The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1915-09-02
Through the Yellowstone Park
An Enjoyable Camping Trip.


ed as "brite and fare" as its predeces-
sor, and was not nearly as cold. We
were promised our easiest day and start
ed off in good spirits for what proved to
be a very short drive to the Fountain
Hotel, where brief halt was called for
the mailing of post cards, and for drinks
of water The stream at our camping
place had been warm, and far from ap-
petizing as beverage. National Park
Mountain was pointed out to us in the
near distance. 1t is not an imposing
eminence, but is noteworthy as it marks
the point where the Washburn-Langford
party camped on September 10, 1870,
after having completed an exhaustive
exploration of the park. 1t is said that
members of the expedition were picking
out the portions of wonderland which
they would like to own, and one of the
number suggested that it should be made
National Park. To his suggestion and
the subsequent efforts of the party are
due the creation of the park by Con-
gress in 1872.
The Lower Geyser Basin is filled with
hot springs-693 having been counted in
the area of about 40 square miles, exclu-
sive of II geysers. The mammoth Paint
Pots near the hotel were interesting,
and there several group pictures of the
party were taken. We did not see the
Fountain Geyser in action, but side
trip not usually taken to the Great Foun-
tain Geyser, about two miles south OF
the hotel, recompensed for that. AS it
erupts only once inyfrom eight to twelve
hours we were most fortunate in arriv-
ing lust as the Great Fountain was
manifesting signs of activity. stay
of a few minutes rewarded us, as the
great column of steam and water going
into the air for hundred feet against a
background of wooded slopes made a
most beautiful and impressive sight.
Nearby is Buffalo Spring, hot spring
in which the bones of moutain buffalo
are still seen. Excelsior Geyser, in the
Middle Geyser Basin, is an immense pit
of rather irregular outlines, $50 feet
long by 200 feet wide The water is of a
deep blue tint, constantly agitated and
with clouds of steam arising from it,
There is no vegetation very near, and
one can we'll understand why this Sec
ton was known for years as "Hell's
Half Acre"-a name it retained until
Col. P. w. Norris named it Excelsior. J"
Wonderful eruptions have come from
Excelsior, which now is inactive.
While some of the party walked up to
view Turquoise Spring and Prismatic
Lake, few of us returned to the river
bank-where the trout were jumping in
tempting fashion. A rod was soon set
up, and before the rest of the party ap-
peared Billie had landed his first trout.
Wrapped up in leaves it went to camp,
and later appeared at the lunch table.
The camp we reached at noon, at
Biscuit Basin, near the entrance of the
Upper Geyser Basin, and was to be
-'home" tor one night, so it was with
quite feeling of permanence that we
disembarked from the rigs. After lunch
we had ample time for rest, and then
took a short drive to the basin, every
rod it seemed having its interesting
features. A side detour took us to a
beautiful little group of geysers and
springs-including Sunset Lake, Rain
bow Pool, Emerald Pool and the famous
Handkerchief Pool, where the handker
chiefs thrown in the small basin with its
funnel-shaped opening are drawn down.
ward out of sight to reappear few
moments later and be 'fshed out" by
She waiting owners. Punch Bowl Spring
and Black Sand Spring were others
noticed as we'll as Morning Glory
whose shape and delicate coloring gave
it its appropriate name.
Just as we crossed the Firehole river
and by the way, the fine concrete
bridges, each with plate bearing the
name of the river. and the date of the
construction of the bridge were every
MuciS ODJOSlo VI iHlCICoI old ddLAA1 a.
tion-Riverside geyser was pointed out
to US. 1t erupts over the Firehole river,
making a unique effect. The Wylie
. camp was noticed and we got a good
view of Old Faithful Inn as we drove on
to see the Beehive, Giant and Giantess,
Sponge, the Lion, Lioness and Cubs, and
Economic, so named because all the
water expelled falls back into the crater
sand disappears.
After our return to camp the warm
and friendly Firehole tempted Billie and
Theodore into bathing expedition,
while some of the men tried their luck
with rod and line. But the trout which
jumped in tantalizing fashion over and
nnder their bait did not respond to the
invitation. After supper the horses
were hitched in again to take the party
over to see Old Faithful by searchlight.
AS the eruption was due at 9 O'Clock,
and as the government regulations for
bid any teams on the park roads after
dark, the party planned to walk back
the scant two miles. At that time Of
njpht that mart of the nropram was out