Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-12-07
YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK.


the disc of heaven there seems absolutely
no interposing atmosphere. Mountains clad
i'll green forests tipped with silver sheen
OF snow, and covered by such a sky-that is
what we saw as we assembled the valley.
The gorge has drawn its walls closer. We
nave passed great garden of mighty rocks,
strange in form, marked like leopard's skins.
And now we are entering the Golden Gate.
1t is well named Golden Gate, for masses
of yellow moss have given silded splendor
to its portals. just before us the west
branch of the Gardiner river comes tum-
bling over 60 feet of stone. w pass between
sentinel pillar upon our left and lofty
crag upon our right, over q shelf of wood
ana rock, built or hewn. into the side OF the
mountain, ON to the meadows above. And
here are wild flowers, pink and red, and
white. and blue. Here is abundance of
stunted gray sage brush, and beyond the
meadows an emerald lake. We are 1000 feet
above the sea. And when we exert our
selves we realize the rarety of the atmos-
phere. There are purple peaks to right and
left which will give you, if You wish it, 5000
feet more of altitude. "Do you see that
mountain to the north?" says the guide.
THAT is Electric Peak. 1t rises II, l25 feet
above sea level. Its vast quantity of min
eral deposit renders surveyors transit
Where Nature Works Wonders.
AT length we approach a strange forma-
tion, Obsidian Cliff. This has been natures
glass house. Here she has mingled her sand
and alkalies, placed them in the furnace,
and brought out of the fire this strange
black crag. Men broke the roadway through
as one would break a bottle, by heating the
surface and pouring water upon it. Beneath
nj fr LII I'D, %,,s.~
beaver has built his dams and constructed
his huts. Floating upon its unruftled bosom
wo see a flock of wild geese. They are like
all animal life within the park, unmolested
and so fearless. There is another lake
somewhat farther up the valley which
attracts our attention. Its waters seem to
vary in hue from dark brown to malachite
green. What an artist is Dame Nature! She
never paints, but that she paints exqu1sitely.
We pass mountains that steam, and springs
that boil, and pools that hiss and sputter.
We breathe the pure air of heaven and the
very sulphur of the pit. A traveller in certain
portions of Europe, such as Bavaria. finds
his attention drawn to the great number of
shrines and crosses. They line the roadside,
they dot the fields, they rise from the sum-
mits of mighty crags. Upon hill and vale
and mountain, one beholds these tokens of
the reverential faith of the people. Here is
the crucified Christ, and the Blessed Virgin,
and the patron saints. The beauty
of nature is associated with the
solemnity of religion. But in our great
National Park things are reversed. Judging
from the nomenclature, the devil is the
patron saint. We are shown Devils
Thumb" Devils Kitchen" a Devils
Frying Pam" a Devils Washbowl," a
"Devil's Well" a "DeviPs Punchbowl," q
Devils Slide,'' and Devils stair case''-
in fact everything but the devil himself
So much smoking sulphur. and boiling
water, and ashy material thrown from
Neither Regions seems to have suggested to
the guides and drivers q name very fire.
quently upon their lips. do not imagine,
from the carelessness with which they use
his title, that they cherish any great rever-
ence for the Foul Fiend.
Travellers Must Rough 1t.
Ar point called Norris the stages and
surreys draw up that their passengers may
alight and satisfy the cravings of the inner
man. And, by the way, the Park stages seat
eight persons including the driver; the sur
reys seat four, so that parties of seven and
parties of three may very comfortably
travel together. The meals at the hotels are
good and substantial, while the long ride in
the open air adds to the zest with which they
are devoured. Norris has only q roughly
built, unpainted, frame hotel 1t is intended
as an eating house. There are few or no ac-
for spending the night. A
beautiful stream, the Norris Fork of the
GibbOn river, flows past the door. The Park
is well watered by numbers of clear noun
tain streams. Some of them wander down
their green valleys and wild wooded gorges
toward the Pacific: some of them swell the
great tide which flows into the Atlantic.
We are now on the divide between two
oceans which guard our coun-
try on the west and east-a fitting spot for
this wide Government reservation.
From Norris our party takes the road to
the left toward the Grand Canon of the Ycl-
owstone river. We follow the course of the
winding our way through the
forest. There is one spot particularly beau
Jiful. 1t is the Virginia Canon. The valley
mas narrowed. Its walls have become pre-
ciDitous. A huge mass of rock Juts out to-
ward the stream. As we round this point
we see before us q series of wild cascades.
1t is as If the rivulet were bounding forward
10 meet us, mad with laughter and clad in
white garments of spray. Under the
shadows of the pine trees, with the rays of
sunlight sitting their way through the dark
'oliage, we pause to look and listen. In such
'pots as this prosaic men become poets.
fhere is a fine view where the road crosses
,he ridge, and where acres of timber allow
The eye to roam at will. Far in the distance
one can see Mt. Washburn and Dun Raven
Peak and Bison Summit.
Scenery That Is Awe-Inspiring.
BUT soon we descend the mountain; the
'orest closes around us; there is the flash of
water, the sullen roar of a ca ataract. Weare
hearing the first fall of the Yellowstone.
With rapid current, foaming over the dark
stones IN 1tS Deu, Uue TlNeT ltdpS IrOm u
'helf, a rock and plhnges into the chasm be-
ow. That swift descent is measured by q
sheer 14O feet of space. An opening in the
,orest, where the road skirts the canon, re-
reals this picture-a fitting introduction, in
Iced, to the greater glOrieS which lie be-
-ond. Slowly the stages emerge from the |
rees, as if even the rough drivers regretted
20 leave so fair spot, and ascend the steady |
Ilope to the hotel where the passengers are |
% find refreshment.
There still remain some hours until dark |
less settles down. Those l2 miles between |
umed the whole of the afternoon. What !
more delightful than to stand upon lnSpira- |
ion Point at sunset and return in the dnsk
If evening. Inspiration Point is two miles |
md a half down the canon. 1t is |
narrow crag, stretching itself from |
he main wall and towering l,5OO |
AN secure at the hotel horse or mule for
he journey, or he can follow on foot a well /
'eaten path which skirts the precipice. We
prefer walking, and choose the Patch--n
trail they call it in the West. This trail |
eads first to spot called Point Lookout, |
rom which the finest view of the Lower
Tals can be obtained. As we come forth
rom the gloom of the pines and Chamber
,ver the uneven rocks, what scene meets
'ur eyes! mighty gorge worn out by the
ireless action of the waters. Its edges
ringed with deep foliage which rolls away
nto forest-covered hills. It's walls of
'aried hues, as though stroked by the brush
# a divine artist. In its depths Il winding
reen, white-fiecked stream. Pinnacles of
tone rising from the chasm toward the blue
ky. Eagles nests perched upon these pin
acles. In the nests young eagles fiuttering
heir wings, and longing for the wider free
om to which they are born. The parent
agile floating on powerful pinions through
he canon. A shelf of rock closing the
orge where the river enters. The foliage
on either side of the rock. The
iver sweeping down from the upper fall,
ashing through the foliage and springing
nth a mighty roar SG0 feet into the ehasm
eneath. A carpet o. green moss under the
ver falling mist. A rainbow seen in the