Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1891-10-01
FLOR the Ellsworth American
From the Pacific Coast.

SPOKANE FALLS, Wash, Sept. IA, 81.
Mr.. Editor:
When wrote you from Helena, Mont,
| promised TO write again and give little
description of my trip over the Rockies
| will leave it to you whether or not it
| will interest the intelligent readers of the
AMERICAN. In travelling westward we
meet with many wonderful phenomena
and are qnickened by an oppressive sense
of the immutability of nature. In jour
J neying over the prairie the traveller sees
, mirage" By some curious freak of the
sunlight, suddenly bush or a tree, an ami
, NAL or city. assumes the proportions and
(; form of a host, and one fancies he can see
! trees. houses, animals and cities hung on
nothing In the air. This curious freak is
! but the ratification of the air which blends
aud confuses the sunbeams. A short ad-
vance and the phenomenon disappears
! The mirage which the traveller beholds af-
ter he has crossed the desert and is
, about to confront change among the
| Rockies is real and does not pass away
He is then among the beetling crags, lofty
peaks and towering mountains, gashed
scanned and rent in every direction On
all sides are manifestations of the terrific
| and transforming power Of nature-a
place where among the uplifting scenery
~
might draw inspiration and drink in a love
of living.
The wlndings of the railroad which cir
cles To the summit of mountains, then
through deep gulchrs and crooked canyons
causes the tourist 10 think that the cars
are on a bender" 1t Is supreme luxury
of entanglement, yet very sklliully plan
ned aud wondrous monument of engi-
neerlng skill. The engines puff, wheeze
and tremble As they struggle up the steep
ascent rushing zigzag from one side
OF the canyon To the other to get
toot-hold on the narrow shelf at the wa
ter's edge, crowdng close to the rocky
walls of the beetling cliffs which rise hun
dred> Of feet above the stream now creep
ing under u threatening ledge of rocks,
now shooting around bends with bluffs
hundreds of feet high on one side and
down the banks a thousand feet or more
Oh the other. The tourist gazes with awe
and wonder. The road still rises, the en-
gine still climbs, until 1t has left the valley
thousands of feet below and the view is
unrivalled Looking down on the little
city below it appears like lace handker-
chief spread out in the valley to dry, and
several miles farther away another city,
with its wide, even streets, reminds one Of
a chess board aud its fine structures here
and there might aptly be termed the cas-
ties and pawns. From the car windows
we behold grand array of superb noun
tain scenery
This wild picturesqueness, whether in
tears, laughter, sorrow or song, is most
delightful aud a person who wishes to lind
place absolutely isolated should seek this
wonderful region. 1t is full of queer sur
prises and constant succession Of Won
ders. One of tie most wonderful cities
among the mountains il Butte the great
mining camp Of Montana and the largest
IN the world 1t has pay roll Of 800
600. 90 per month and population OF about
10000, The whole community is disturb
ed by smoke and dust and the rumbing OF
mills and smelters, the blasting aud drill
ing in long tunnels and deep shafts thOus-
ands of feet into the heart of the noun
tains- On every side are rocky cliffs tow
erlng up thousands of feet, broadening in
noble dimensions and rich in gold aud sill
yer. The samples of mineral displayed IN
every business office, upon every whatnot
and wherever the fancy directs gives one an
idea Of the variety, value and quantity of
wealth that lies hidden in these western
mountains. When we become thoroughly
acquainted with the grand and beautiful
scenery in our own native land, we can
then intelllgently cross the Atlantic or Pa
citic tor further inspection. The greatest
of American resorts for tourists is Yel-
lowstone National Park. and those who
have never visited this natures wonder
land have no idea of the endless variety
and stuI endous grandeur within its bor-
ders \ visit to this park is memory to
last a lifetime.
The excursion goes through a series of
varied grand and picturesque wonders
among lakes and streams with grassy
shores, over lnXuriant meadows and beau
tiful valleys A days journey from Helena
lands Us safe in what il well termed the
worlds wonderland. Its varied wonders
attract the attention OF tourists from
every part of the civilized world Its as.
toni>hng geysers and boiling pools and
natures painted rocks of rainbow colors,
its canyons 50 deep and so profound, its
cliffs of shining black, the beautiful catar-
acts and natures mammoth paint pots, the
Yellowstone and its lovely cascades the
wildwood tangles, the devils half acre,
the pulpit terraces, the DEVILS slide and
hundreds of other matchless views the pen
and tongue both together fail to give only
an imaginary idea of the imposing scenery
There Is hot spring $50 feet in diameter,
its sides self-made wall, thirty feet high,
and a mere glance into this boiling gulf
causes shudder. Its equal no human
eye ever before witnessed. Near by is an
immense cold spring, the diameter about
twenty-five feet and is claimed to be of un-
known depth. The guide leads the way to
the chalk watts and the paint pots, all bub-
bling and boiling and spouting and spurt-
ing their compounds, each having its own
respective shades.
From the fire hole basin can be seen clouds
of mists that point to the location of the
largest geysers ever yet discovered. These
natural playing fountains of boiling hot
water are very numerous about the park.
The ten largest are magnificent to gaze
upon. The Excelsior" has a crater about
$50 feet in diameter and begins to give vent
to its pent up fire and heat like rumbling
thunder afar of, and then immediately from
its chimneyformed crater shoots food.
At first is seen squirt of steam and
water and then comes a shaking of the
earth and like the roar of tempest large
stream Of boiling water is forced upward
like rocket about 800 feet. In descending
it submerges many acres. 1t is linger-
ing spell to the beholder, and of surpass-
ing interest to thousands of tourists who
are witnesses from the fartherest ends of
the earth, and are absolutely bewildered in
its immensity. The "Giant" has chimney