Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1888-01-27
A WIND RIVER YARN.
An Old Hunters Remarkable Discovery In
Wyoming Chasni.

An Old Hunters Remarkable Discovery In
Wyoming Chasni.
The summit Of one of the lofliest
peaks cnvironing the sources of the
Green river is ever surrounded by
dense mass OF vapor. This vapor
mass, to the uneducated mountain eye,
means the semblauce of huge, fl eecy
cloud. and rs such many wandering
tenderfoot has marvelcd at the fam
tastic beauty Of its ever-changing
forms.
But the vapor Is not the vapor OF the
upper air 1t comes from the bowels
of the earth. and though the fact has
always been known TO the Indians of
tho region and the mountain hunters
and trappcrs, the place or means of
the vapor generation has ever been a
mystery unsolvablc. But unsolvable
is now in the past tense This noun
tain mys'ory is a mystery no longer.
The vapor source has been discovered
and the vail of the mountain peak has
been lifted.
The other day there arrived in Lam
der sturdy specimen of the wild west
ern manhood. With hair and beard
of unkempt luxuriancc; n complexion
upon which tho western sun and wind
had long and deeply impressed their
dark seal; form lean. lithc and mus
cular; an eye like hawk. and grip
like a grizzly n wcather-stain ed.
smoke-tanned. camp-soilcd canvas
suit. and stout but wcll-worn mocca-.
sins; this man with tho noiseless
active step. courageous front, single
heart, simple faith and unassuming
demeanor was the Rocky Mountain
hunter and trapper-thc vanguard of
American civilization aud the knight
errant of Americas nineteenth CEN
tury.
1t was this hero of close and deadly
conflict with the royal mountain lion
and the lorlly bruin who told in
simple yet vivid aud picturesque Ian
guago the story of tho solving of the
encircling mystery of the pcak-the
discovery of the source of tho cloud
up narrow anu-us-,
this iunnel-like valley our hunter e';iS on'
day strayed. and followed it to the foo
of the obstructing cliff II ere he per
ceived chasm-like cleft in solid rock
just where it left the valley soil
The opening was barely wild
enough TO admit the passage Of
| man ,nt tlo n,nuoto;r oJ,,out,,o,, =, -,
hesitatingly squeezed himself in. Th
chasm led into tho solid cliff and sool
began to widen. Finding the way
moro open and his footing more secure
rs he advanced, the explorer boldly
pushed forward. and soon found the
darkness surrounding him pierced
with intermittent flashes of brillian
light, whilo the atmosphere began tC
grow heated.
| On he went through the passage IL
tho living rock. with the light flashes
more brilliant aud tho heat waves
more powerful, until when half mile
had been traversod there came great
rush Of hot air. and in vivid blaze oi
light there burst upon our hunter a
sight which filed him with awe and a
sentiment rs near akin to terror as his
stout heart could harbor He stood
upon the edge of vast SUBJ
terranean geyser field. Far above
him-a dazzling vista-there stretched
geysers, small in size but countless in
number These threw into the heat.
charged air constant columns of boil,
ing water. tipped with fire, which
darted hither and thithcr among the
clouds of vapor
As our adventurer stood upon the
edge of this extraordinary subter-
ranean geyscr fold he speedily real
lied that he had reached the end OF
his explorations. The heat grew more
intense as he gazcd upon the 'lurid"
scene, and quick retreat was de-
manded. Before he retraced his steps,
however. he noticed strong draught
trayersing the hidden geyser-ields,
and it was apparent these geysers
were situated under the vapor peak.
and that in them was generated tho
vapor which had so long been mys-
terry. - Wind RfUer Mountdineer.