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


memory's gallery of such pictures. The
Yellowstone park is one of the highest
bodies of water on the globe; the most
elevated in the United States, and l be-
lleve the farthest above the sea of any
navigable lake to be found. 1t was a
marvel to me, looking out across that
beautiful sheet of water, in appearance
no different from lakes lying much neaIe
sea level, to think that it was 5000 feet
above tide; 1000 feet above the top of
Mt. Washington in New Hampshire. The
water is very cold, no ice is needed to
make it palatable on the hottest summer
day. But one kind of fish is found in
the park, the Y Yellowstone trout, and is,
| believe seen nowhere else. 1t is shaped
somewhat like our brook trout,
but without the markings, while the flesh
is as bright colored as that of the sal
mon, and withal very good eating. They
average, | think, about fOotin length;
fairly good fish to catch as far as sport
is concerned; there are no restrictions
whatever on fishing in the waters of the
park. All along the shore of the lake
beyond the lunch station were numer-
Gus hot springs and pools, some of them
very pretty; there was also a small paint
pot where that article i'll three different
cOlors was in process of manufacture i'll
Natures labratory, lead, pink and pure
white. 1t seemed If any of the residents
wished to paint his buildings all he need
do would be to go there and dip up what
he needed, it certainly looked like
nice article. Here also was what seemed
to me the greatest curiosity in the park.
In the lake nearly opposite the station,
about six feet from the shore, entirely
surrounded by water, was II cone rising
several feet above the surface, and about
20 feet in circumfere ce; having in the
top a small boiling spring. Tourists sit
on this cone, throw a line into the lake,
and if they choose when a trout is
hooked, can drop it into the spring and
cook it, without taking the fish from
the hook or moving a step. had heard
of this but supposed that it was only a
spring near by on the shore; every one
who sees this, marvels. The beach at
that point is sandy and no-wise remarka-
ble or different from other beaches, al
though just beyond, the bank is composed
of forma tion, and here all the hot springs
pour into the lake the various colored in
gradients cooked up underground.
Those in charge of the station said there
had been frost every night so far since
they came. While standing in the sta
ton door waiting for the stages, dis
covered fire in the woods some miles
to the westward, and called the atten-
ton of a soldier who happened to be
there, to the fact. He sprang out, gave
one glance, disappeared instantly, and
very soon came galloping up the road,
his horse at top speed, intent on the duty
of finding out just where the fire was
and then getting out the rest of the troop
erS as soon as possible. could imagine
how they would enjoy the hot, smoky
job of putting out the fire. All won
dered who had caused the trouble, and
who were to suffer; but the second day
after, we passed directly through the
burned over place and heard that it broke
out in road makers camp; but no one
knew how it started. One day earlier
we could not have passed the place.
Last year a small steamboat was brought
from Lake Minnetonka, near Minneapo-
lis, and placed on Yellowstone lake, ply
ing between the Thumb and the lake
hotel, so that choice of routes is Of
fered. They brought it by rail to CHINA
bar, and then transported it to the lake
by team; long, hard job, for the grades
are very steep, and the distance about so
miles. We chose the route along the
lake shore instead of the boat, and were
well repaid for the harder journey, for
soon after starting we were more than
800 feet above water, right on the edge
OF the cliff, and the view was something
wonderful. Further on a new road is
building a little way out in the lake;
until that is done the stages have to take
a narrow winding track through the
thick forest some way back from the
lake; this was unique experience, one
that will be denied to later travellers
through the park. The part of the route
from the Thumb" to the Lake hotel is
almost sure to be alive with mosquitoes;
a strong breeze is the only salvation, and
we had the good luck to be favored with
one, and got through fairly well. One of
the drivers was not so fortunate, as he
was obliged to stop some time at the
"Thumb' doctoring a sick horse, his
load of people going on by boat. The
horse was well enough to drive by four
o'clock, so he started on, but as the
breeze had died out and darkness was
approaching, (the favorite prowling time
of that mystery of nature the mOsquitO),
it can easily be imagined what terrible
time the poor man had; a four horse team
to drive, and be beset by swarms of the
hungry pests, which of course he could
not brush away, as his hands were fully
occupied in guiding the team over the
rather rough and difficult road. After
that experience he went tsupperless to bed,
having arrived so late. 1t did not seem
as if the drivers were always as well
used by the company as they might have
been; and then, too, there was no love
lost between the hotel and the transpor-
tation companies; and this did not make
the life of the drivers any more pleasant.
We passed, close by the lake shore, the
trunk of pine tree possibly twice the
height of a telegraph pole, and entirely
bereft of branches. On top of this, fish
hawks had placed their nest, a great mass
of twisted sticks, and how they ever
managed to make that nest stay there in
spite of storms, was more than we could
understand. There it was, however, evil
IDENTIFY not of recent build, while the
builders circled about trying to get prov
ender to ill the gaping mouths which
stuck out over the edge of the nest.
| The life of the troopers in the park is not
one of unalloyed pleasure, for besides
the hard work of putting out fires they
have to patrol the roads, and stand guard
at the different formations. While on this
latter duty they have to answer several
thousand questions during the season,
some showing sense, but mostly of the
| fool kind. As they wear only for
age cap, after number of days expos
ure to the blazing sun IN that dry atmos-
phere where there is no shade whatever,
their faces, necks and ears are a sight to
| behold. As stepped up to register al