182 



KEPOET UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. 



a white ground. It was impossible to obtain the temperature in the 

 central jjortion of the basin. In the outlet the water had a temperature 

 of 175° F. This was taken on the terraces above the deeper channels, 

 and was of course lower than the actual temperature of the spring. 

 Around the outside of the pit, or caldron, a pile of debris composed of 

 brolien ijieces of geyserite was seen, forming a sort of rim, just as though, 

 it had been washed back by an overflow of the spring. This, however, 

 I think is impossible on account of the absence of a wall at the foot of 

 the spring. It is possible that it may be a geyser witb long periods, but 

 we have no data to that effect. 



Since the above notes were made, this Cliff Caldron has been discov- 

 ered to be a powerful geyser, to which Mr. P. W. Korris has given the 

 name Excelsior. The following record of its eruptions is taken from 

 the report made by Mr. C. H. Wyman to Mr. P. W. JSTorris. (See Ee- 

 port of the Superintendent of the Yellowstone ISTational Park, by P. W. 

 i^orris, 1881, pp. 54-06.) 



Becord of theeru^tions of the Excelsior Geyser in the Midway Basin, Yellowstone National 



Park. 



Date. 



Time of eniption. 



Eemarks. 



1880.* 





Sept. 27 



8. 00 a. m 



27 



3.30p.m 



27 



5. 30 p. m 



27 



7. 15 p. m 



28. 



9, 00 a. m 



28 



10. 30 a. m 



28 



11. 48 a. m 



28 



3. 00 p. m 



28 



5.20p.in 



28 



7. 30 p. m 



29 



9. 30 a. m 



29 



3. 30 p. m 



20 



5. 00 p. m 



29 



7. 20 p. m 



30 



9. 00 a. m 



30 



3. 00 p. m 



30 



5. 20 p. m 



30 



7. 15 p. m 



30 



9. 30 p. m 



Oct. 1 



6. 15 a. m 





8. OG a. m 





10. 10 a. m 





12. 55 p. m 





3. 50 p. m 





5. 40 p. m 





7. 10 p. m 





9. 00 p. m 



2 



12. 15 a. m 



2 



3. 30 a. in 



6.45 a. m. 



8. 15 a. ra 

 10.10 a. m 

 12. 15 p. m . 



5 



100 



7 



75 



7 



100 



6 



90 



5 



60 



7 



75 



7 



75 



5 



100 



6 



100 



7 



125 



7 



eo 



5 



60 



5 



70 



7 



75 



5 



50 



7 



100 



5 



125 



5 



75 



6 



75 



5 



60 



10 



150 



15 



100 



10 



200 



10 



250 



10 



225 



5 



75 



5 



75 



5 



75 



5 



75 



Witnesssed the last eruption from a distance. 



Heavy foo; in the morning, clear until snnset, and 

 thence dense mists from the Excelsior Geyser, 

 and fogs from the foaming, hot Fire Hole liiver. 



Heavy sno-w squalls, shutting off all ohservation 

 after 7.20 p. m. 



Heavy clouds and mists much of the day. 

 Mists too dense for ohservation at night. 



Cloudy and nearly dark aU day. 



Too dense fogs and mists to continue ohservations. 



Clear, but a very heavy wind down the valley, al- 

 lowing approach upon the windward side, dis- 

 closing the fact that heavy masses of the hori- 

 ZQntally-handod vrall-rock were fractured and 

 falling "into the foam/iig caldron, which was all 

 that could he observed, save an occasional rock 

 eruption. 



* This is evidently meant for 1881, as the instructions to Mr. Wyman are dated September 27, 1881, 

 and his report is diited October 10, 1881. 



