The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1890-08-06
FIRE-HoLE STATION,
YELLOWSTONE PARK, July %.


times day we exclaim Wonderful!
Wonderful"
1t is with great hesitation that at
tempt any description of its marvels,
for much has been written by many IA
pen far more gifted than mine, and, be-
sides, every tourist who climbs the ter
races of Mammoth Hot Springs, or
views the wonders of Hell's Half Acre
and the mammoth geysers, grOttOs and
pools OF that marvellous Upper Geyser
Basin, must agree with me that it beg
CARS all description. Still, when / re-
member how much more realistic is
every account coming from the pen of
personal friend, am encouraged to at
tempt such one as the brief time at
my disposal may permit.
Let me begin then mt the Gate of the
Mountains near Livingstone, admitting
us To gorge just wide enough 10 per-
nit road alongside the beautiful Vel
lowstone, which here dashes madly on
carving out its pathway as it goes, or
there dances gaily on through fertile
plains, its banks fringed with trees, and
its clear, cool waters alive with game
some fish.
For fifty-one miles we follow its
winding course, eXclaiming over its
numerous rapids and cascades. while
all the time the Snow Mountains, Dor
dering the river on the south and east,
lift their snow capped SUBMITS to
height of three or four thousand feet,
and one of Natures grandest pano-
ramas is constantly unfolding before
us. On the west the mountains are less
imposing, though highly interesting be-
cause the mighty force of glacial action
is SO plainly written on their rugged
sides. Arrived at Cinnabar, we take
coaches for Mammoth Hot Springs, and
the topmost seat on a siX-horse coach
gave me fine view of the imposing
scenery bordering the Gardiner river,
which here unites with the Yellowstone.
The drive of eight miles is enlightened
sweetness long drawn out" as it is
nearly all Il steep upward grade, but at
length a sharp turn in the road reveals
the wonderful terrace formations of
Mammoth Hot Springs glistening in
the sunlight Minerva Terrace directly
in front OF the large and comfortable
hotel, rises crystal white for more than
20 feet, and over it water trickles in
places from basin-like pools above, de-
posting the most beautiful bands of
delicate coloring, from a pale salmon
To rich orange. the latter color pre-
dominating. Then there's Jupiter Ter
race, Pulpit Terrace, Narrow Guage
Terrace, all of them on a scale gener-
Gus enough for the abode of the gods,
and all So vari-colored and brilliant
that they might well have been the
home of Iris herself.
Remaining here until the next morn
ing we entered the Park through the
Golden Gate, a rugged pass whose sides
raise, sheer up on either side from 200
to 300 feet, covered with bright yellow
moss, whence the name. This piece of
road less than mile long, cost Uncle
Sam $4,000, and is said to be the most
difficult piece of roadway yet encounter
ed by the Government engineers.
Farther along on this memorable drive,
we came To the only piece of glass road
in the world, at the base of Obsidian
Cliff, mountain of volcanic glass,
whose vertical columns of jet black
glass rise $50 feet above the road.
Stopping at Norris Geyser Basin for
refreshment, an after dinner ramble
afforded us our first view of the geysers,
but as they are far less remarkable
than those we afterward saw, | will
not make special mention of any.
bon Canyon with its charming views of
rock and glen, and its many picturesque
cataracts terminating with the series
of steep cascades tumbling downward
for 50 feet, known as Gibbon Falls.
Next morning we were all on the
alert, for the days program included
the wonders of both the Midway and
the Upper Geyser Basins.
At the former is the farfamed Ex-
celsior Geyser, the largest in the world,
the present size of its crater being $50
by 400 feet This is the geyser which
threw out such quantity of stones
during the recent earthquake just be-
fore we left home.
We were so fortunate as to view it i'm
state of eruption, and not the least
wonderful part of the display was the
deiugc of hot water as it flowed into
FREEHOLD river, raising it several inches,
though it is about one hundred feet
wide at this point.
We reached the Upper Geyser Basin
before dinner, and spent considerable
time wandering about this triangular
section continuing no less than 440
springs and geysers, with its sulphur
laden atmosphere, its kissing steam
vents and pools, and its stupendous
fountains of water. Here are found
Old Faithful, the Beehive, the Giant
and Giantess, the Saw-mill, the Sponge,
the Grotto, and many others too mum
erous to mention, the names of all of
them indicating some characteristic.
/ wish could tell you of the beauty
of some of the pools, such as the Grand
Prismatic, the Turquoise, the Morning
Glory, or Emerald Lake, but time
presses, and | am writing under great
difficulties, SO will content myself with
a quotation from the pen of an en-
thusiast who speaks of them as "grottoes
lined with mother-of-pearl, pools i'm
which the beauty of the butterfly s wing
or the radiance of the jewel seemed to
be caught"
In addition to that days ride of %
miles / walked at least six, and you can
imagine that | was somewhat weary by
the time we reached Fire-hole Station,
for the night, even though / am on a
pedestrian.
Nevertheless, we were up bright and
early next morning, for we had 30
mile ride, and Grand Canyon to view
before night-fall.
OF this canyon, which has been called
'the peroration of all majesty and
grandeur" can give YOU no descrip-