The Van Buren press., 1903-08-29
WITH THE EDITORS.
Some "reminiscences OF Our visit 10
Omaha, Salt Lake City, Yellowstone
National Park and 0ther
Points of Interest.
THE GRANDEsT OF SIGHTS.

frost covered the ground. 1t was Sun
day morning, but our arrangements
allowed for no stop and by $50 we are
off again for nineteen mile drive most
of which lies along the banks OF Yellow
stone river. AS we drive along in every
eddy of the limpid stream we spy beauti-
full specimens of rainbow and salmon
trout, apparently anxiously awaiting
the fisherman. Mile after mile we fol
low the banks the water flowing placid
wardly to the north, giving no indication
OF the terrible leaps it will take within
few miles.
About five miles from the lake we
stop to view the first point of more than
passing interest. 1t is the mud geyser
or mud volcano. 1t presents terrify-
ing appearance as we saw it. At the
base of cliff is formed a considerable
cone from the mud geyser. The crater
is twenty feet across and as the steam,
which has sickening Odor, lifts little
we see twenty feet below mass Of hot
mud Of a consistency of very soft paste
in violent state Of agitation. 1t is Il
strange but not edifying sight During
the summer of 1898 visitors witnessed
some very violent eruptions of this
volcano, the mud-plastered trees within
the vicinity of the crater still giving
evidence of the terrific explosions
which then occurred.
Next we follow the edge of Hayden
Valley. 1t is the largest valley in the
Park and especially adopted as range
for game, of which much winters in
this basin. Then after a considerable
climb we reach Sulphur Mountain,
which consists of IA group Of isolated
hills The roadway skirts along the
western base, and in the blocks Of de-
tached rock scattered along it we notice
that all contain large percentage OF
sulphur. All around these are steam
vents the fumes from which are very
disagreeable, showing strongly the
presence Of sulphuretted hydrogen. The
chief attraction here is a large boiling
spring at the base Of the mountain
on the west side 1t measures ljX2C
! feet on the inside and its basin is built
up of solid rim Of Crystalized sulphur
four feet in width, the quantity OF
sulphur being estimated ut from forty
to fifty tons. The water is clear, but
of whitish cast and above the boiling
point. a small channal which lead.
from it down the slope for severa,
hundred feet is encrusted to depth OF
several inches with crystalized sulphur,
Close by are number Of mud cauldron,
the contents Of which vary considerably
in color and consistency and all Of which
are constantly agitated. From here OF
until we near the falls there is little Oi
, special interest.
Untie now, we having reached within
u quarter Of n mile of the upper falls tn,
waters of Yellowstone river have been
quietly gliding along between hr-clad
shores, but now they begin TO rush and
surge as II anxions to make the plung,
which will carry them to the bottom o
the deep gorge below, The rapids
themselves present n beautiful scene ant
so that the full grandeur thereof and tn,
| falls below may be seen the government
is constructing "A handsome and sub
stantial concrete and steel bridge acrOs
the river at u point about quarter of I
mile above the upper falls, The bank
Of the river narrow just before the fall
are reached the waters are churnet
almost into foam by the boulders tina
impede the progress Of their rush. Tn,
height of the upper fall Is li0 feet and
beautiful view Of It can be had from
jutting point Of rocks just over the fal
which IL reached by means of steps
The water In its decent strikes u shelly
ing rock formation near the bottom
causing rOCket-like columns Of water Il
shootout increasing the splendor Of tn,
scene, Then for quarter Of a mile III,
river tumbles between frowning cliffs
when the channal suddenly narrOw'
from width Of $50 feet TO II feet ant
then takes an awful leap Of $3.50 feet L
the bottom OF the grand canyon, Al
cusy foot path lends down to the very
brink Of the great falls and one canno
help being fascinated by the view whicl
from this point presents itself TO thO
gaze Just at your right you see deel
green water Of the river crowdnl
through the narrow passage, seeming
TO check mp for moment TO prepare 70
the awful plunge, From below you se,
n mist rising mp Hs the water IL dNshe,
into fine spray on reaching tie bottom
while n large drift Of last winter snow
still whteus the east side Of the canyon
In front Of you opens view grand almos
beyond expression II must be seen
II cannot be described the photograph,
camera and the painters brush canno
reproduce IT, The grand canyon open
before our view with the river nov
hcmmed IN by walls from 1900 to ljOl
feet high, winding along like slender
ribbon of silver, apparently at tha
distance quietly flowing along, but II
reality u tumblng, ohurning torrent
that would mean death and destruction
to anything enyeloped IN its folds,
] Opl Al