The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-09-29
A VISIT TO GREAT FALLS.
inc Excursionists Over the Montana
Central See Some Rare Sirhta

A VISIT TO GREAT FALLS.
the Excursionists Over the Montana
Central See Some Rare siehtA
The Montana Central excursion to Great
Falls yesterday WAS attended by more than
200 people, and II issafe TO say that better
pleased party never went out for a days
recreation from Helena. Il was repre-
sentative gathering. including many promi-
nent men and women. General Passenger
Agent Langley, assisted by Travelling Pas
senger Agent Hubbard, did all that was
possible to make the excursion pleasant.
Every part of the days programme was
carried out to the minutest detail. The
run to Great Falls was quickly made. Tho
weather could not have been better, and the
beautiful scenery through the canyons and
along the banks of the Missouri was greatly
admired. A number of nimrods got of at
different points to shoot birds, and they
were highly successful.
On the way to the Falls telegram was
received on the train announcing that the
explosion at the Boston & Montana COM
pany's grounds would take place at lis
p. M. Mr.. Hubbard was successful in hav-
ing Mr.. Parsons postpone it until o'clock
when the excursionists could witness the
big eruption of earth. On reaching Great
Falls the excursionists had their appetites
aroused for dinner and the different eating
resorts were besieged. An hour was spent
in viewing the many signs of prosperity in
the thriving town and next the excursion
train, holding all the people that could
hang on, pulled out for the big dam, in
course of construction. Many supposed
they would witness another He'll Gate ex-
plosion; the impression having gone out
Fully 1000 people stood on the banks of the
Missouri awaiting the explosion. All the
residents of Great Falls who could 20 out
were on the ground to witness the crash.
The right bank is nearly half mile from
the smelter site where the explosion took
place, the object being to excavate for the
foundation Of q portion of the immense
plant that is being constructed. The roar
Of the Black Eagle falls at the dam site was
loud and continuous.
Promptly at three o'clock a great mass of
earth and huge cloud of dust rent the air
for distance of about 800 feet along the
bank of the hill on the opposite side and
louder than that of the roar of the water
fall, could be heard, and all was over. It
was fully a minute before the cloud of
earth and rock which had been hurled in
the air settled down or dissolved and then
the spectators were curious to see the re-
suit; An immense vent had been made in
the hill and it will take many teams long
time to clear the earth away. There were
only ninety-eight kegs Of powder used in
this explosion.
The excursionists boarded the train again
and run was made to Rainbow Falls,
where hill an hour was spent Watching that
rare end radiant sight. Next the train
hnrlo1 nj IN tho Mn~koro avro0kop
Giant Spring. Forty-five minutes was
spent there. The spring is most wonder
full freak Of nature. A hundred bubbles
forming large pool make ruff1ed scene
of laughing water, crystal pure, and which
can be peered into for many feet. Nothing
dashinR, splashing fall from this spring
into the Missouri. Water cress fourishes
in this crystal pool in great quantity, and
looking down to the bottom is seen an end
less variety of colors. The spring is truly
wonderful sight, one that words can not
properly describe. Enough water flows
New York. Il see this sariae alone Is
worth days journey.
The smelter was visited by many and at
the time several furnaces were giving forth
their streams of white metal which the Wis
itors saw cast into bars of bullion of silver
and lead.
The excursionists were simply delighted
at the sights, none of which brought out
more comment than the gigantic undertak-
ing of constructing dam at Black Eagle
falls. Good progress has already been
made on this. the stone masonry being very
we'll advanced. The center pier for the
suspension foot passenger bridge has al
ready been erected. An electric street rail-
way is in operation from the city to the big
dam.
After pleasant ride along the Missouri
on the return to Great Falls fine view of
the magic city is obtained. Two hours
more were spent around town, and after
looking after the interests of the inner man
once more, the e1cursionists. bid
The journey home was equally as enjoyable
as any part of the days recreation. Old
Luna doomed up asa fiery orb in the distance
as the train pulled out and by the time the
canyons were reached and as the train sped
along the Missouri's banks, the moon re-
fected with all her brillianoy upon the
slightly rufded waters and a sparkling sill
very sight greeted the eye from the car for
many miles. At one point of the journey
through canyon, the entire side of a
mountain was one solid sheet of lurid
flame, spectacle that was simply grand
and much resembled the accepted illustra-
tions of the fall of Babylon. The excur-
siOnists were favored with day of the
finest of Montana weather and continued
round of interesting sights and scenes and
it was day we'll spent.