|
Washburn
Report Index
YELLOWSTONE EXPEDITION OF 1870
Page 8
pinnacle of trap, the columns of which are exactly
perpendicular, and of a perfect outline. The great curiosity of the
locality, however, is the Tower Fall of Hot Spring Creek, where that stream
is precipitated, in one unbroken body, from an amygdaloid ledge, a sheer
descent of 115 feet, into a deep gorge, joining the Yellowstone a few
hundred yards below. At the crest of the fall the stream has cut its way
through amygdaloid masses, leaving tall spires of rock from 50 to 100 feet
in height, and worn in every conceivable shape. These are very friable,
crumbling under slight pressure; several of them stand like sentinels on the
very brink of the fall. A view from the summit of one of these spires is
exceedingly beautiful; the clear icy stream plunges from a brink 100 feet
beneath to the bottom of the chasm, over 200 feet below, and thence rushes
through the narrow gorge, tumbling over boulders and tree trunks fallen in
the channel. The sides of the chasm are worn away into caverns lined with
variously-tinted mosses, nourished by clouds of spray which rise from the
cataract; while above, and to the left, a spur from the great plateau rises
above all, with a perpendicular front of 400 feet. The fall is accessible
either at the brink or foot, and fine views can be obtained from either side
of the cañon. In appearance, they strongly resemble those of the Minnehaha,
but are several times as high, and run at least eight times the volume of
water. In the basin we found a large petrified log imbedded in the débris.
Nothing can be more chastely beautiful than this lovely cascade, hidden away
in the dim light of overshadowing rocks and woods, its very voice hushed to
a low murmur, unheard at the distance of a few hundred yards. Thousands
might pass by within a half mile and not dream of its existence; but once
seen, it passes to the list of most pleasant memories. In the afternoon the
remainder of the party arrived, having lost the trail on the previous day.
Seventh day -- August 28. -- We remained in
camp, visiting the different localities of interest in the neighborhood. The
Indians we had been following crossed the river a short distance above the
mouth of Hot Spring Creek, on what is known as the Bannack Trail, leading
from the headwaters of the Snake River, around by the way of the headwaters
of the Madison and Gallatin Rivers, and through this district to the great
buffalo range between here and the Missouri. The two hunters previously
spoken of followed this trail across the range to the head of Rose Bud
Creek. They found on the headwaters of the East Fork the skeletons of two
hunters murdered by the Indians two years ago. They also report the
existence of numerous hot springs, geysers, jets of steam issuing from the
rocks, and other curiosities, at different points about the sources of that
stream. They report the country beyond the range, at the distance of 70
miles, to fall off to a rolling prairie, black with buffalo as far as the
eye can reach. They found strong indications of gold on the head of Rose
Bud, but were deterred from prospecting for fear of the Sioux.
Since leaving Fort Ellis I had suffered
considerably with a pain in the thumb of my right hand, which was now
increased to such an extent as to amount to absolute torture. I had it
lanced here three times to the bone with a very dull pocket-knife, in the
hope of relief, which, however, did not come. It proved a felon of the most
malignant class, and was destined to subject me to infernal agonies. I
passed the night walking in front of the camp-fire, with a wet bandage
around my arm to keep down the pain.
Eighth day -- August 29. -- We broke camp
about 8 o'clock and for a distance of six miles climbed the divide
separating Warm Spring Creek
Go to
Page 9
|
