, 1886-09-12
PERPETUAL SUNNI


49, 49, Wv Nv lOIlN
and sharp peaks. In the center of the
basin, from a deep, well like hole, bubbles
and heaves the steam enveloped flow,
forming the source of the Boiling Water.
The reporter has been fortunate enough
to meet a gentleman lately, who has been
spending the summer with tent. rod aud
gun, i'll the Clark Fork mountains, and
who camled for some ten days in the ba-
sin of the Boiling Water, and from him
has been gathered some information in re-
gard to the wonders of the locality.
The basin itself is probably some 500
acres in extent, and is nearly circular in
form. Everywhere within the circuit of
the basin, and high up on the mountain
sides. the vegetation peculiar to the region
is almost tropical in character. Here
grow grasses putting forth actual limbs.
The ribboned and leaved development of
these grasses attain for them the dignity
Ola ~shrubbery, soft plant. and most grace
ful IN appearance The roots of this grass
shrubbery form a strong and intricate net
work beneath the soil surface, many of
them being several inches in circumference
These roots are highly edible, having
when boiled or baked n tas,o and onnoar.
ance analogous to the sweet potatoe In
times past. they are said to have been a
tavorite but rare dish in the tenees of In.
dian priaccs and chieftains.
1t was destined for our adventnruus in.
formant to make n singular and wonderful
discovery in the basin of the Boilinv
Water The water wells forth at the foot
of a majestic rock. boarv with age. and
covered with times MOSES. One dav
while gazing on the hot water as il tum.
bled and heaved in its fiery caul Iron. the
visitor fancied he saw rude stems ipiepted
high up in the side of the overlooking
TO k. Closer Inspection convinced him
that he had discovered the bottom of a
hand fashioned stair fight. This bottom
step was. however ,ar above his roach
Determined to follow whittier the ancient
pathway led, he spent several DAYS in
erecting a nile of stones against the side
of the huge rock and finally was enabled
to mount the stairway
He found the bottom stem well marked
and from it ran inward the other stems of
the hipht. They had evidently been
fashioned by severe labor. having been
cut deep with apparently the rudest tools.
deep in the rocky surface. Twenty Stems
he assembled, and then entered a circular
basin sinking from the summit of the
rock. This basin was three or four feet
in depth. and in the midst of its rocky
floor opened a round hole large enough to
admit the passage of a man. and from
whence came wreaths of blue smoke.
strongly tainted with a s~ulphurous smell.
Looking down this suggestive aperture,
our adventurer saw hat a passage fell
away at about an angle of forty five de
grees toward the center of the earth ap.
parently. Nothing daunted, he lowered
himself into the hole and took the lower
trail
Alter a few steps he way, which was
exceedingly narrow and dark, began to
grow sleeper. 1t was evidently going
straight to the foundations of the huge
rock whose center 1t pierced Suddenly
the direct descent ceased. The passage
had reached a level. A few steps more
on a grade slightly trending upward, and
there came to the eyes of the intrepid ex-
plorer a faint blush light, his ears were