14
YELLOWSTONE EXPEDITION OF 1870
about 30°, between walls of the gypsum. Private
McConnell accompanied me. On entering the ravine we came at once to hot
springs of sulphur, sulphate of copper, alum, steam jets, &c., in endless
variety, some of them of very peculiar form. One of them in particular,
of sulphur, had built up a tall spire from the slope of the wall, standing
out like an enormous horn, with hot water trickling down its sides. The
creek ran on a bed of solid rock, in many places smooth and slippery, in
other obstructed by masses of dèbris formed from the overhanging
cliffs of the sulphereted limestone above. After descending for three miles
in the channel we came to a sort of bench or terrace, the same one seen
previously in following down the creek from our first camp in the basin.
Here we found a large flock of mountain sheep, very tame, and greatly astonished,
no doubt, at our sudden appearance. McConnell killed one and wounded another,
whereupon the rest disappeared, clambering up the steep walls with a celerity
truly astonishing. We were now 1,500 feet below the brink. From here
the creek channel was more precipitous, and for a mile we climbed downward
over masses of rock and fallen trees, splashing in warm water, ducking
under cascades, and skirting close against sideling places to keep from
falling into boiling caldrons in the channel. After four hours of hard
labor since leaving the horses, we finally reached the bottom of the gulf
and the margin of the Yellowstone, famished with thirst, wet and exhausted.
The river water here is quite warm and of a villainously alum and sulphurous
taste. Its margin is lined with all kinds of chemical springs, some depositing
craters of calcareous rock, others muddy, black, blue, slaty, or reddish
water. The internal heat renders the atmosphere oppressive, though a strong
breeze draws through the cañon. A frying sound comes constantly
to the ear, mingled with the rush of the current. The place abounds with
sickening and purgatorial smells. We had come down the ravine at least
four miles, and looking upward the fearful wall appeared to reach the sky.
It was about 3 o'clock p.m., and stars could be distinctly seen, so much
of the sunlight was cut off from entering the chasm. Tall pines on the
extreme verge appeared the height of two or three feet. The cañon,
as before said, was in two benches, with a plateau on either side, about
half way down. This plateau, about a hundred yards in width, looked from
below like a mere shelf against the wall; the total depth was not less
than 2,500 feet, and more probably 3,000. There are perhaps other canons
longer and deeper than this one, but surely none combining grandeur and
immensity with peculiarity of formation and profusion of volcanic or chemical
phenomena.
Returning to the summit, we were five hours reaching
our horses, by which time darkness had set in, and we were without a trail,
in the dense forest, having fallen timber to evade and treacherous marshes
to cross on our way to camp. I knew the general direction, however, and
took a straight course, using great caution in threading the marshes, wherein
our horses sank in up to their bodies nevertheless. Fortune favored us,
and we arrived in camp at 11 o'clock at night, wet and chilled to the bone.
To me it was terribly fatiguing after the excitement had passed away, as
I was becoming very weak from continued loss of rest or sleep.
Eleventh day -- September 1. -- We moved
out at 10 a.m., heading the Cascade Ravine through open timber, and following
the summit of one of the low ridges to the river; striking a game trail
along its bank at a point two miles above the upper fall. The stream here
changes its character altogether, running in the center of an open glade,
bank full, Go
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