Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1896-04-07

our road passes. This cliff stands ou
like promontOry In the sea, runnln'
back some seven or eight hundred fee
and being some eighty in height. IL
substance Is "A black bottle glass know
as Obsdian whence ii derives It's name
At its foot nestles Beaver Lake. It's bot
tom covered with chips OF the sam
material. Great difficulty was met II
cutting level grade for the road Owe
the foot OF this cliff as its CLASSY sub
stance defied the drills and chisels
but man finally triumphed by the alter
mating effects OF fire and cold wate
which rent the glass into small chips.
Four miles farther and Roaring Mount
ain shows himself Some half mile from
the road we see q bare black spot neal
the top of n hill, from which clouds o
steam constantly escape with roal
easily heard at that distance. We luncheC
this day at a spring near the road, no
"A common everyday spring, but rather
such an one as the druggists have In
marble, for this spring gave us TO quencf
our thir.t, sparkling Appolinaris water
\ small river was passed which tempted
us with It's favor Of lemonade, but, being
warned in time, we refrained from In
dulging, for its water makes the drinkeT
deathly sick. Clearwater Spring would
cause drives OF manv miles were IL In
Maine but here it Is not uncommon.
Boiling hot water bursts from the ground
10 = height OF six Ia ten inches.
Viiah Spring is pool, some fifty feet
across. OF water almost at the boiling
point: water bubbles up In shallow
part which ia perforated with innumer-
able holes; two hundred feet away Is
similar pool and between them IL one OF
Ice cold water.
Two pools OF boiling mud side by side
are the next to attract our notice; these
are known a. Paint Pots and appro-
pirate is their name.
4 cloud of steam AMI 4 noise like the
irving OF some enormous mess OF pota-
toes makes US wonder what can come
next, for it seems we must have seen ali
the forms in which steam and hot water
can disport themselves. But here Is an
other. The Frying Pan. We see space
some thirty feet by eighty pierced with
innummerable small holes every one OF
which is splitting, like an angry cat.
Spit, spit. spit; they 20 faster than one
can say the words and each "a 1t spits,
vents mouthful of hot water and
adds its share To the steam that ever
floats from the place. IL l. by Tar the
most ludicrous sight In the Park and yet
one of the most remarkable.
Darkness was falling IA we entered
the Norris Geyser Basin, the end OF our
weary twenty mile tramp, but tramp
which in its undying interest and ever
awakening wonder and surprise, more
than rivals any other thousand miles any
OF us had ever covered before. Straight To
the hotel we went 10 satisfy our craving
appetite and engage "A resting place for
our tired limbs. All around we heard the
sizzIe and roar of escaping steam and
smelt the sulphurous fumes, but interest
was satiated and must lie dormant until
the morning.
The Norris Geyscr Basin il about a.
wild and uncanny spot as have ever
seen. 4 small level opening between
the surrounding hills. absolutely bare OF
all vegetation, steam everywhere rising
in spurts and clouds from the ground.
Numberless small brooks OF the most
unhealthy color, being lined with de-
posts Of dark green and red matter; ana
an ever present uncertainty OF our foot
ing owing TO the constant rumble ana
ronr Of boiling water and steam undcr
our feet and all around u. All about
are indications OF severe scOrching and
burning, and one involuntarily gives a
sigh OF relief az finding himself well out
Of place with such Internal suggestions.
The geysers in this basin are small ones
but they make up in activity for their
lack In volume. The Perpetual Spouter
i going il all the time, one continual
squirt of milk colored hot water spout
ing about ten feet high. The Constant
vets the air fifty feet above IL every two
minutes. There are several opening,
giving vent 10 roars OF steam, many
being accompanied by water and strong
sulphurous fumes; among these are
The Locomotive. also called The Steam
boat. Growler, Hurricane, Steam Nalye'
and Alcove.
The road from Norris 10 the Lower
Basin follows the Gibbon River, passing
through the Gibbon Canyon, the most
solid appearing place OF all: Two enor-
nous rocks here approach each other
from opposite sides of the river as II to
efectually stop its further advance, but
stop short within a few feet OF each
other, leaving narrow passage for the
water between two perpendicular walls
rising some two hundred feet above II
surface. Putting road through this
crack was a difficult problem and tun-
mel was for some time regarded as the
only solution Of the question, but finally
owing to the ingenuity and skill OF It.
Craighil OF the Engineer Corps, less
expensive and better piece of engineer
ing was adopted, and we have daylight
all the way on our journey.
On the road we stop for moment 70
admire the Devils Punch Bowl, circu-
lar basin some fifteen feet In diameter
and full TO oyerflowing with boiling
water. The sides are encrusted and
thin. standing abruptly from the ground
a couple of feet high.