The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1915-08-26
Through the Yellowstone Park
An Enjoyable Camping Trip.

and many acquaintance were tOrmeo IN
the circle around the blazing logs. The
benches and chairs from the dining tent
were all called into service, and the
company spent merry evening. Songs,
old and new, and Grounds" were sung
until everyone's repertoire was exhaust
ed. At lull in the program we were
surprised to hear strong, fine baritone
coming from the cook wagon, and at
the conclusion of the song Tippera
ry, y of course, sung with very strong
German accent-the applause fully JUS
tilted an encore. The cook appeared in
the light of the cook fire, and after a
few words of apology, sang German
song, yodelling with the ease of pro-
fessional AS soloist he was far
greater success than as a chef, and he
parted company with US the next morn
ing, when another presiding genius ar
rived. Chef No. 2 couldn't sing, but he
sure could cook and the exchange on the
whole proved rather profitable.
Early good nights were in order, and
before long each camper had his or her
candle lighted at the campfire blaze and
HE'D him to bed-but not to sleep, in
most cases. The snug little tents held
one, two, three and four comfortable
beds, with good springs and warm bed
ding, and that was all except a bit of
carpet by the bedside. The family were
initiated by Daddy into the correct
camping method of disposing of cloth
ing, putting all under things between
the bed covering, and leaving only the
outside garments to be hung on the cord
tied TIC the ridgepole for the purpose.
Just why sleep remained stranger to
most of US that first night no one SEEM
ed quite to know-perhaps the strange
surroundings unaccustomed chill in
the air, and the fact that the horses
hoEbled and with bells on-were pastur-
ed in the meadow just back of our tents
all combined with sufficient reason.
About a. III. the drivers, this time in
The role of "horse wranglers," started
out in quest of their respective beasts,
who had no minds to come in and begin
their day so early. Before they were
secured and tied up for their breakfasts
we all understood the meaning of the
term "wrangler." Breakfast was at
6.15 for the "dudes," and how we did
hate to emerge from the shelter of the
tents! A heavy white frost coated the
grass, and ''cold feet" was no figure of
speech! The campfire of the night be-
fore was renewed, however, and after
breakfast the sun had crept up and into
our little valley. The start from camp
was scheduled for O'Clock, and it was
shortly after that the rigs pulled out
half empty, as a number had started
ahead for walk. Those who stayed be-
hind were interested in watching the pro-
cess of Striking camp" Bedding was
rolled up, covered with canvas, and tag
ged with the tent number, beds taken
out, collapsed, and loaded onto huge
wagon, and then the tents were "struck,"
and ditto. The camp outfit consisted of
cook wagon, provision wagon, and four
horse rig for the BEDS tents and bed
ding. The dishes, white enameled ware,
were packed into chests, and the stove
i'll the back of the cook wagon seemed
quite at home, in spite of its rather novel
surroundings.
The Wylie coaches started out just
ahead of US on the road, waving greet
ing as they passed. The first object of
especial interest was Obsidian Cliff, a
cliff of volcanic glass about $50 feet
high. The greater part of the mineral
glass is black ard quite Opaque, and was
more desirable than flint for arrow heads
Itwas neutral ground" to all the Rocky
Mountain Indians and famous resort
for them. When the road was built
around the base of the cliff, blasting
powder proved Intellectual, and great
fires were built around the huge blocks
of glass, which when heated were dash
ed with cold water, SCATTERING them into
small fragments, and making the only
piece of glass road in the world. After
passing the cliff we overlook the ambi-
tlous pedestrians, who were laden with
hoWers-delicate pale yellow and pink
coumbine, brilliant Indian paint brushes,
and others.
The road continued beside Beaver
Lake flor almost a mile. Here several
beaver dams have been constructed
forming series of artificial falls. There
is gradual up grade all along to Norris
Basin, over ridge which separates the
headwaters of the Yellowstone and Mis-
souri, rivers. Roaring Mountain pre-
pared US, in a way, for the wonders to
come later. From the mountains sides
Gets and puffs and clouds of steam arose,
accompanied by Kissing sound that
gives the mountain its name. Trees on
the mountain side have been killed by
the steam and sulphur, and along the
roadside are greenish, murky pools fed
by the rivulets of sulphur water. We
saw our first bears before reaching Nor
ris-a mother and her two cubs, who dis