Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1901-10-09
BELIZE, A WASHOE CANARY.
The Subterranean Siren of Steamboat Springs.
BY JOHN HAROLD HAMLIN.

tallic gurgle. The miners bronzed
faces turned shade paler
Boys, this is wonderful, wonderful!
If DR.. Endlin were only here! Trum-
peting elements! | have it. I'll tele-
phone him. He can not afford to miss
the opportunity of beholding this odd
spectacle" Impulsive Professor Mel
I Inns let his enthusiasm have full sway;
and with the final rumbling sound
echoing in his ears, he dased madly
down the hill to the hotel.
His impatience and anxiety caused
him to speak harshly to the hello"
| girls, and by the time he got Sab
Francisco his mind was turbulent
Nevertheless telephone facilities in the
Far West eventually bring about the
| desired connections, and Professor
| Mellins's heart beat rapturously as he
recognized DR.. Endlin's voice over the
wire
"Yes, this is |, Mellins; am at Steam
boat Springs, New. Big earthquake
here last night. Springs went dry, but
cracked other big assures in earth's
surface. Subterranean rumblings
plainly audible. Come up at once;
bring Professors Smith and Landers.
Wonderful, | tell you-it's wonderful
Hurry!"
DR.. Endlin, the noted geologist,
placed deal of confidence in Pro-
fessor Mellins, and as he had felt the
earthquake in San Francisco, he
thought the professor certainly had
due reason for his graphic phone mes
sage. "All righ,, Mellins, we'll be up
in the morning."
Greatest recent phenomenon, doc
tor, guarantee you"
Thank you, professor; will be glad
to investigate it. See you in the morn
ing. Goodby."
"Goodby."
Professor Mellins paced nervously
between the dry basin of the late
Queen of the Springs and that fresh
crevice at the tunnel. He heard with
satisfaction the irregularly repeated
rumbles, denoting unparalleled interior
disturbances.
Hours will slip by, no matter how
tedious the minutes hang DR.. Endlin.
with Professors Smith and Landers
and couple of newspaper reporters,
aighted the following morning from
the bright yellow "V. & r." coaches.
Professor Mellins greeted them with
delight, his ruddy face beaming as only
a mans can who has played the stellar
part in a commendable act.
Time was a valuable item to these
scientists, and, directly after a light
lunch, the party sailed forth to inves-
tigate the outbursts of Dame Nature.
Professor Mellins piIoted them to the
gaping hole where the madly boiling
waters were SO suddenly and complete
ly ingulfed. This ostensible fact duly
impressed the learned men, and they
examined everything in a practiced
and professional manner.
But we fail to hear the internal ex-
plosionS, Professor Mellins."
"Ah, that you soon will, Dr. Endlin;
pray accompany me up this hill, and
will conduct you to the spot"
Now various reports had spread
rapidly and over a wide field in regard
to this shaking up of the earth at
Steamboat Springs. Accounts varied
from a faint rumor describing dried
up spring to the disappearance of the
whole Steamboat station. 1t depended,
of course, on the number of times the
tale had been repeated. Curiosity got
the better of a number of these good
people, consequently the scientists be-
women persistently following in their
wake.
The fissure still zigzagged into the
tunnel; hot, vapory clouds hung over
the crevice; but the activity. of the
steam-jets could not be compared with
those of the preceding day. Professor
Mellins looked slightly crestfallen. The
two prospectors not having a reputa-
tion at stake, took a cheerier view of
things. Besides, they We're not ex-
cruciatingly eager to have their bo-
nanza tunnel forever filled with steam
and uncanny noises echoing through
it. Therefore, after a few minutes
spent in silently and fruitlessly en-
deavoring to catch subterranean
crash, one of the prospectors inter
ceded with: We'll, Doc, this here phe-
|
and it 'pars to be restin' betwit fiji
and start right now; but just Won
: wait spell"
And they awaited spell-nearly
J half an hour: long enough to disgust
the simply curious, and several re
traced their steps toward the hotel
, letting fall rather uncomplimentary re
marks about a pack of FOOLS" Even
J the patient DR.. Endlin strobe back and
forth somewhat perturbed in thinking
J about his fatiguing trip and the pre-
cious time wasted.
But the long-eXpectcd really hap
pened A fierce column of steam
sethed up from the fissure quickly
succeeded by two lesser upheavals
then rasping groan drawn out il
jerky notes, each more weird ant
penetrating than the foregoing. 1t ere
ated a big sensation - everybody