderland.
held services in the hotel and was
told it was the first religious service
ever known in this part.
shall not attempt to write, but
you may assure dear friends in Sank
Centre that 1 am all eyes and ears
for their benefit.
j. b. DREW.