29 



into the river. We were not fortunate enough to see one of its erup- 

 tions, except at a distance of more than a mile. It is said to be very 

 variable both as to the intervals of time between eruptions and the 

 volumes of boiling water and earthy matter ejected. The height of the 

 column of water is said to vary from 30 or 40 to 300 or 350 feet, and 

 its volume of water to raise the water of the river 14 inches above its 

 natural level ; also making the river so hot that animals cannot ford it 

 below^and near the outlet for a half hour after the great eruption is 

 over. We stopped a few moments at the Lower Basin to see the Foun- 

 tain Geyser, the Paint Pots, and the other wonders there, and then 

 continued the inarch along the road to Alum Creek, where we went 

 into camp on a pretty timbered knoll, about a mile to the right of the 

 road, with plenty of wood, water, and grass. During the afternoon 

 Captain Ehodes and Captain Clark caught forty -five trout from Alum 

 Creek, which here does not seem to be at all impregnated with the salt 

 from which it derives its name. Just before reaching Alum Creek we 

 met Captain Gibson with his company of the Seventh Cavalry, who are 

 escorting Mr. Killarno, of the United States Coast Survey, The latter 

 gentleman, for the Interior Department, is checking, with the zenith 

 telescope, the survey made a year ago last summer of the boundary 

 line between Wyoming and Montana. Captain Gibson and the officers 

 of his command and Mr. Killarno paid their respects to the General at 

 our camp in the evening. Temperature at 5 a. m., 30° ; at 5 p. m., 78°; 

 altitude, 8,050 feet j distance marched to road crossing of Alum Creek, 

 26 miles; to camp, 27 miles. 



August 23, Wednesday. — Broke camp at 6.10 a. m. and followed the 

 road to Sulphur Mountain, where we stopped a few moments, and thence 

 followed the road and trail to the Lower Falls of the Yellowstone, where 

 we went into camp on our camp ground of last year, about a half mile 

 from Cascade Creek, and near the top of the canon. Some of the party 

 went down the trail to the top of the falls, some to the Tipper Falls, and 

 some went fishing, but had no success. During the evening we had a 

 "brave" camp fire, and the party of ladies and gentlemen whom we 

 met at the Upper Geyser Basin, and who are camped near us here, came 

 over to our camp fire. Mr. McCullough entertained them and us by 

 recitations and anecdotes. We had also several songs, and altogether 

 a very enjoyable evening. Mr. Fort, ex member of Congress from Illi- 

 nois, his son, and Mr. Ellsw r orth, of Dayton, Ohio, came into camp this 

 evening. They had come into the park by way of Bozeman and the 

 Mammoth Hot Springs. General Sheridan has invited them to go with 

 us as far as Baronett's Bridge, whence he will send them to the Mam- 

 moth Springs, where they can obtain transportation to Bozeman. This 

 morning Paul La Itose, hunter, Shoshone Dick, and the Indians who 

 have been our guides, were discharged, as on leaving the park we go 

 into the Crow country, which they know nothing about. Henceforward 

 Jack Baronett and Campbell will be our scouts and guides. Dick and 



