The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1889-02-14
Scaided in a Geyser.

General Thomas II. Ruger. COM
manding the Department of Dakota,
returned recently from a tour of in
spection of the sanitary condition of
posts under his charge, and found that
considerable business had accumulated
on his desk during his absence.
Among the communications awaiting
action was regimental order from
Colonel Peter L. Swain, of the Twenty
second Infantry, stationed at Fort
KeOgh, commencing Private Coyle,
Company b, Twenty-second Infantry.
for an act of heroism displayed in the
Yellowstone Park recently. Accord
ing to the statement of the commander,
Coyle is one of the detail of soldiers in
the government park guarding the
property, and stationed near Old
Faithful Geyser, which is well known
to tourists who have inspected the
wonders of the Yellowstone. A few
DAYS ago n party of ladies from the
East were doing the park, and in the
course of their rambles they strolled
in the vicinity of the crater of the geyser
and one daring spirit essayed to pene-
trate the mysteries Of spot where fire.
quent but fruitless efforts have been
made to find the bottom.
She passed in safety along a narrow
ridge, which divides the pool of boil
ing waller, and peered into the danger
Gus crater q few feet distant. Old
Faithful geyser derives its name from
the fact that every tifty-five minutes
there is discharge from its. depths
which replenishes the pool near which
the venturesOme tourist stood. Pre-
mOnitOry symptoms of an eruption are
conveyed by u kissing sound. as of es-
Gaping steam. and the day in question
the tourists had been frequently noti-
fed of the fact. Female curiosity.
however, would not be baffied, and the
lady approached nearer To The forbid
den ground, which is Il mere crust of
limestone and sulphur formation. Sud-
denly there was the usual sign given
by Old Faithful geyser of his inten-
tons, and the lady tourist startled by
the sound, shrieked and fell back into
the pool of water. About ten feet
distant the crater yawned in front Of
her, and in her fantic efforts she was
rapidly drifting toward the bottomless
pit. At the juncture Private Coyle
bravely sprang into the boiling water
to the rescue of the unfortunate victim
of her curiosity, and unmindful of the
fact that he was being badly scalded,
succeeded in saving the tourist and
himself, but not without terrible re-
suits. 1t is only about twenty feet
across the pool, and the water was not
more than three feet deep, and in an
incredibly short space of time both the
lady and her brave deliverer were terri
bly, scalded and in a helpless condition.
When the lady fell into the pool she
made an attempt to spring forward.
and fell upon her face in the seething
waters, and her principle injuries were
found to be about the head and face,
while her clothing had protected other
portions of her body. A few seconds
and ali would have been over with her,
for in her struggles she had approached
the brink of the crater, aud as she
grabbed with her hands at the appar-
ent rocky formation, it crumbled like
powder. Luckily, Coyle knew the
dangerous character of the surround
ings of the pool, and amid the plaudits
of few spectators he carefully re-
traced his steps along the narrow path
way to firm ground and sank uncon-
sciOus beside the senseless form of the
rescued woman. AT regimental parade
that afternoon the herOism of the brave
fellow who had dared so much in be-
half of woman was tittingly COM
mended, and a story of the affair sent
to General Ruger, who will transmit
the details to the Secretary of War.
1t is proposed by friends of the lady
that an appropriate reward shall be
made for the services of Private Coyle,
and it has been suggested that y
Lieutenant's commission would not be
too great II reeompense for his seif-sae-
riiicing performance. ST Paul Globe.