Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1898-10-20

he may possess.
Rapidly in succession the seven
coaches start out on the long journey.
After four miles of steep climbing, the
driver announces, with an ill-concealed
attempt at carelessness, Golden
Gate"
The traveller sees Immediately in
front a rocky pass, formed of two ma
iestic rocks, which stand over 200
feet high. The sides of the rocks are
covered with yellow mass which sug-
gested the name. Here the coaches
pass over costly portion of the road
which projects out over the canon.
The distance Of mile cost the Gov
ernment$l4,000. The scenery through
this gorge is most picturesque, and It
certainly forms an appropriate en-
trance into the wonderland.
Two more hours, we reached the
famous Obsidiau Cliffs. For perhaps
a fifth of mile the road passes along
the base of those glistening cliffs,
which rise $50 feet above the road.
The driver tells the passengers 1t Is
the only piece Of glass road in the
world. 1t was constructed in a novel
manner, with great difficulty and
much expense. The use Of powder
was out of the question, and the
engineers built great fires around the
huge blocks of glass, and when these
expanded, were suddenly cooled by
dashing water upon them, which, of
course, shattered the rock.
When the lunch station was reached,
the seven passengers in our coach had
laid the foundation of companionship
which ended in esteem before the end
of the pilgrimage The only thing
comparable with living in stage
coach for week with the same COM
panions, is the selection of college
chum. Much of the enjoy ment hangs
upon the choice. The passengers of
coach No. s were royal persons and
excelled in courtesy, culture and
thoughtful consideration.
Early in the afternoon of the Sec
ond day we reached the noted Geyser
Basin. Our senses veritably swim as
we hear the thunder produced by the
geysers which we are approaching.
We climb up quickly to the brow of
the hill. 1t is a moment nsver to be
forgotten. Exclamations Of surprise
are heard on every side. Suddenly
some member almost shrieks and we
look down in that mysterious basin
and see the first thing in the geyser
line. One of the numerous small gey-
sers had given the party a salute. 1t
really did not reach imposing proper
tions and the next day, when we had
seen some of the thirteen-lnch geysers,
appeared as the toy cannon compared
to the modern gun. But it was the
first salute of anything in the geyser
line and produced intense excitement
among the members Of the party.
But the guide hurried us on to be-
hold grander and more fearful things.
We pass en- route to the Monarch,
Old Black Growler. The guide tells
the gaping members of the party that
some years ago when the Growler
played for the first time, the earth
shook for miles around. He related
how the bed in the guide house sever
al miles away rolled around the floor
for some minutes, much to the amaze
ment of the startled guides.
At last we reach Old Monarch,
which is the king of geysers in this
basin. The guide consults his watch
(for these water-displays are run on a
regular schedule) and informs US that
in a few more minutes Monarch will
play. The members of the party
camped around that hole in the ground
I tried to be patient. 1t was diff
cult and trying attempt. I walked
frequently up to the edge and looked
into the spring.
Soon I was rewarded. The water
became troubled and commenced TO
rise. Higher they came, angrier they
became. The guide said: at is la
bic to go any minute" The kodakers
scattered and got their cameras To-
cused. Every one debated the best
location from which to witness the dis
play. Suddenly the rumble became
greater, and a vast steaming column
of water arose to the height of per-
haps fifty feet.
1t stood in the air for several min
utes and then commenced to descend
until the waters had all returned or
escaped down the hill. l walked up