Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1934-09-29

morning Of July 10, the Wiley party was
on the way 10 Hell's Half Acre. They
4 stopped at the Marshall House at Fire
Hole where they met friends and en-
joyed the conversation. A side trip
was taken to Queens Laundry, three
miles away. Started at and went
to Lower Geyser Basin. This basin
contains thousands of acres and many
deep boiling springs and many small
ones. Passed over a hill which is in
general shape a segment Of sphere.
crossing small streams of hot water
running off its summit, the overflow
from the last eruption Of the Fountain
geyser, the crater Of which we saw.
It is of great depth and some IS feet
IN diameter. It's water looks deep en-
erald green and Is forever boiling and
stean1ing Passed over the hin to the
paint pots These are very numerous;
some foot across. and one Of white
paint Of so feet diameter. The paint
bubbles slowly on account Of its great
density: 1t Is boiling hot and looks just
like paint. Some Of the pots are stone
color, some red, some salmon and some
white. There viii be a white one and
salmon not over three feet apart. While
looking at these we heard a big rush.
ing sound and knew that the Foun-
tain was in eruption We ran over to It
and recrossed the round hill but this
was now covered with streams OF boil
ing. steaming water through which we
had to pass, jumping where we could
In the water when too wide to Jump. It
was hot work"
They passed the streams and reached
the windward side of the geySer Water
was thrown up some 20 or so feet In
immense quantities, boiling hot. 1.-THE
whole hill was steaming 80 that Il was,
10 las, q hot vnpor bath. The ground
xurnbled and shook beneath our feet In
q terrible manner. I would not advise
a tiInid person ever to try to witness
this sight. I was never so deeply Inn
pressed By anything have ever seen
yet. The littleness and feebleness of
man Is forced home upon one IN the
most Impressive manner. do not envy
that man who can stand unmoved ia
ehis terrible presence. I could not re-
Hlat the feeling that the whole hill
might burst asunder and engulf as all
We came away. did not wish to see
anything more today"
Camped ON the shore of the Madi-
son. Mr Wiley notes In his diary that
on the other side is HeII's Half Acre,
- desolate, barren pile Of the deposit
from geysers The whole country for
miles has been built up by geyser de-
posts. The road is through the white
dust Of IT,
Crossing the ford Of the Madison,
the wiley party arrived about noon,
July H. at Upper Geyser basin, the
end Of our tourneying south IN this
section and ''encamped In a small
pine grove just on the edge Of the bas-
IN
what was left OF the goose was eaten
tor dinner. A fine bed Of pine boughs
was made and good nights rest en-
loyed. IN rather q happy mood, Aar.
wiley records q summary. I'VE have
sean IN eruption, Old Faithful, Grotto.
Riverside, Castle, Splendid, and IA 81
PARTIAL state, The Grand. we have seen
fase crntefs OF the Beehive, Bear and
cubs. Giantesa. Giant. Saw-milI, and
hundreds 0g smaller ones which are
between boiling springs and KeyseFh. i
Faithful exz2pss every hour With perfecSl
re aaAnn&s "a some extent al
lae afxn8. bat IS is hour approaches tbs
v0abnR ok steam increases. until # ial