

48 



In 1875, as observed by Dana and Grinnell, the performance was as 

 follows : After some preliminary efforts, during which a large amount 

 of water was thrown out, there was an interval of two hours, when a 

 similar disturbance took place, and two hours later the geyser played 

 to a great height for about an hour, after which there was a violent 

 espape of steam for an hour or more longer. 



In 1882, as observed by Mr. John Baronett, the geyser began August 

 6, 8 p. m., and played I'D feet or more for about 15 minutes; then fol- 

 lowed an interval of about the same time ; then it played 20 to 50 feet, 

 with occasional sprays up to 150 feet for three-quarters of an hour, fol- 

 lowed by an interval of about the same time. Continued to play with 

 intermissions in same way up to midnight, and was still playing in 

 morning and up to 12 m. August 7, when it ceased, and the crater was 

 ■empty to a great depth. 



August 13, 5.30 p. in., it began with a rumbling noise and shot up 

 "higher than Old Faithful/' and then varied between 20 and 150 feet 

 for three quarters of an hour, and an intermission of about the same 

 time followed. Thus the eruptions and suspensions, about three-quar- 

 ters of an hour each, continued throughout the 13th, 14th, and up to 9 

 o'clock on the morning of the 15th, when it ceased and the crater was 



empty as before. 



A new geyser of the first class appeared about three years ago, in 

 place of some hot springs, a short distance west of the Giant, called 

 the Splendid, and well deserves the title. It has three jets, two directed 

 obliquely inward and one vertical in the center, and plays to a height 

 of 50 to 75 feet once in about two and one-half hours. 



The Sheridan Geyser is another new one, situated on the Fire Hole 

 River, about half way between the upper and lower basins, and is the 

 largest in the park. It was one of a group of hot springs designated by 

 Dr. Pealeas the " Half-way Springs," in 1872 (see Hay den's Report, 1872, 

 p. 147). It began to play at irregular intervals, and, finally, within the 

 last year, settled down to a constant period of about two hours. It 

 was impossible at our hasty visit to obtain measurements or even cor- 

 rect estimates of the dimensions of the crater, owing to the dense 

 clouds of steam that constantly envelope it from sight, but while in 

 eruption the column appeared to be about .200 feet in diameter and rose 

 to a great height, accompanied by vibrations of the surrounding sur- 

 face and the throwing out of rocks, which cover the ground and the 

 bed of the river for a hundred yards on all sides. Its character as an 

 eruptive geyser was first pointed out by the distinguished mountain- 

 eer, Mr. John Baronett, who named it in honor of General Sheridan in 

 18S1. 



There are numberless hot springs in the Park, possessing the proper 

 requisites for active geysers, some of which are in proct m of devel- 

 opment toward that point, while others have passed beyond it and re- 

 turned to a state of rest, perhaps to be renewed again, so that for 



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