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


play. Close examination revealed In.
disputable signs that the geyser was
much disturbed. 4 noise like the
rumble of thunder could be heard
down in the bowels of the earth. Sud
denly few spasmodic spurts tell the
party that everything is in readiness,
and in few moments mighty col
umn of hot water, two feet in dame
ter, is projected upwards to height
of $50 feet, where it remained sta
tionary for several minutes. 1t was
a wonderful and impressive sight and
will never be forgotten. I fingered
around the vicinity some hours and
saw several similar displays.
have space to msntiOn just one
more geyser, which was the deceitful
Economic. The guide gathered the
party around the shallow pool, which
was about one foot across. The wa
ter was perfectly calm. The mem
bers of the party stood near the edge
admiring the transparency Of the Wa
ter, when suddenly, without the least
warning, a sudden squirt Of boiling
water rose to a height of perhaps
twenty-five feet. There was a wild
scampering to places of safety, and
then loud and long laughter at the
expense of the tricky geyser. This Is
called the Economical geyser be-
cause all the escaping water returns
without the waste of drop into the
the same pool. 1t is one Of the most
deceitful geysers in the park. You
might linger by it five minutes and
without any warning be scalded by
the sudden outburst.
To the scientific readers Of this de-
scription, it will be Of interest to state
that the accepted modus operandi is
what is known as the Bunsen theory.
There is channel or tube which ex-
tends from the mouth far into the
earth. The subterIanean tube is
freshly filled with water, which, un-
der the influence of the great heat,
becomes steam. 1t rises up the tube
and is condensed into water again by
the cold water above. AS it becomes
hotter, it cannot absorb the steam and
it seeks an outlet and the whole mass
is lifted upward. The water below
then rushes up with tremendous power
and seeks an outlet from its prison
with the marvellous exhibitions which
have been described.
The concluding paragraphs of this
letter will be an attempt to describe
the falls and the grand canyon of the
Yellowstone, at once both sublime and
terrible. The Upper Falls Of the river
have perpendicular drop of l40 feet.
An excellent view can be obtained
from the point of rocks, Immediately
at the top of the cataract.
climbed far out until | stood on
a rock about the centre of the falls.
twas a grand sight to see the mad
waters, recklessly running over the
ledge and dashing far below on the
rocks and being divided in columns
Of mist.
About a quarter of mile below
are the Lower Falls. The river here
takes leap of $50 feet. You can
stand near enough to be drenched
with the mist of the water as they
take their angry plunge. The veloci-
ty of waters can be imagined when l
state that at this point the river,
which a short distance above was $50
feet in width, narrows to just "a feet.
These waterfalls are grand beyond de-
scription, and a person could hang for
hours over the cliffs and admire them.
But the grand, sublime and terrible
canyon has yet to be visited. The first
view had was from Point Lookout.
Has any reader of THE REGISTER ever
been held in the ecstasy of that view?
This point is about half mile below
the falls and Immediately above the
canon.
Here I stood, 1900 feet from the
bottom OF the canyon, through when
the Yellowstone River sought its way
and appeared ike silver ribbon.
The coloring of the walls Of the can
yon is especially fine, brilliant beyond
conception. The walls are almost per-
pendicular and have been decorated
by the Divine Sculptor. You are fas-
cinated by the magnifcence and rich
ness of the display. heard persons
in our party who have travelled the
world around declare it surpassed any
thing in Gods creation. 1t is impOs-
sible to describe that wilderness Of
color. am surprised at my presump-