The Van Buren press., 1903-08-22


But the crowds of pleasure seekers
could not have detracted from the beauty
of the scene it appeared to us.
Thumb Bay Lunch Station is reached
tor dinner. From here the stage road
follows the shore Of the lake to the Lake
Hotel for distance of 10 miles, The
visitor is here given the opportunity OF
making forty-mile trip by steamboat
including a stop at Frank Island and to
the hotel at an extra expense of 3d. We
took the trip over the lake and were not
sorry for doing 50. As soon as we left
Thumb Bay beautiful panorama
spread itself before the eyes. Snow
clad mountains in the distance with the
dark fir.clad shores in the foreground,
all set off by beautiful white clouds
we call them "'thunder.heads' here
hanging over all and here and there
watcr-fowls disporting themselves on
the mirrOr-Iike furface of the lake made
picture that one could look at hours
without tiring. A stop is made at Frank
Island, where is kept splendid speci'
men Of a buffalo bull and several elk and
and deer. We reach the Lake Hotel
about the time that the first coaches are
arriving AID as there Is an unusually
large party to be accommodated here
the writer is again assigned TO tent,
Yellowstone lake is a beautiful sheet
Of water, the largest body Of water at
30 great an attitude 100 feet above
sea level-in the United States. 1t is
ifteenihy twenty miles in size, OF ir.
regular outline, somewhat resembling
the human hand, and embracing an
erea Of lj0 square miles. Its depth
varies from five to fifty fathoms. Sur
rounding the lake there are no loss than
seven hot springs areas, those Of Thumb
Bay being the most interesting, They
compose over sixty springs and paint
pots and several geyser cones, one Of
which rises above the lake surface just
few feet from shore standing upon
which one may catch trout and drop.
ping them into the hot water cook them,
without removal FROM the hook The
water of nearly all these springs possess
the same delicate blue tints noticeable
in other portions Of the Park, Near the
Lake Hotel is the outlet Of Yellowstone
River, at once its principal allluent and
sole outlet, Its upper portion draining
considerable area tributary TO the lake
on the southeast and the vast quantity
Of water thus accumulated in thisnatural
reservoir serves not only to furnish a
neyer-failing supply for this, the grand.
est, Of the Missouri tributaries but
supplies the means Of successful irriga.
tion Of the entire lower Yellowstone
valley,
In the river at the lake outlet are the
fishing grounds, Al the hotel one can
procure boat and oarsman at the rate
Of VI 90 per hour also rods and flies,
and we can give the assurance that the
man or woman who cannot land good
string Of fine trout within an hour or
two after reaching the grounds had best
never try fishing again, Some Of our
party caught strings within that time
that would easily weigh twenty. Eve
pounds The writer WIS not fortunate
enough TO secure boat, but even cast.
Ing from the bank landed not less than
ten pounds Of the speckled beauties,
The lake, we were told was oyerstocked
aud that the fish are becoming di,eased
The varieties ARE salmon trout and rain.
bow front The catches were hung up
IN front Of the hotel for inspection, and
there must not have boon less than 300
pounds Ol fish there Later enough
were culled ont for the cook and the
balance, something like three wheel.
barrow loads, were cNrted away for the
bears TO eat OF these six came down
Just before dusk to make their supper
frcm these and the oiIal from the hotel
Kitchen, The feeding Of the wild bparp
Is hh every'eyening performance At all
the hotels and always draws crowd.
Next week we will be able TO give tbe
wlnd.up Of our trip through the Park