The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-08-29
YELLOWSTONE PARK.
The Excursion Made This Summer by
John L. StOddard.

Description of the Trip by MIR. Burditt,
one of Mr.. stoddard's Managers-The
Wonders of the Geysers-The Beauty
of the scenery-The Majesty of tho
Cliffs.
The following interesting account Of
travels is from the notes OF Mr.. Burditt
who has lately made tour through the
Yellowstone National Park in company
with John L. Stoddard.
The Northern Pa ciffc railroad carries
its passengers one thousand miles west
OF ST. Paul to Livingstone, Montana,
there dropping those whose destination
is the Yellowstone Park, and proceeding
another thousand miles to Portland,
Oregon. At Livingstone begins branch
road which terminates at Cinnabar,
ffty-three miles south. An official from
the Park met our train as we left for
Cinnabar on lovely morning in June.
THE gate of the mountains" said he,
in sonorous voice, soon after the train
started. And We entered a plain so
beautiful that it seemed quite according
to the fitness of things that 1t should
be called Paradise Valley. At our left
was the Yellowstone river, which had
! already been at our side for nearly four
hundred miles, gradually narrowing,
here joyous, swiftly running stream.
The fields of green climbed we'll towards
the mountain SUBMITS and the valley
was gridironed with the canals which
irriRate every foot Of its surface. Soon
the rugged summit Of Emigrant Peak,
nearly eleven thousand feet high, ap-
peared. A few minutes later we passed
into Yankee Jim Canyon, narrow val
gey whose sole occupant at one time was
tho Yankee who still occupies the log
hut which We see at our right. Before
the advent of the railroad this enterpris-
ing individual found profit in provid-
ing horses and outfits for thoss who
visited the Park in the early days.
What boy would not rejoice In the to-
boggan slide, /, 500 feet long, which now
appeared on the right, a narrow groove
down the mountain side? Reaching Gin
nabar Station We exchanged the pull
man which we had entered at st. Paul,
for one of the comfortable stages of the
Park transportation company. The
journey ahead of us was but eight miles,
and our pranoing team of six white
horses was ample for its load. But it is
continual climb of nearly two thousand
feet and we were almost two hours in
covering the distance. We did not ooin-
plain of the time however, for every mo-
ment was an inspiration. Two miles
after starting we passed through Gar
diner City, borough Of dozen houses
ranged each side of the only street. 1t
seems to consist principally of saloons,
hotels with saloon attachments. and
drug stores. Soon painted sign an
nounced to us that we were entering the
limits of the Park, and a short distance
farther on post Is erected on the divid-
ing line between Montana and Wyom-
ing. Near here a party on horseback
approached us. 1t consisted of several men
and one woman, was she the new one, of
whom we hear so much? For she rode
her horse man fashion, astride. She was
10 young woman, good looking, with
stylish hat and the latest waist, below
(which were full trousers and CATERS. 1t
was strange sight but how much better
fitted for riding. she was than the helpless
Aide-saddle riders! Eve soon found our
selves along the rushing. foaming, beau
Eiful waters of the Gardiner river, which
winds about In all directions, damned
here and there by huge boulders which
Hncrease its impetuous fury. In many
places our road was cut in the side of
fhe hills, hundreds of feet above the
STREAM, and we looked down on camp.
their borses grazing at the. river bank.
Little holes burrowed in the sides of the
high mountains opposite seemed like
mouths having beard of earth running
down from them which told the mining
going on within. Splendid castellated rocks
projected from the steep mountains side
Quitting their outlines in wild variety. On
tho inaccessible summit of one which
had thrown itself out into the valley,
hundreds of feet clear of all other heights
we saw the heads OF young eagles bob
bling above the edge of nest which
must have been many yards in diane.
ter.
After many turns and much climb bling
we came in sight of the neat buildings
of Fort Yellowstone erected for the use
of Capt. Anderson, U. s. A., and his
troop of cavalry. A moment later our
driver made broad turn with his hand
come team, and We came to a stop at the
steps of the mammoth Hot Springs
Hotel. This was our first tarrying place
In the driving trip of IT'S miles that was
to reveal to US the wonders Of this IA
nous locality. We arrived at about two
O'Clock. Most tourists improve the after
noon to visit, the special features of the
place and proceed the next morning on
their journey through the Park. But
the drive to this point. though delightful,
is fatiguing. And the temperature at
noon though the altitude is that Of tho
summit of Mt. Washington, is very high.
n ~. oth,r hand tho oaper0ua halls of