The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-09-06

SIDE TRIPS IN YELLOWSTONE
Natural Wonders In Waters ana
Beautifully CoIOred Basins.

Fountain Geyser Basin Hotdl. Yellow
stone Park, Wye, Sept. 2--When the pres
ent sytem of government roads were laid
out in the park 1t was intended that they
take in the principal sights of interest, and
at the same time not be too long, and
necessitate too much time in making the
trip. While the roads do pass conveniently
near the larger sights of interest, there
are many phenomena which cannot be
seen unless one takes side road leading
TO them. Many of these side attractions
are really more beautiful and interesting
than those along the regular road. but
their out of the way location makes IL es-
pecially inconVenient to reach them while
making the regular five and one-half days
trio. But by laying over a day at the
hotels near by. the tourist not pressed for
time can see them. one of these side trips
of interest is TO the great fountain geyser
basin, situated some bWoNmiles from the
Fountain Geyser hotel. Many consider it
one of the most wonderful and attractive
places of interest in the park. II is so
considered on account of the large geyser
to be seen in IL, its many hot springs and
pools and Fire Hole lake. IL is the pecu-
liar individuality of these freaks Of nature
in the park, that makes this basin of es-
pecial note.
The chief attraction of the basin is the
great fountain geyser. 1t plays every
eight or nine hours, the eruptions lasting
ninety minutes. 1t is noted principally for
the large volume of water 1t raises while
in activity. The crater Is 15x20 feet, and
this huge volume is raised TO a hight of
100 feet, and sometimes 100 After each
eruption the water subsidies some twenty
feet in the orifice allowing a fine view of
the walls, which are covered with beauti-
fully formed pink coral-like formation.
When the crater Is filled this formation
has a deep blue cast, with spots here and
there which shine as though pieces of
crystal were lodged along down the sides.
The formation around the geyser Is the
most beautiful in the park The sponge
like formation Immediately around the ORR
flee is encircled 100 feet from the center
by a silica rim, foot high, the interview
ing space being constantly filled with
water thrown from the geyser when in
eruption. The bottom of this circular ba-
sin is filled with hot water formation, as
Stunning every conceivable shape, of snow
Wilderness. The crevices are filled with
gold-colored formation, making the protu-
berances look as though they were set in
gold The formation around this geyser
is so hard as to turn the edge of the finest
steel instrument.
To the south of Great Fountain geyser,
browning an emnence of it's own make,
fully 600 feet in diameter and twenty feet
high, Is Surprise pool. The pool is irregu-
lar in shape, being 10x12 feet, the rim be-
ing six inches high. 1t is filled with a
lmpid blue water. at a boiling Temporal
ture The Surprise Is different from any
other boiling spring in the park, as a
small pebble or a handful Of sand thrown
into it will make it boil in a very tenn
pestuous manner. This boiling continues
until the foreign substance reaches the
bottom of the pool, an unknown DEPTH
A cane or stick held in the water will
cause the pool to boil in that immediate
vicinity as long as it is held there.
Tho overflow from this pool has built
u a cdnai-lilSe drain, about a foot in
width. extending down the side of the
hill % a nearby stream. Near the pool
the canal is pure white. Ten feet away
the SIDES assume a golden color, along
the very rim. This widens further down
until IL reaches a. third OF the way across
on either side. Then deep
green color makes its appear
ance on the edge of the gold This
green crcroaches on the gold on the sides
and the bottom until the crest OF the hin
is reached. AT this point the entire canal