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Washburn
Report Index
YELLOWSTONE EXPEDITION OF 1870
Page 32
ing water plows up and bears away the shelly
strata, a seething flood pours down the slope and into the river. It is the
grandest, the most majestic, and the most terrible fountain in the world.
After playing thus for twenty minutes it gradually subsides, the water
lowering into the crater out of sight, the steam ceases to escape and all is
quiet. This grand geyser played three times in the afternoon, but appears
to be irregular in its periods, as we did not see it in eruption again while
in the valley. Its waters are of a deep ultramarine color, clear and
beautiful. The waving to and fro of the gigantic fountain, when its jets are
at their highest, and in a bright sunlight, affords a spectacle of wonder of
which any description can give but a feeble idea. Our whole party were wild
with enthusiasm; many declared it was 300 feet in height; but I have kept,
in the figures as set down above, within the limits of absolute certainty.
We were let to believe by indications on the rocks that some of these
geysers do occasionally play to an altitude of 500 feet, but this we did not
see. Above, on the slope of the mountain, is another great geyser which has
lately broken out. It has deadened the timber on a wide space, and for half
a mile between its crater and the river. It must run a perfect torrent of
water at its periods of eruption.
I have now described seven of the largest geysers
seen in the Firehole Basin, and the description falls far short of the
reality. To do justice to the subject would require a volume. The geysers of
Iceland sink to insignificance beside them; they are above the reach of
comparison. We could not distinguish, on every occasion, the geysers from
the other hot springs, except by seeing them play, and doubtless there are
many besides in the valley of great size, which we saw when quiet, and
classed as boiling springs. They all vary in times, force, deposits, and
colors of water. The number of springs of all kinds in the valley is not
less than fifteen hundred; and, with the exception of Bluestone Springs,
scarcely any two are exactly alike. Taken as an aggregate, the Firehole
Basin surpasses all other great wonders of the continent. It produces an
effect on the mind of the beholder utterly staggering and overpowering.
During the night we were several times awakened by the rush of steam and the
hissing of the waters, as the restless geysers spouted forth in the
darkness. A constant rumbling, as of machinery in labor, filled the air,
which was damp and warm throughout the night.
Twenty-ninth day. -- This morning we were
awakened by a fearful, hissing sound, accompanied by the rush of falling
water, and, looking out, saw on the other side of the stream a small crater,
three feet in height, and with an opening of 26 inches diameter, which had
scarcely been noticed on the previous day, and was now playing a
perpendicular jet to the height of 219 feet, with great clouds of steam
escaping, and causing the ground to tremble as the heavy body of water fell
with tremendous splashes upon the shelly strata below. Huge masses of the
rocks were torn from their places and borne away into the river channel. It
played thus, steadily, for ten minutes, giving us time to obtain an accurate
measurement by triangulation, which resulted as above stated. This crater
gave no notice of being a geyser; its appearance and size were altogether
insignificant, compared with others. We were more than ever convinced that
continued observation would develop the knowledge of geysers in greater
numbers, and perhaps of greater projectile force than any we had seen. Our
rations were becoming scarce, however, and seven days had been comparatively
lost in searching for Mr. Everts. We sent the train in advance at 9 o'clock,
and waited all the forenoon at the grand geyser, in hopes of witnessing
another eruption. The waters rose gradually until the great crater was
nearly filled, but
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