Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1896-04-14
THE YELLOWSTONE PARK.
SOME OF THE SIGHTS OF THAT LAND
OF WONDERS, DESCRIBED ~ ONE
WHO HAS VIEWED THEM.
PART rwo.

WHO HAS VIEWED THEM.
PART TWO.
The hotel at The Lower Basin wa:
closed for the winter and we pushed or
| for a road builders camp near the Upper
Basin. Towards night We came to the
Firehole River and followed up Its
banks TO our nights resting place
Darkness had fallen completely as we
reached the last camp OF the road build
ers a couple Of miles below the Upper
Basin. Close To the road were pitched
some thirty small tents, scattered among
which were as many bright camp fires,
setting the tents of In snow-white con-
trast with the tall and black shadows ol
the pines on the mountain behind. Our
own camp was hastily pitched on the
| opposite side OF the road, near cluster
| OF hot springs on the river bank, which
did good service In our washing arrange
ments next morning. The hot springs
Of the Park are among my dearest recol-
lections; the season was late, being
about the middle OF October, and the
water OF the rivers WAS bitterly cold,
but, In our morning ablutions, necessari-
ly out of doors, we had only to dip our
basin In hot spring, then in cold water
and get as we'll tempered wash AS the
finest afforded by civilized rehnements.
The Upper Geyser Basin Is the most i'm
portant, containing the largest geysers
and the greatest number. As we enter
ed the basin from the north we saw the
Jewel of on our right: two or three
souirts threw water and steam fifty feet
upwards. then nothing was seen but =
cloud of steam floating down the valley.
The Gem and Morning Glory were pass
ed, two deep pools of a sombre green
color, the latter in shape suggesting its
name. Almost as soon IA We entered
the basin we crossed the Firehole River
not a hundred feet below the Riverside
Geyser. which Is close 10 the waters
edge aud throws Its stream oil water III
such an angle as 10 span the river and
wash the opposite bank. The Bee Hive
lsy on our left, but did not honor Us
with a salute. To see the cone OF this
geyser Is to appreciate Its ntme.
The Grotto IA one OF the chief geysers,
having a most fantastically shaped cone,
as the mound around the mouth Is cali
ed. Its eruptions occur every four hours
aud last some thirty minutes, throwing
its column thirty feet In air. Rocket,
Artemesia, and Giant. are other large
ones near by. The Excelsior was Tor
several wears idle but has since started
again. This Is easily the largest geyser
in the world, throwing stream three
hundred feet towards the skies. Its ac-
tion Il very infrequent and many believe
IL is becoming extinct. Indeed at the
time OF nv visit II was so regarded, so
long had IL been inactive. There are
some thirty OF these geysers in this ba-
sin aud space forbids more extended
mention Of them, but moment must be
given 10 Old Faithful or this ehronlcle
would fall short.
This geyser derives its name from its
regular periods OF eruption, 1t being the
only one Of all upon which one can count
with certainty. Every sixty-iiye minutes,
Is regularly as mail train, this geyser
contributes its quota TO the waters OF
Firehole River and its share TO the won
ders Of this region. Our survey com
menced at this point and hardly was our
first stake driven when we heard NUT
rerings from the bottom OF the crater,
then spur;s Of sizzling hot water and Jt
o, steam burst ut Intervals from the
cone: suddenly burst OF water swelled
over the sides and steadily rose for
several feet, pause as II Tor new
strength and then a convulsiye spurt
raised the stream several feet higher !;
step by step II rose until IL attained Its
full magnificent height OF one hundred
and sixty feet, at which elevation II
maintained its discharge for few min
utes. then fell slowly back as the supply
OF water lessened, until IL finally ceased
10 play, apparently sinking back into Its
hole. For long after the discharged
water had cooled itself In the river
clouds of steam continued 10 ascend
from the crater and ilolted down the
little valley. Once more before our chain
WAS pulled out Of sight did this tried and
true fountain show It's magnificence, and
all hands stopped 10 gaze In admiration,
for work was out Of the question in the
presence of such of natures maryels.
From here on my life was that OF the
surveyor, tramping hard all day, car
rying heavy instrument, camping at
night in the snow and sleeping on the
frozen ground, but through many varied
scenes did we pass and many more won
ders not then open TO the tourists did we
see. What recollections we brought
away of camps amid the snow-coyered
mountains, by the beautiful expanses OF
Shoshoue and Yellowstone Lakes, and
now and then by some small geyser bs-
sin where we would be suddenly awak-
ened in the night by the loud eruption
OF some geyser close to our ears.
A short distance from the Upper Ba-
sin We passed the Lone Star Geyser.
Unlike the others, which are In groups,
this stands by itself In little opening,
where il has raised its cone after its own
peculiar pattern. This is cylindrical
shaped mound measuring some seven
feet each way and covered all over with
glazing apparently one quarter oil an
inch in thickness under which show all
conceivable colors. Twice 1t erupted for
our benefit, spouting stream about the
size of mans wrist, twenty feet in ali
and continuing for twenty minutes.
Keppler's Cascade was also seen this
day. a pretty fall of the Firehole River
down a rocky precipice, but much such
sight as can be seen on any New Eng
land river.
Crossing the Continental Divide and
down on the other side we entered the
Shoshone Geyser Basin on the border:
of the lake of the same name. Here we
find all our old friends In the shape ol
hot springs, pools, and geysers, but ont
there Is which deserves mention by itself
The Union Geyser Is unlike all the res
In having three separate cones which
vent together. For several days we camp
ed near this wonder, but 1t Obstinatei!
refused to show off. Our camp was
pitched at the lower end Of the basin ant
near the shore of the lake. A few hun
dred yards above US were a cluster o
hot springs and over on the right wa
the main basin and the active geysers
looking the other way we saw the un
rufiled blue surface Of Lake Shoshone
Tall pines grew around US and over
shadowed our tents. Our morning ab
llutions.were performed just above CAM
where two adjacent springs, one OF hot
the other of cold water, supplied US will
means of getting comfortable tenn
perature for our wash. Here also wa
found another Appolinaris spring ant
many refreshing drinks did We have o
its yield.
Early one Sunday evening just afte
supper the snow began to fall In larg
flakes, silently dropping in straigh
lines, much like the mechanical sno'
falls of a magic lantern. A weird solem
effect was produced upon US as "
watched this swift falling with not
breath Of wind nor sound OF any sol