The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1893-10-27

ing to the eastward from the Thumb ="
Plenty of good row boats can be hired,
and the fishing is very good, but the mos
quitoes are altogether too affectionate,
and the air decidedly too wintry. We
could not sit on the piazza without get
ting chilled, and the house was kept
comfortable only by good fires. This
was one of the bear view places. but we
felt that we had been insulted by the
beasts. at the Fountain hotel and we
would not cOndescend to call on these.
Those who did pocket their pride and
call, Jared no better than before, except
that they found rather more mosquitoes
in waiting. Next morning we were off
for the canon, a very pleasant ride; at
first for number of miles along the bank
of Yellowstone river, where the trout
could be plainly seen lying in the stream
close to the bank. The best spot for
fishing is where the river leaves the lake.
The day before we saw hundreds of the
trout in the neighborhood of bridge
which carries the road over the end of
the lake; our presence did not seem to
disturb them in the least. The "Sulph-
er NJ ,untain' was passed and then we all
alighted and walked little way back
from the road to see the mud geyser.
The latter would have made a fine pic
ture for Dante to use in his Inf rno."
lust in Iront of the hill was bowl
shaped hollow, and under the hill large
opening where great mass of mud was
constantly and violently thrown with
sullen roar against the overhauging
bank: except for this the mass would
have gone many feet into the air. 1t was
one OF the most gruesome spectacles [
ii II
nlosion would tear down the hill before
rs. We could not bear to look long at
If and all shuddered as they turned away:
the exhibition of force was so great and
the flying masses of mud so disgusting in
appearance. The clear bright river was
a relief as we followed it; the road after
awhile turning away and passing over
series of downs which reminded us
strongly of Scotland and of some parts
of England as well; the wind had full
sweep here. We came down to the river
level again just above the upper falls
where it enters the wonderful canon;
here another military post is located the
road following along the edge of the gey-
ser. crossing by very high bridge a
stream that comes tumbling in just there,
and affording fine view of the first fall,
which is about hundred feet high: the
volume of water that passes over is con-
siderable. The hotel is built on a high
point overlooking the grand canon, and
several hundred feet above the brink, so
that the road, while very smooth and
we'll made. runs so close to the tremend-
ons depths below, that it requires people
with steady heads to sit in a stage and
ride ND the quite steep grade on the
very verge of the canon and not get
nervous. let alone driving team there.
THE first move after we reached the ho-
tel was toward the main or lower falls
where the canon proper begins. a long
and steep grade is necessary 10 permit
one To get down to the edge ri he water,
where a great Hat rock fairly oyerhangs
the fall aud the vast gorge below. 1t is
| enclosed with tiRibcrk, 50 that ne can
stand at the edge and peer dnwn Into the
depths as far as the great cloud OF spray
! will hermit. The fall is 33O feet, Niaga-
ra's plunge is about $50; and the nearly
perpcndicular walls of the canon must
| he at least 800 feet above the river as it
plides away after its awful plunge; from
| the cliffs above it looks like narrow
green ribbon, spotted with white. There
! Is a path along the top OF the ellis, and
such an abyss as one looks down into,
makes the sightScer shrink IRON too
close acquaintance with it. Such a
wealth of color; greaS banks of yellows,
reds and grern., the fantastic shapes of
the rocks in addition to all the wonder
fui coluring making the place look like a
SUGGESTION Of fairy castles. 1t did not
seem pussible that human foot could
ever tread the bank of the stream so far
below, vet was told it could be done.
Personally, l should hardly care to be
down there and have 10 get out; | could
not be tempted, think, to try to climb
down. Looking into the abyss
thought Of the youth who wished to cut
his name in the rock above thar Of the
Father Of his Country, at the Virginia
natural bridge. Far below us two sharp
pinnacles of rock jutted out from the
precipice, and on the top OF each, eagles