Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-07-19
THE GREAT EXCELSIOR GEYsER.
A Graphic Description of its Wonderful
Eruption.
Written for TEE EVENING STAR

Written for TIE EVENING STAR
n OR CENTURIES Iceland, that strange
lHland Of frost and fire, was the only country
XlG where those mysterious natural fountains
of boiling water, called geysers. we're
~ known. The discoveries of the last half
century show that the DANISH Is is more than
rivalled by New Zealand and our own Yellow
stone Park. In the latter place there are III
deed no active volcanoes. but geysers and hot
springs are abundant and far outnumber those
found elsewhere in the world put together.
Here also is the monarch of all geysers Eek
celsior."
had seen the wonders of "Geyserland" be-
fore, but not the great Excelsior in eruption.
When news reached us that this geyser was
again active we determined to make another
pilgrimage to see this, the worlds greatest
geyser. On reaching the park our anxiety
lest the monster should cease its eruptions ere
We had seen 1t led us to leave the Mammoth
hot Springs the next morning and to ride
through to the Firehole that day. The second
morning. greatly invigorated by the crisp
mountain air, we started forth feeling that we
were rapidly nearing our goal. After a brisk
ride through sweet-scented pines we came sud
denly upon a large open space covered with
brilliant white deposit shining in the morning
sun. Here and there great clouds Of steam
were rising, while away across the fat close to
the river was a tremendous cloud beneath
which came rumblings and growlings to be
distinctly heard even at that distance. We
hastily dlsmounted. thinking this might be the
signal for performance on the part of his
majesty. Walking quickly across the glaring
white Hat We learned upon arriving close to
the brink OF this awful bowl that the geyser
was not expected to erupt for some minutes,
so as 1t was impossible to look into the crater,
owing to the steam, turned to examine
this curious region. Like the other geyser
basins this one is surrounded by pine
covered slopes that form a deep green back
ground for all this Wilderness. "Helrs half
acre" surely it has been grossly maligned; GER
talnly 1t Is very hot place, but there is moth
ing heliish about it unless one expects to find
much beauty in that dreaded region. Where be-
fore has one seen such exquisite coloring as is
here presented in the hot and boiling pools and
In the richly tinted overflow? From palest pos
slole shade OF tender green to deep rich blue.
From taintest daintest shell pink to deep
dark red. On approaching close to these great
steamlng cauldrons was at first oppressed by
feeling akin to fear, but their beauty is allur-
ing and / soon found myself peering with
eager eyes into the blue depths below. Turn
ing away with a shudder, half Of fear, half of
ecstacy, my eyes rest on the prismatic spring
whose waters flow over the terraced slope on
their way to the river. The channels are posi-
lively gaudy, their Innings of soft gelatinous
growth are sometimes all brilliant yellow. look
ing like streams of molten gold; again there
will be reds and bright greens cleaning be-
meath the flowing waters. Prismatic lake, the
largest by far of the springs in this area. APP
pears to be almost circular. In the center
where the water Is deepest it is Of a deep ma
rine blue; this gradually shades into emerald
green, which passes insensibly into yellow at
the borders.
AN EXPLOSION.
While still gazing fascinated by all this
beauty our attention was suddenly claimed by
an unusually loud explosive noise from Excel
sior. followed by thrashing Of the waters
This seemed a sort Of final signal for an erup-
ton. 80 we hurried across the fiat and took up
our position as near the brink safety would
permit on the side away from the steam. The
thrashing noise OF the waters became louder
and more angry. Suddenly the water shot up
into the air ten or fifteen feet, subsidized, then
up again higher, and scarcely had the water
fallen than there a grand explosion, a
booming like a cannon. and before our de-
lighted eyes there shot up q seething, spark
ling torrent snow white and finging fam
shaped jets Cdt in all directions. The very
earth seemed shaken as great pieces Of rocks
were torn off the crater walls and flung high
INTO the air, falling dangerously near US. With
one more grand explosion the water rose to q
height OF more than two hundred feet. There
for a single instant it lowered trembling, while
we watched the great glistening drops hang
ing i'll mid-air, shining and flashing like dla-
monds. Then, as if content with this grand
exhibition and scorning to attempt anything
further the geyser gradually subsidized, each out
burst being little less mighty than the last
till the waters were merely surging waves that
lashed the crater walls. A tremendous quaint
ity of water had been thrown out and was
rushing down the bank into the river. The
cauldron itself is 200 feet across and now it
was possible to obtain glimpses through the
steam into the awful abyss From the brink
down to the water is a distance of about Is feet;
the walls of white formation, having rough
shelf-like projections that overhang the seeth-
ing waters. The whole eruption had not occu-
pied more than two minutes, and turned away
and walked across to where our waiting horses
stood. 1t was like dream with a vision before
my eyes of a brilliant white earth, wonderfully
deep clear blue sky and masses Of exquisite
liquid color impossible to describe. AVN.