3 THE GEYSERS OF MONTANA. 285 
a grayish-white silicious deposit, which was distinctly visible at 
the depth of 100 feet below the surface. No water could be dis- 
covered, but we could distinctly hear it gurgling and boiling at a 
great distance below. Suddenly it began to rise, boiling and splut- 
tering, and sending out huge masses of steam, causing a general 
stampede of our company, drivi ing us some distance from our point 
of observation. When within about 40 feet of the surface, it be- 
came stationary, and we returned to look down upon it. It was 
foaming and surging at a terrible rate, occasionally emitting small 
jets of hot water nearly to the mouth of the orifice. All at once 
it seemed seized with a fearful pant coe rose with incredible 
-Tapidity, hardly affording us time to flee to a safe distance, when 
it burst from the orifice w vith bar paced; rising in a column 
Fig. 62 
—— 
The Giant. 
the full size of this immense aperture to the height of 60 feet ; and 
through and out of the ae of this vast posse mass, five or si 
lesser jets or round columns of water, varying in size from 6 to 
15 inches in diameter, were pres ta the marvellous height of 
250 feet. These lesser jets, so much higher than the main column, 
and Shooting through it, doubtless proceed from auxiliary pipes 
leading into the principal orifice near bottom. where the explo- 
aa sag Is greater. If the theory that water by constant boiling 
es explosive when freed from air be true, this theory ration- 
ally accounts for all irregularities in gen eruptions of the geysers. 
This grand eruption continued for twenty minutes, and was the 
Most magnificent sight we ever witnessed. We were standing 
