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diff --git a/40658-0.txt b/40658-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..a90f96a --- /dev/null +++ b/40658-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,2435 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 40658 *** + +Transcriber's note: + +Text enclosed by underscores is in italics (_italics_). + +Small capital text has been replaced with all capitals. + +Variations in spelling, punctuation and hyphenation have been retained +except in obvious cases of typographical error. + +The illustrations have been moved so that they do not break up +paragraphs, thus the page number of the illustration might not match +the page number in the List of Illustrations. + + + + +[Illustration: ALMA WHITE] + + + + + WITH GOD IN THE + YELLOWSTONE + + BY + + ALMA WHITE + + AUTHOR OF + + _Looking Back from Beulah_ (in both English + and German), _Gems of Life_, _Golden Sunbeams_, + _Demons and Tongues_, _The Chosen People_, _My + Trip to the Orient_, _The New Testament Church_ + (2 vols.), _The Titanic Tragedy--God Speaking + to the Nations_, _Truth Stranger than Fiction_, + _Why I do not Eat Meat_, _Restoration of Israel, + the Hope of the World_, _The Story of My Life_ + (Vol. I); and Editor of the _Pillar of Fire_, the + _Good Citizen_, the _Rocky Mountain Pillar of Fire_, + the _London Pillar of Fire_, the _British Sentinel_, + and the _Occidental Pillar of Fire_. + + PILLAR of FIRE + Zarephath,--New Jersey + 1920 + + _Copyright, 1920, by Alma White_ + + + + +PREFACE + + +In this volume I have attempted not simply to give a brief account of +a recent trip to Yellowstone National Park and to describe some of +Nature's grandeurs, but to elucidate spiritual truths that were +demonstrated in this place of many "wonders" in a thousand miracles +before my eyes. + +There is no more poetical, picturesque, and fascinating spot on the +globe, and no other place where magnificence and sublimity blend so +harmoniously with the softest tints and colorings as in the +Yellowstone region. + +Here are geological formations in which the book of ages has been +written in inks of variegated hues. In the canyons, rivers, and +waterfalls, in the lakes, springs, and pools, specimens of Eden have +been preserved on the outside of a thin crust, covering the sulphurous +flames of the regions below, where the rumblings of God's wrath are +heard threatening the world with judgments. + +The mighty forces that operated in ages past are still at His command, +demonstrated by the boiling springs, the volcanoes and spouting +geysers. Ten thousand omens are heralding the approach of the +winding-up of this age, and the beginning of a new dispensation in +which all men shall acknowledge Jehovah in His majesty and power as +the one and only Potentate worthy of the adoration and homage of the +human race. + + + + +CONTENTS + + + PAGE + + Historical Statement 9 + + CHAPTER I--Enroute to the Park 19 + + CHAPTER II--Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone 33 + + CHAPTER III--Upper and Lower Falls 47 + + CHAPTER IV--Mammoth Hot Springs 59 + + CHAPTER V--Norris Geyser Basin 73 + + CHAPTER VI--Upper Geyser Basin 84 + + CHAPTER VII--Upper Geyser Basin (Cont.) 102 + + CHAPTER VIII--The Bottomless Pit 109 + + CHAPTER IX--The Voice of God 123 + + The Yellowstone and How it was Made 136 + + + + +ILLUSTRATIONS + + + PAGE + ALMA WHITE _Frontispiece_ + + Map of Yellowstone Park 8 + + Group of Bannock Indian War Chiefs 12 + + Bannock Indian Papoose 14 + + Arch at Northern Entrance to Yellowstone Park 18 + + Shoshone Canyon 22 + + Shoshone Dam 24 + + The Holy City 27 + + Pahaska Tepee Lodge 29 + + Chittenden Bridge 32 + + Sylvan Lake 35 + + Yellowstone Lake 37 + + Eagle's Nest Rock 40 + + Grand Canyon, from Inspiration Point 42 + + Willow Park Camp 45 + + Lower Yellowstone Fall 48 + + Bear Feeding "A La Carte" 52 + + Upper Yellowstone Fall 55 + + Beaver Dam 61 + + Mammoth Hot Springs 63 + + Fort Yellowstone 66 + + Obsidian Cliff 69 + + Roaring Mountain 72 + + Norris Geyser Basin 75 + + National Park Mountain 78 + + "Hell's Half Acre" 80 + + Mammoth Paint Pots 83 + + Office Old Faithful Inn 85 + + Old Faithful Geyser 86 + + Giantess Geyser in Action 89 + + The Sponge Geyser 93 + + The Beehive Geyser 95 + + Castle Geyser 98 + + Butterfly Spring 100 + + Riverside Geyser 105 + + Giant Geyser 107 + + Morning Glory Spring 108 + + Grotto Geyser 111 + + Sapphire Pool--Biscuit Basin 114 + + Punch Bowl 116 + + Handkerchief Pool 118 + + Emerald Pool 121 + + Jupiter Terrace 125 + + Buffalo Herd 127 + + Elk Stalled in Snow 130 + + Golden Gate Canyon and Viaduct 132 + +[Illustration: MAP OF YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK] + + + + +HISTORICAL STATEMENT + + +In a book entitled, _The Discovery of Yellowstone Park_, written by +Nathaniel P. Langford, the author gives an account of an expedition of +130 persons who started from St. Paul, June 16, 1862, for the Salmon +River, as it had been widely rumored that extensive placer mines had +been discovered there. The expedition was led by Captain James L. +Fisk, the noted Indian fighter. Among his assistants were E. H. +Burritt, Nathaniel P. Langford, and Samuel R. Bond, who acted as +secretary. David E. Folsom, Robert C. Knox, Cornelius Bray, Patrick +Doherty, Ard Godfrey, and Patrick Bray, were selected for guard duty. +Many well-known pioneers of Montana were in this company, whose names +are familiar to the writer. + +After eighteen weeks of hazardous adventure, the expedition arrived, +on the 23d of October, at Grasshopper Creek. The weather being too +cold for them to proceed on the journey, they decided to camp in that +locality for the winter. This region was then the rendezvous of the +Bannack Indians; and the St. Paul expedition named the settlement +Bannack. + +To me it is a strange coincidence that this expedition of pioneers +should have left St. Paul on the day of my birth, the 16th of June, +1862; and that on March 31st, 1882, a little more than nineteen years, +later, I should reach this same locality, having been engaged to teach +the Bannack public school, which I began the 4th of April. + +Frequently the early history of the town and its inhabitants was +rehearsed in my hearing, but many deplored the fact that some of the +old-timers had moved to Virginia City, Helena, Butte, and other +places, and that the placer mines of Bannack were not so prosperous as +in former days. But there were enough of the pioneers left to keep +fresh in the memories of the younger generation the stories of +adventures with wild beasts, the Indians, etc. Some of the stories +were looked upon as fabrications, while others were known to be plain +statements of facts. + +I heard so much about the Indians, their reprisals and cruelty, that I +lived in constant dread of them, even when there was no cause for +alarm. A short time before I reached Montana, which was then a +territory, there had been an uprising of some tribes, and a number of +persons living in Bannack and vicinity had been killed. When they were +on the warpath at this particular time, the inhabitants of Bannack had +to barricade themselves in the new brick courthouse and stay for days +to protect themselves from a general slaughter. + +I was not afraid of the squaws with their papooses strapped to boards +on their backs, but when the "bucks," as they were called, pressed +their flat noses against the window-panes asking for muck-a-muck +(food), they frightened me so that I could not get over it for hours. +No one else seemed to have any fear of them, even though harrowing +stories were everywhere being told about their treachery and cruelty. +I made my home with Aunt Eliza, my mother's sister, who had married +Dillon B. Mason, a pioneer of Montana, about ten years before. It was +she who had engaged the public school for me and had insisted on my +coming to Montana, from Kentucky, to teach at Bannack. + +When the Indians on their foraging expeditions came around to the +back door and windows of the kitchen, it seemed to be my lot to see +them first. When they saw how I was disturbed at their presence, they +would throw their heads back and laugh, and say, "White squaw, heaply +big fool." My uncle and aunt were always on friendly terms with them, +calling them John, Jim, and other familiar names. This pleased them +very much, especially when food was given them; and I knew they would +be around again in a few days, much to my annoyance. + +[Illustration: No 61 A GROUP OF BANNOCK WAR CHIEFS POCATELLO IDAHO] + +Patrick Bray of Bannack, whose name is mentioned in the St. Paul +expedition, was one of the old pioneers who could tell more "blood and +thunder" stories than anyone else in the community. + +[Illustration: No 58 BANNOCK PAPOOSE POCATELLO IDAHO] + +In 1870, a party composed of some of the most prominent citizens of +Montana, under the leadership of General Washburn, then the +Surveyor-General of the Territory, went on an exploring expedition to +the Yellowstone regions. The names of some of the members of this +party were household words in the early days of Montana, and familiar +to the writer. Among them were Cornelius Hedges, Nathaniel P. +Langford, the first superintendent of the Park, T. C. Everts, S. T. +Hauser, and Lieut. G. C. Doane. The reader will note the fact that N. +P. Langford was a member of the St. Paul party under the leadership of +Captain Fisk, that landed on Grasshopper Creek, Montana, in the fall +of 1862; and much of the success of the expedition was due to his +heroism. Also much credit is due him for his unabating devotion to the +cause of the republic, and the service he rendered in having the +region set apart as a National Park, March 1st, 1872. Until this time, +there were no restrictions on hunting, trapping, gathering of +specimens, etc., or to fencing in the geysers by private individuals. +THE ACT OF THE DEDICATION OF YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, approved March +1st, 1872, was as follows: + + "BE IT ENACTED BY THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE OF + REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA IN CONGRESS + ASSEMBLED: + + "That the tract of land in the Territories of Montana and + Wyoming, lying near the headwaters of the Yellowstone River, + and described as follows, to-wit: Commencing at the junction + of Gardiner River with the Yellowstone River, and running + east to the meridian passing ten miles to the eastward of + the most eastern point of Yellowstone Lake; thence south + along the said meridian to the parallel of latitude passing + ten miles south of the most southern point of Yellowstone + Lake; thence west along said parallel to the meridian + passing fifteen miles west of the most western point of + Madison Lake; thence north along said meridian to the + latitude of the junction of the Yellowstone and Gardiner + Rivers; thence east to place of beginning--is hereby + reserved and withdrawn from settlement, occupancy or sale + under the laws of the United States, and dedicated and set + apart as a public park or pleasure ground for the benefit + and enjoyment of the people; and all persons who shall + locate, settle upon or occupy the same or any part thereof, + except as hereinafter provided, shall be considered + trespassers and removed therefrom. + + "Sec. 2. The said public Park shall be under the exclusive + control of the Secretary of the Interior, whose duty it + shall be, as soon as practicable, to make and publish such + rules and regulations as he may deem necessary and proper + for the care and management of the same. Such regulations + shall provide for the preservation from injury or spoliation + of all timber, mineral deposits, natural curiosities or + wonders within said park and their retention in their + natural condition. + + "The Secretary may, in his discretion, grant leases for + building purposes, for terms not exceeding ten years, of + small parcels of ground, at such places in said park as + shall require the erection of buildings for the + accommodation of visitors; all the proceeds of said leases, + and all other revenues that may be derived from any source + connected with said park, to be expended under his direction + in the management of the same, and the construction of roads + and bridle paths therein. He shall provide against the + wanton destruction of the fish and game found within said + park, and against their capture or destruction for the + purpose of merchandise or profit. He shall also cause all + persons trespassing upon the same after the passage of this + act to be removed therefrom, and generally shall be + authorized to take all such measures as shall be necessary + or proper to fully carry out the objects and purpose of this + act." + +[Illustration: ARCH AT NORTHERN ENTRANCE TO YELLOWSTONE PARK, +DEDICATED BY THEODORE ROOSEVELT] + + + + +With God In the Yellowstone + + + + +CHAPTER I + +ENROUTE TO THE PARK + + +On September 2, 1919, I left Zarephath, New Jersey for Denver, +Colorado. Seven days later, accompanied by my brother and his wife, +Rev. Charles W. and Lillian O. Bridwell, I started on a trip to the +Yellowstone National Park. Traffic on the railroads was so heavy out +of Denver that we had some difficulty in getting properly routed, but +finally succeeded. Twenty-four hours later, we reached Cody, Wyoming, +the eastern entrance to the Park. We secured lodging at the Irma +Hotel, founded by William F. Cody (Buffalo Bill), and named for his +favorite daughter. + +On the walls of the office and in the halls of this hotel were +splendid paintings, in which the whole history of the famous +frontiersman and Indian fighter was shown. Hours could profitably be +spent studying these pictures, in which one could learn more about the +"Wild West," of former days, than one could get from the average +history. All of the famous Indian chiefs were there, among them, Red +Cloud, Sitting Bull, and Black Bird. Their features were so perfectly +outlined I almost felt I was looking into their faces. + +There were so many tourists we were fortunate in getting +accommodations at this place, when arrangements had not been made +ahead. Since I felt the need of rest, and my brother wanted more +information concerning the tour through the Park, we concluded to stay +over for a day. We held an open-air Gospel meeting here, and had the +opportunity of getting acquainted with some of the people whom we told +about the work of the Pillar of Fire organization. + +At one time we had about decided to hire an automobile and drive +through the Park, but later, concluded it would be too much of an +undertaking, and made arrangements with the Yellowstone Park +Transportation Company to take us through for about forty-three +dollars each; this included board and lodging at the Yellowstone +Camps. + +At 8:15, on the morning of September 12, we boarded one of the big, +yellow touring-cars, with a number of other passengers, and proceeded +on our journey. We had nothing to do with the selection of our +automobile party, but could not have been better suited. About four +miles west of Cody, we entered the SHOSHONE CANYON, three miles from +the first tunnel. In the meantime, we were climbing up the +mountainside so rapidly that it was soon hundreds of feet to the chasm +below. + +In a little while we reached the top of the SHOSHONE DAM, to the left, +and here made our first stop. The scenery, while approaching and when +leaving the dam, was the most magnificent I have ever beheld. +Word-pictures fail to give even a slight idea of the depths of the +canyon, the wonderful tints and hues caused by mineral formations and +volcanic action in ages past. The trees on either side were of such +immense height, that I was almost staggered. I was not expecting +anything like this, on the run from Cody to the boundary of the Park; +and surprises awaited me every moment of the time. + +While waiting at the dam, I copied from a board the following +dimensions: + +[Illustration: SHOSHONE CANYON © _Haynes, St. Paul_] + + Height, 328 feet, + Thickness at base, 108 feet, + Thickness at top, 10 feet, + Length of crest, 200 feet, + Capacity of reservoir, 456,000 acre-feet, + Area of water surface, 10 square miles, + Maximum width, 4 miles, + Maximum depth, 233 feet, + Length of spillway, 300 feet, + Work begun, 1905, + Work completed, 1910, + Total cost, $1,354,000. + +The scenery approaching the dam on both sides, was to me so +unparalleled and inspiring, my heart cried out with the Psalmist: + +"Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations. Before +the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth +and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.... +For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is +past, and as a watch in the night." + +After leaving the dam, we passed slowly through the third, fourth, +fifth, and sixth tunnels. Twelve miles from Cody we had a magnificent +view of the great SHOSHONE RESERVOIR at our left. Then we passed the +Morris Ranch, crossed the bridge over the Shoshone River and turned +to the right. We passed a school house, Hollister's Ranch, Frost and +Richard's Ranch, entered Shoshone National Forest and took the left +side road to Canyon Forest Ranger Station. Two miles farther was the +overhanging Rock Cliff, and other places of less importance between it +and the Holy City at the right. + +[Illustration: SHOSHONE DAM © _Haynes, St. Paul_] + +About forty-one miles from Cody we came to the Palisades; then +followed Mesa Creek, Good Camp, Elephant Head at the right, Mutilated +Hand, and Eagle Creek. About fifty-three miles from Cody we arrived at +PAHASKA TEPEE LODGE, founded by Buffalo Bill. This station is only two +miles from the boundary of the Park. The yellow cars turn in at the +lodge for luncheon. A stop of about an hour and a half was allowed +here. The house is built of unplaned logs with a large fireplace and +small windows. It has wide porches, provided with easy chairs for the +tourists. While it has a wild, rustic appearance it is homelike. + +A little brown bear chained to a tree on the grass plot in front +furnished much amusement for the company by turning somersaults. Three +or four bears had been killed a few days before, somewhere in the +neighborhood of the lodge, and bear meat was served at luncheon. +However, none of the three members of our party ate animal flesh. + +We asked that eggs might be substituted, but our request was not +granted, and we had to be content with what we could get. We did not +find the courtesy and interest manifested in our welfare here, on the +part of the managers, that we expected; and we felt that if we had to +meet the same difficulties farther on, it would be a matter of regret +to us that we did not hire a conveyance and make an independent tour. +Fortunately, we found a decided difference in the management at the +camps. + +Two young women, who had been residing in the park camps for the +summer, had arranged with the driver of our car to sit on the front +seat with him on the trip from Cody to Yellowstone Camp. However, they +were not on hand in the morning when we were ready to start, and a +person who had later secured the front seat kindly let me have it. I +was grateful for the protection the wind-shield gave me, and of being +able to keep my feet warm near the engine. When the young women +found that they had been left, they hired an automobile and overtook +us. They paid a woman chauffeur, clad in men's clothing, ten dollars +for this trip; and just as we were halting at the dam they drove up, +to the delight of the young man who was driving our car. + +[Illustration: THE HOLY CITY © _Haynes, St. Paul_] + +Nothing was said to me about giving them the front seat, but they made +some remarks in the presence of others that showed plainly what was on +their minds. I kept my place until we reached Pahaska Lodge. In the +meantime "Heine," the driver, as he was called, seemed more or less +excited, and occasionally called to them in the rear seat. He was +running at such speed it was difficult for some of the passengers to +keep their places, especially where there were sharp curves in the +road. He was, no doubt, a skilful driver. He seemed to know that he +was exceeding the speed limit, and shouted out to one of the young +women, "Ruth, are you all there?" A few minutes after this he ran +against the post of a bridge and came near having a wreck, but no one +said anything to him, nor made a protest against his carelessness and +levity when he should have been attending to business. + +"Heine" spent the time at Pahaska Lodge in the company of the two +girls; and when the time came to go, he did not wait, as others did, +to load up in front of the building, but took them out to the rear +where the car was standing and put them in the front seat. There was a +protest on the part of all the other passengers, who insisted that he +should give me the seat I had occupied in the morning, but he was +unyielding; and after a half hour's delay and controversy they saw the +utter futility of trying to convince him of his act of injustice, and +proceeded on the journey. However, it served the purpose of quieting +him down and causing him to be more careful in the dangerous places of +the road. + +[Illustration: PAHASKA TEPEE LODGE © _Haynes, St. Paul_] + +The woman in charge at the Pahaska Lodge, who had failed to serve us +with eggs, after one of the waitresses had promised them to me, was +chafing under an impeachment of her lack of good will and hospitality +toward some of her patrons; and came boldly out to the car, and in the +presence of every one took sides with the driver, assuring him that +she would stand for the delay. This greatly strengthened him in the +stand he had taken. + +It was not very pleasant to ride behind a driver with so much +responsibility, who was carrying on a flirtation. I once saw a +brakeman flirting with a young woman when he should have been +attending to business. Suddenly, he lost his footing, fell between the +cars and was crushed to death. Human nature has been so weakened +through the fall that there is not much dependence to be put in one +where a play by the opposite sex is being made on the heartstrings. +Samson was shorn of his strength by the fair-faced Delilah, and made +to grind without eyes in the mills of the Philistines, after he had +rent a lion, carried off the gates of Gaza, and defied all the enemies +of Israel. + +There is too much good-natured toleration of such things, where human +lives are involved. Most people choose the path of least resistance, +when it does not seriously interfere with their rights or comfort, but +not so with our fellow passengers, four of whom were devout members of +the Friends' Church. There was a principle involved, and they did not +hesitate to show on which side they were. We enjoyed the company of +these "Friends" very much. The two gentlemen and their wives were our +companions on the trip from the morning we left Cody till the day we +parted at the Old Faithful Camp at the Upper Geyser Basin. + +[Illustration: CHITTENDEN BRIDGE © _Haynes, St. Paul_] + + + + +CHAPTER II + +GRAND CANYON OF THE YELLOWSTONE + + +After crossing the Yellowstone boundary, about two miles west of +Pahaska Tepee Lodge, I began to feel an atmosphere of freedom that I +had not hitherto enjoyed on the trip. I felt that the Yellowstone +National Park, with all of its wonders and many interests, belonged to +me as much as to any other person on the earth; and from that moment +it seemed that I was walking with God to the very gates of heaven and +to the brink of hell. The freedom of animal life in the Park, brought +to my mind vivid pictures of the Millennium, when, as Isaiah says, +nothing shall hurt or destroy in all God's holy mountain. It should be +a matter of great interest and satisfaction to Americans that our +government has the custody of the Yellowstone--that man with selfish +interests is prohibited from laying claim to anything within its +boundaries, and is compelled to refrain from marring or defacing the +formations around the geysers and other places, and from destroying +animal life. + +It is to be deplored that so few know how rich they are in the gifts +that God and nature have bestowed upon us as a people, in this vast +region of more than 3,000 square miles of so many miracles and +wonders. + +About eight miles from the border, we came to Sylvan Pass; then +followed Snow Fall, Lake Eleanor, Sylvan Lodge, Sylvan Lake, and +Wedded Trees, at the left. About eleven miles from Sylvan Pass, we +came to Turbid Lake, Osprey Nest in a tree at the right, Fishing +Bridge, Yellowstone River, and turned to the right to Grand Canyon. + +Our first stop after leaving Pahaska Lodge was at MUD VOLCANO and +GREEN GABLE SPRING, at the left. This was the first place where we had +found any disturbance on the surface caused by the heated regions +below. The angry crater of the volcano resembled, in some respects, +the Mammoth Paint Pots in the Lower Geyser Basin, but unlike the +latter, there was nothing beautiful about it,--it was simply a great +mass of boiling mud, manifesting such intense heat as to spout up +several feet, threatening to bespatter those who came too near. It +was enclosed by a railing, around which was a board walk. Below the +mud geyser was a boiling spring where the water, clear as crystal, +poured out of the ground and was carried away. + +[Illustration: SYLVAN LAKE © _Haynes, St. Paul_] + +I ventured to put my finger into the water and was nearly burned. This +place was only a suggestion of what we were to see later in the Geyser +Basins. + +At our left, eight miles from Sylvan Pass, we had a splendid view of +YELLOWSTONE LAKE in the distance. In the heart of the Park Plateau, +averaging more than eight thousand feet elevation, surrounded by +mountains, waterfalls, and cascades, is the lake, twenty miles in +length, which, at its elevation, has but one rival, Lake Titicaca, in +the Andes. As our party did not visit West Thumb, it was our privilege +to see the lake only at a distance, where we could have but a slight +idea of its beauty and immensity. + +"David E. Folsom, of the Folsom and Cook Exploring Party, in 1869 +says: + + 'As we were about departing on our homeward trip, we + ascended the summit of a neighboring hill and took a final + look at Yellowstone Lake. Nestled among the forest-crowned + hills which bounded our vision, lay this inland sea, its + crystal waves dancing and sparkling in the sunlight as if + laughing with joy for their wild freedom. It is a scene of + transcendent beauty, which has been viewed by but few white + men, and we felt glad to have looked upon it before its + primeval solitude should be broken by the crowds of + pleasure-seekers, which at no distant day will throng its + shores.'" + +[Illustration: YELLOWSTONE LAKE © _Haynes, St. Paul_] + +For the next few miles the scenery was most fascinating, but it was +only a prelude to what awaited us in the first glimpse we were to get +of the GRAND CANYON. + +We halted at INSPIRATION POINT, where I followed others down the steps +to a great ledge of rocks overhanging the chasm. The scene that +greeted my vision was so overwhelming and unexpected that I became +dizzy and had to make my way back to the car, supported by the +railing. + +This yawning gulf with its awful depths of nearly two thousand feet, +through which the river, like a silver thread was wending its way, and +the sublime coloring produced by nature, reflected from the mineral +formations on the sides of the great canyon, was a sight too much for +human frailty, and I had to be satisfied to take a glimpse and wait +until I could recuperate from the shock before attempting another +adventure. + +Before leaving Inspiration Point, some one shouted, "See the eagle's +nest!" and there, looking down into a tall pine tree at the right of +the descent, was the nest; but I was more interested in the canyon, +for I had never had the faintest conception of what it really is. + +When I had recuperated somewhat from the bewilderment, I was inclined +to charge those who had visited the Park before, among whom were my +brother and his wife, with stupidity and a lack of appreciation for +not having done more to tell of such grandeur. But afterwards I had to +admit that the half cannot be told however much anyone might try. +Unlike the Royal Gorge in Colorado, we were not at the bottom looking +up, but at the top looking down into the silent and awful depths. It +was as if the earth had rent asunder and we were standing on the brink +looking over into the abyss. + + "Of all the marvels of the Yellowstone National Park, the + most sublime is the Grand Canyon. Through this the + Yellowstone River, which is a tributary of the Missouri, + flows in one place for twenty continuous miles between + perpendicular cliffs only about 200 yards apart and from + 1,200 to 1,500 feet in height. At the entrance of this part + of the canyon the whole river makes a stupendous leap of + 308 feet, in what is known as the 'Lower Fall.' The sides of + this gigantic chasm have literally almost all the colors of + the rainbow displayed upon their vertical surfaces. Red, + orange, yellow, green, blue, violet, and white tints, are + constantly succeeding one another here in wonderful variety, + thus lighting up with glory countless architectural forms, + which Nature, it would seem, had fashioned here to make the + proudest works of man appear diminutive and tame. These + colors doubtless have been formed by the percolating through + the cliffs of the hot mineral waters from the neighboring + springs. Distinguished painters have sadly declared that any + adequate representation of these brilliant, variegated hues + is utterly beyond the power of human art. What an unrivalled + combination is there, therefore, in this canyon, of + awe-inspiring grandeur and enchanting beauty! And what a + magnificent pathway has been given to the Yellowstone River! + Leaving the famous Yellowstone Lake enclosed by snow-clad + mountains, it passes through a series of rapids and a fall + of 140 feet before it even reaches the Grand Canyon, and + just beyond this it receives a tributary, which in its haste + to join it, makes a leap of 156 feet. Thus cradled in + sublimity, the Yellowstone River must be called in some + respects the most extraordinary stream upon our continent." + +[Illustration: EAGLE'S NEST ROCK © _Haynes, St. Paul_] + +Why was this place kept concealed from the eyes of civilized man for +nearly four hundred years after America was discovered? Even now only +a small per cent of the 100,000,000 people of the United States know +what they possess in this romantic and mysterious region, which in +some places seems to be the ante-chamber of heaven and the very mouth +of hell. Many, for lack of opportunity or interest, will never see the +Yellowstone National Park, while multitudes from foreign shores will +swarm like bees within its boundaries and reap the benefits of the +sacrifice and toil of its discoverers and of God's free gift to +America. + +[Illustration: NO. 147. UP THE GRAND CANYON FROM INSPIRATION +PT.--YELLOWSTONE PARK. HAYNES-PHOTO.] + +When the Queen of Sheba came from the uttermost parts of the earth to +hear the wisdom of Solomon, and he answered all her questions, showing +her the riches and glory of his kingdom, she said, "It was a true +report that I heard in mine own land of thy acts and of thy wisdom. +Howbeit I believed not the words, until I came, and mine eyes had seen +it: and, BEHOLD, THE HALF WAS NOT TOLD ME." This truly could be said +of the Grand Canyon. I have been many times through the Rocky Mountain +regions, passed through the Royal Gorge, have seen most of the places +of interest that the mountain passes, fastnesses, and peaks afford, +but nothing had ever so charmed, awed, inspired, and bewildered me +as did the first glimpse of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. + +Solomon's kingdom symbolizes the second work of grace, taught in the +Scriptures, an experience which no one can understand unless he is in +possession of it. Experience is necessary to enjoy it in its fulness, +and so with nature's grandeur and magnificence on such a tremendous +scale as in the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. One must see with the +eyes what the mind fails to grasp by the hearing of the ear. Language, +with its adaptability to the usages of mortal man, is inadequate. +Word-pictures, though drawn by the most visionary and gifted, fail to +convey in a slight degree the grandeur of nature's activities and +exhibitions in this the most inspiring and picturesque spot on the +globe. + +After I was again seated in the car, for a few moments my eyes were +closed to all the world about me, and in a new sense I began to +realize the infinite depths of divine power and wisdom, and how small +is the creature when compared with the Creator. + +At ARTIST'S VIEW we stopped again for another look at the canyon. In +the opinion of some persons, a better view was to be had here than at +Inspiration Point, but I did not think so, and did not tarry long. +Feeling that enough had been crowded into one day, I went back to the +stage anxious to get where I could relax and rest. + +A few minutes later we arrived at YELLOWSTONE CAMP, near the Upper and +Lower Falls. After we had registered and were shown the way to our +tents, the evening meal was served in a large, spacious dining-room. + +In the office of the camp we found a log fire burning. A score or more +of tourists seated around it were engaged in conversation; and the new +arrivals received a cordial welcome. Everything presented so homelike +an appearance, it made me feel as if I should like to spend a week +here. + +The greatest courtesy was manifested on the part of the managers and +those who rendered us service, and I felt that they had a real heart +interest in our welfare. The accommodations in the tents were all that +one could ask. The tents had floors, were boarded up the sides, and +furnished with all the conveniences necessary. In each one there was a +stove that was lighted both morning and evening, as it was late in +the season and sometimes the temperature was almost at freezing point. +When a fire was needed, one of the attendants at the camp came to +light it. + +[Illustration: WILLOW PARK CAMP, YELLOWSTONE PARK © _Haynes, St. +Paul_] + + + + +CHAPTER III + +UPPER AND LOWER FALLS + + +After dinner was served on the evening of our arrival, my brother and +his wife took a trip down UNCLE TOM'S TRAIL to the base of the Lower +Yellowstone Fall. They returned later, excited not a little, to tell +of their adventure and what they had seen. I regretted that they did +not wait until morning so that I could go with them, but I was so +elated with the description of the fall that I was determined to go +down the trail, if I had to go alone. The next morning when I saw how +hazardous the undertaking would be, there was nothing that could have +induced me to descend the rocky steep over which they had traveled. +Sister Lillian and I got a good view of the fall from a prominence +near the edge of the canyon, and this satisfied me. + +Just before the water makes its tremendous leap, it is compressed +within a width of about 100 feet, where it seems to slow down to +prepare for the shock before it dashes 308 feet over the rocks. Here +from the foaming mass of spray, gorgeous rainbows may be seen. The eye +is then inclined to follow the little stream that dwindles away +between the rocky sides of the great chasm, foaming and dashing as it +goes, until it looks like a silver thread in the distance. The rainbow +colors at the fall, blending with the various tints and hues reflected +from the mineral formations on the sides of the canyon, presented a +picture that no artist could paint. + +My sister and I took the trail along the edge of the canyon and +finally made intersection with the automobile road within a short +distance of the camp. On the way back, I felt as if I had lighted down +on another sphere where I could stay for only a brief period, and that +I must profit by every moment of time that was allotted me. Pausing by +the roadside, I asked the question, "What shall it be when these +mortal bodies put on immortality, when they shall no longer be subject +to the laws of gravitation or others governing material substances? +What shall it be to wing one's flight to unseen worlds where there is +still a greater comprehension to be had of Him who created the world +and threw it from the tips of His fingers into space!" + +It took thousands of years for astronomers to learn that the earth is +hung upon nothing; that when God created it He made it out of nothing, +and set the forces in action that were continually demonstrating His +omnipotence before their eyes. + +The plan of salvation, of which it is my privilege to be a partaker, +was never more precious to me than at this time, and I had a new +appreciation of the fact that an infinite price had been paid for +man's redemption. I felt renewed inspiration to press the battle +against sin and unrighteousness to the gates of heaven or to the +depths of hell. + +The Calvary route is often rugged. There are many dangerous places, +where if the Infinite One did not clasp our hands and hold them +tightly, we would plunge to the depths of the chasm and be wrecked and +ruined for time and eternity. We have the blessed consolation, +however, that He has promised to guide us with His eye, and never to +leave or forsake those who put their trust in Him. + +There is an atmosphere of sincerity among the people around the hotels +and camps of the Yellowstone that is rarely found in summer resorts +in other places. Here the voice of God in nature is heard in the +smallest whisper, and again in tones of thunder; those who are +inclined to be giddy and possessed with a spirit of levity, suddenly +find themselves sobering up and beginning to think upon those things +that involve the interests of their immortal souls. + +Many of the helpers about the camps and hotels of the Park, I was +told, were students and teachers who had come to the Yellowstone +unprepared financially to make the tour, and had accepted positions as +waiters, waitresses, etc., in order to pay their way through, and to +be able to return by the time their schools opened. Some of them +received only slight compensation, and depended on the good will of +the tourists to reimburse them for services. + +The familiarity that was seen everywhere between man and beast +betokens the fact that an earnest of Isaiah's prophecy of the +Millennium is being fulfilled. These native animals are free to go +wherever they please, and seem to have little or no fear. In many +instances they come close enough to eat out of the hands of the +tourists. At the park camps and around the kitchens of the hotels, +black, brown, and occasionally grizzly bears could be seen at almost +any hour of the day eating out of tins or otherwise in search of food. +At our camp, near the kitchen, I found a brown bear with two little +cubs. She looked at me with an independent toss of her head as much as +to say, "You may be surprised to see me here, but I am enjoying the +rights and privileges accorded me under the laws governing the Park; I +am taking no undue liberties nor committing any offense." She then +took an affectionate look at her cubs and warned me to keep my +distance. I assured her that I had no thought of disturbing them, and +so there was an understanding between us. I afterward made frequent +visits to the brow of the hill where I could get a good view of her +and her little ones. + +Tourists often make a mistake in trying to feed and pet the bears. +Signs are up everywhere warning them of this danger. A short time +before our party arrived, some person tried to pet a bear and was +bitten in the wrist. It taught him and others a lesson. These animals +have not been tamed, and the reason they are not so vicious as in +primeval days is because no one is allowed to wound or kill them. +When one becomes unmanageable and it is necessary to dispose of it, +the government rangers who have charge of the Park remove all traces +of blood, and even burn the hide, so as to keep from arousing +suspicion on the part of others. Thus we see, in part, what the +Millennium will be when nothing shall hurt or destroy, and when +"righteousness shall be the girdle of his lions, and faithfulness the +girdle of his reins." + +[Illustration: BEAR FEEDING "A LA CARTE" © _Haynes, St. Paul_] + +"The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie +down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling +together; and a little child shall lead them. And the cow and the bear +shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion +shall eat straw like the ox. And the sucking child shall play on the +hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the +cockatrice' den. THEY SHALL NOT HURT NOR DESTROY IN ALL MY HOLY +MOUNTAIN: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as +the waters cover the sea" (Isa. II:5:9). + +We could have spent another day at the Grand Canyon, as we had +arranged for a five-day tour, but decided to spend more time at Old +Faithful Camp near the Upper Geyser Basin, and therefore planned to +leave in the afternoon. In the meantime I packed up my things, made +some notes in my diary, and went alone to the Upper Yellowstone Fall. + +Here, with no one present but the unseen host, I spent one of the most +profitable hours of my life. I was in a position to get a good view of +the Fall, where the water was dashing more than a hundred feet over +the rocks, preparatory to the final plunge of three hundred feet a +half mile below. + +For a short time, surrounded by nature, with all of its primitive +beauty and grandeur, I seemed to forget my burdens, and had a +foretaste of what it will be when the cross is laid down and the crown +is won. But to be an overcomer, I knew there must be no shrinking from +duty until the last battle is fought. + +Time forbade my tarrying longer at this place, and I hurried to the +camp where I found my brother and sister looking for me. In a few +minutes we had bidden many of our newly-made friends good-by and were +hurried off in the yellow touring car _via_ Tower Fall to Mammoth Hot +Springs, a distance of about forty miles. + +[Illustration: UPPER YELLOWSTONE FALL © _Haynes, St. Paul_] + +In the car was a new driver, and among the passengers were the four +"Friends" who had started with us from Cody, Wyoming. We were glad to +have them, and also to have a change of drivers, so that we might +forget the unpleasant experience of the day before at Pahaska Tepee +Lodge. + +Every person in the car seemed to be in good spirits, and ready to +enjoy the trip to the fullest extent. From the time we left the camp +until we reached Mt. Washburn, a distance of about ten miles, my time +was mostly taken up answering the questions of a woman from California +who wanted information about our organization, the Pillar of Fire. I +was glad to answer her questions and to give her all the enlightenment +I could, but I found that it was taxing my physical strength when I +should be at my best to profit by the trip. I silently prayed that a +change of some kind might be made. We did not take the automobile road +to the summit of Mt. Washburn, an altitude of 10,388 feet, but turned +to the left through DUNRAVEN PASS, along the side of the mountain, a +much shorter road than over the summit. + +I had no desire to go to the summit. I had so often been over the +highest peaks of the Rockies on all the scenic railroad lines, that I +did not care to tax my nerves on such a trip; other passengers felt +much the same. + +The drive around the side of the mountain was hazardous enough for me; +and while others expressed no fear, there were times when I felt I +should be compelled to get out of the car and walk. A good-natured +pilot seated by the driver, who, no doubt, was sent out by the Park +company, was skilful enough to divert my attention from the distance +to the base of the mountain at our left until we had passed over the +dangerous part of the road. I shall not forget the manner in which he +undertook to make me forget that I was nervous. + +TOWER FALL was our first stop. The dizzy heights had almost unfitted +me for what awaited us at this place, but my brother and the pilot +assisted me up the steps and I followed others down the trail to the +fall, dashing 132 feet over the rocks. The snowy, foaming water has +the appearance of white satin ribbon, falling perpendicularly between +two towering rocks, whence it gets its name. It lacks the volume of +some other falls in the Yellowstone, but its grace and beauty are +nowhere surpassed. + +About four miles from the fall, we turned aside to CAMP ROOSEVELT, +where we found a great display of elk horns. I was constantly on the +lookout for elk, deer, and other animals, as I was told that they were +often seen in herds in that locality, but I saw nothing except a +lonely coyote, trotting along utterly indifferent to our presence. It +seems that the continual blowing of automobile horns has frightened +the more timid creatures back from the highways, and only occasionally +do they venture close enough to be seen. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +MAMMOTH HOT SPRINGS + + +The distance from Grand Canyon Camp to Mammoth Hot Springs, near Fort +Yellowstone, was made in about three and one-half hours, with only the +one stop at Tower Fall, and the few minutes that we halted at Camp +Roosevelt, and the Cold Spring. But there was not one moment of +monotony. The harmonious blending of colors, the distant mountain +peaks and ranges, the soft-tinted sky, the trees, the water, in fact, +all of Nature's best, in a milder form than we had seen about the +Grand Canyon at the Upper and Lower Yellowstone Falls, was constantly +presented in shifting scenes before our vision, relieving, in a +measure, the tension we had been under since arriving in the vicinity +of the Grand Canyon. + +One place, in particular, that attracted my attention, was a beaver +dam and hut that had been constructed by an order of masons whose +operations are conducted exclusively upon the principles of home +protection, and whose chief aim is to protect the fur trade of which +they are the producers. In order to do this and to keep from being +stranded, it is often necessary for the beavers to dam up the waters +and build a house in which to live. + +When they cut down trees, they have the faculty of felling them where +they want to build, so as to save as much labor as possible. At our +left was a creek and a dam they had built and a house they had +constructed, independent of the laws controlling the builders' +association or that of the labor unions. + +Their tools are very simple, as they use their teeth for saws, their +tails for trowels, etc. In the midst of the dam was the hut, built of +unplaned logs, with a well-constructed roof. + +Under less favorable circumstances than is found for animal life in +the Park, these little workers with their soft, silken fur would have +been hunted down and captured before they could have brought the work +to completion. Again, I could not help but exclaim, What a blessing +are the laws governing the Yellowstone Park! + +[Illustration: BEAVER DAM © _Haynes, St. Paul_] + +The rangers, with stations interspersed throughout the vast area of +more than 3,000 square miles, are employed by the government for the +protection of life and property, and arrests are quickly made and +penalties fixed when there is any violation of the law. These men are +not soldiers, but patrolmen on horseback, dressed in cowboy's uniform. +An ordinary soldier would be unfitted for such work. Men in leather +shaps are needed who can break and ride bronchos, throw the lariat, +and round up the herds; those who are used to the mountain fastnesses +and the buffalo path, the haunts of black, brown, and grizzly bears, +and are acquainted with the habits of the elk, moose, mountain sheep, +the antelope, the deer, etc.; those who know the habits and lurking +places of the unscrupulous hunters and poachers who defy the laws and +by any or all means seek to evade punishment. No one is better fitted +than the western ranger to track them down and see that they are +brought to justice. + +When we arrived at the MAMMOTH SPRINGS, we found a welcome at the camp +and soon felt very much at home. It was cool enough for a fire, and +many of the tourists gathered around the stove in the office and +chatted with one another until the evening meal, which proved to be a +plentiful repast and well served. + +Our tents were furnished after the same pattern as those of the Grand +Canyon Camp, with the exception that these were lighted with +electricity. + +The MAMMOTH HOT SPRINGS and the beautiful terraces, in attempting +description of which all language has been exhausted, were only a +short distance from the camp; without waiting for a guide, we were +soon winding our way up the side of the hill and around the road where +we could find an entrance to the plateau. I had seen pictures of the +many springs and terraces in colors, and had supposed they were +overdrawn, but I found myself in the same bewildered state as when I +first saw the Grand Canyon. Before I was aware, my tears were flowing +freely at the thought of how impossible it would be to describe these +springs to my friends and others who, perhaps, would never have the +opportunity of seeing them. The blending of colors cannot be +reproduced by the brush of the most gifted artist. I was thankful that +God had permitted me to see the work of His hands that I might help +others in the battle for eternal life. + +Some of our party were looking for the DEVIL'S KITCHEN, but in the +absence of a guide were having difficulty in finding it; I had no +inclination to participate in the search. I had been in the +ante-chamber of heaven and at the gates of perdition, and this was +sufficient for one day, so I started back toward the camp, with a lady +who seemed to be satisfied to stay by my side, even though she missed +seeing many of the places of interest. + +I knew she was tired, and hoped that she might ride the remainder of +the way. Soon an automobile came along and took her in. By this time +my brother and sister and other members of the party had given up the +search for the Devil's Kitchen and overtaken us. Later I was told that +it is in the crater of an extinct boiling spring, not far from some of +the terraces. + +After reaching the camp, I was about to retire, when I decided to go +to the office and see what was going on. A number of persons were +preparing a program for an entertainment, and asked me to make an +address, but I felt that enough had been crowded into one day, and +declined. + +Before morning, the weather became very chilly, and I had to use both +the heavy comforters that had been provided for my bed. My circulation +was not good, and my rest was more or less disturbed. I feared a +greater change might come in the weather, and decided to get over the +ground as quickly as possible even though we should have to miss many +of the details of the place. + +We had breakfast with Mr. Hayes, president of the Yellowstone Camp +Company, who officially, or otherwise, has been connected with +operations in the Yellowstone for the past twenty-five years. Mr. +Hayes was able to give us some valuable information, which we greatly +appreciated. + +MAMMOTH CAMP is situated at the foot of Jupiter Terrace. A short +distance away is Fort Yellowstone, where the administration +headquarters of the Park is located. + +I should have enjoyed seeing more of the springs, with their gorgeous +hues and combinations, but with the hope that we should have the +opportunity of visiting the Park again in the near future, our party +took the morning stage to Old Faithful Camp, at the Upper Geyser +Basin. + +[Illustration: FORT YELLOWSTONE © _Haynes, St. Paul_] + +Before leaving, I got a glimpse of the buffalo herd on the horizon in +the distance, and was surprised to hear how rapidly these animals are +becoming extinct in the Park, where they are so well protected. It +seems that the buffalo and the Indian go together, and thrive only +where civilization has not yet come. + +The weather was cold, and having to travel in an open car made it very +uncomfortable until the sun had time to rise above the tall trees and +the mountain peaks. A brisk wind was blowing, and most of the time I +had to keep my face heavily veiled. This hindered me from getting the +full benefit of the scenery on the way to the Norris Geyser Basin. +Here, however, there was so much steam and boiling water I had no +difficulty in getting warm. + +We had a skilful driver, who called out the names of the places in a +clear voice. This kept the passengers from being under a strain of +uncertainty and tense listening. + +OBSIDIAN CLIFF, formed as the result of volcanic action in ages past, +is twelve miles south of Mammoth Hot Springs. It rises two hundred +fifty feet above the road and is composed of jet-black, volcanic +glass, usually opaque, streaked with red, yellow, and green. When the +roadway was constructed, great fires were built around blocks of this +glass, which, when heated, were cooled by dashing water upon them +resulting in their being shattered into fragments. This is said to be +the only stretch of glass road in existence. + +The cliff was "neutral ground" to the different tribes of Indians. +Chips of obsidian and partly finished obsidian arrow-heads are found +throughout the Park, usually at places where the Indians had their +camps. When the cliff is illuminated by the rays of the sun, it has +the appearance of a glistening mirror, and is of much interest to the +tourists. + +Four and one-half miles from Norris is ROARING MOUNTAIN with steam +escaping through countless apertures from its rugged side. The sound +of the steam struggling to escape is not so audible now as in the +past, but the whole picture reminds one of the inferno about ready to +blow off its cap. + +[Illustration: OBSIDIAN CLIFF © _Haynes, St. Paul_] + +In close proximity to the mountain are greenish, milky pools fed by +rivers of sulphur water from the springs. It was not our privilege to +tarry here, from the fact that the weather was uncomfortably cold, but +the mountain stands out before me as one of the most interesting +places to be seen on the tour. + +The wind was blowing fiercely when we came to TWIN LAKES, four miles +from Norris Geyser Basin, but I removed my heavy veil in order to get +a better glimpse of them. They are beautiful, and although in such +close proximity, their hues are entirely different. + +How often two objects are found so closely allied to each other as to +be inseparable, each one depending upon the other for its existence! +This cannot be a freak of nature or the result of chance. The only +sensible conclusion is that it was so designed by the Creator to teach +a most important spiritual lesson,--that of the two works of grace, +which constitute the panoply of the soul. There is no way to discard +either without serious results. + +There is something about clear, pure water, whether it is seen in the +placid lake or the gushing, mountain torrent, that inspires and lifts +a person above the toils and cares of this life, where he is able to +breathe a pure and holy atmosphere. Hence we see why, as shown in the +Scriptures, Jesus so often used water to illustrate the plan of +salvation. Water is the symbol of life, and in the boiling springs, +the pools, the lakes, the chasms, and the great, spouting geysers, a +book is written in the Yellowstone that every one should learn to +read. + +Our attention was next called to the FRYING PAN, a basin fifteen feet +across, with numerous boiling jets in constant and violent agitation. + +I regretted that circumstances were not more favorable so that I could +have a longer period of time to spend at these places, where Nature is +so full of life and interest. + +[Illustrated: ROARING MOUNTAIN © _Haynes, St. Paul_] + + + + +CHAPTER V + +NORRIS GEYSER BASIN + + +When we arrived at NORRIS (formerly Gibbon) GEYSER BASIN, I was so +cold I could scarcely use my limbs. The first attraction was a great, +boiling spring at the left as we entered the basin. I immediately felt +the change in the atmosphere, and soon got warm after reaching the +board walk under which the boiling water was flowing, the hot steam +everywhere being forced out through apertures. + +Here was my first sight of the clear water geysers. The CONSTANT, with +a maximum height of twenty feet, plays at intervals of from thirty to +sixty seconds. The MINUTE MAN plays at intervals of from one to three +minutes with a duration of about the same length of time. In this +basin are also the ECHINUS, the FEARLESS, the MONARCH, with a maximum +height of fifty feet, playing at intervals of twenty-five to sixty +minutes, the NEW CRATER, the WHIRLIGIG, and the VALENTINE. The +maximum height of the Valentine is a hundred feet and the time of +eruptions varies from twenty-two to thirty hours. + +The BLACK GROWLER STEAM VENT growled continually, sending forth great +volumes of steam. The deposit around the crater is black in some +places. The vent north of the Black Growler is called the HURRICANE. +It looks much like the former, but is not so active. The BATH TUB does +not erupt, but is in constant agitation. EMERALD POOL is a large lake +of boiling water, green in appearance. + +NEW CRATER GEYSER is surrounded by large blocks of yellow rock. In the +vicinity of this geyser, in 1891, a commotion occurred, very much like +an earthquake, when great volumes of water were forced out. Since then +there have been only ordinary eruptions, about every three minutes. +The form of the crater is such that the water is prevented from +attaining any great height. + +MONARCH GEYSER, near the base of the hill, is almost surrounded by +beautifully colored rocks. The crater has two openings, the larger of +which is twenty feet long and three feet wide. Eruptions occur without +warning, and water is thrown a hundred feet high. The intervals +between eruptions are about six hours. + +[Illustration: NORRIS GEYSER BASIN © _Haynes, St. Paul_] + +The FEARLESS GEYSER throws water in every direction, apparently +defying those who wish to approach it. NORRIS is a new geyser, and is +probably changing more rapidly than any other in the basin. One never +knows what changes a season may bring forth. + +The MINUTE MAN is always interesting, especially on account of its +regularity. Its crater seems originally to have been merely a fissure +in a rock. + +A few miles from Norris Basin is ELK PARK, a valley surrounded by +timbered hills. Across the river from the road is CHOCOLATE SPRING, +which has built a cone of chocolate color. + +MONUMENT GEYSER BASIN is on the summit of MT. SCHURZ. There is not +much to justify the tourist in making the ascent, as there are only a +dozen or two of crumbling geyser cones, some of which steam and +rumble, while others are apparently extinct. + +On the east side of the river we entered GIBBON CANYON, and for +several miles were shadowed by towering cliffs, in some places a +thousand feet high. + +BERYL SPRING is the largest boiling spring in the canyon. It is +fifteen feet across, and about a mile from the entrance. While our +touring car was dashing around the mountainside, suddenly we came to +GIBBON FALL. Here, from a height of over eighty feet, bubbling and +foaming torrents of water tumble down the steep cascades. + +At NATIONAL PARK MOUNTAIN, our driver announced that we were at the +confluence of the Gibbon and Firehole Rivers. It was here that the +famous Washburn exploring party, in 1870, decided that the Yellowstone +region should be set aside as a National Park, and from that time put +forth their efforts to this end. Among the most enthusiastic were +Cornelius Hedges, David E. Folsom, Lieut. Doane, and Nathaniel P. +Langford. How providential it was that these unselfish, +public-spirited men should have taken up the subject at that time! + +I did not know that the junction of the Gibbon and Firehole Rivers was +an historical place, but was so fascinated with the scenery, I felt +that I should like to camp there for a week, and have an opportunity +to make notes preparatory to publishing an account of my trip. To me, +there was unusual attraction, and something very romantic, about the +Firehole River. I had heard how it was fed by the geysers and boiling +springs, and this added enchantment to its many charms. At one place I +saw a great boulder in the river, from the sides of which were growing +two spruce or pine trees. + +[Illustration: NATIONAL PARK MOUNTAIN © _Haynes, St. Paul_] + +At the LOWER and MIDWAY BASINS are the GREAT FOUNTAIN and EXCELSIOR +GEYSERS. The Excelsior, better known as "Hell's Half Acre," ceased to +play in 1888. Previous to this it was known to throw water to a height +of 300 feet, the time of the eruptions varying from one to four hours. +GREAT FOUNTAIN expels the water to a height of 100 feet, playing for +thirty minutes, and its eruptions are from eight to twelve hours +apart. At the present time Excelsior Geyser is a boiling lake, where +the steam often prevents one from getting a good view of it. + +The MAMMOTH PAINT POTS held my undivided interest for the limited time +that I had. This is a boiling mass of mud, white at the center, and +gradually developing into a beautiful pink, or flesh color toward the +outer edges. The caldron of waxen mixture has a basin forty by sixty +feet in size, with a rim about five feet high. The mud in the center +bubbles up continually, "plop, plop," under the pressure of heat, +and cools off toward the outer edges. + +[Illustration: "HELL'S HALF ACRE" © _Haynes, St. Paul_] + +David E. Folsom witnessed a display of the Great Fountain Geyser in +1869: + + "The hole through which the water was discharged was ten + feet in diameter, and was situated in the center of a large + circular shallow basin into which the water fell. There was + a stiff breeze blowing at the time, and by going to the + windward side and carefully picking our way over convenient + stones we were enabled to reach the edge of the hole. At + that moment the escaping steam was causing the water to boil + up in a fountain five or six feet high. It stopped in an + instant, and commenced settling down--twenty, thirty, forty + feet--until we concluded that the bottom had fallen out, but + the next instant, without any warning, it came rushing up + and shot into the air at least eighty feet, causing us to + stampede. It continued to spout at intervals of a few + moments for some time, but finally subsided." + +PRISMATIC LAKE fairly dazzled me with its beauty. In the center it is +a deep blue, blending into green toward the edges. In the shallow +portion it is yellow, blending into orange at the edges. The water +sparkles and flows off in every direction over the slightly raised rim +of the lake. Its beauty and delicacy of coloring are impossible to +describe. It is heated to nearly 150 degrees Fahrenheit. + +BISCUIT BASIN and SAPPHIRE POOL are places of much interest, also +JEWEL GEYSER, ARTEMISIA GEYSER, etc. + +MORNING GLORY SPRING, near Riverside Bridge, presented to me an idea +of what the earth will be when the curse is lifted and it is clothed +in Edenic glory. It is twenty-three feet in diameter, with a +temperature of 100 degrees Fahrenheit, and with an apparent depth of +about thirty feet. + +I had not previously made a study of the Park, and never knew what was +coming next, but before I reached Old Faithful Camp at the Upper +Geyser Basin, I felt that I had seen enough to repay me a +thousand-fold for any expense or effort that was being made in the +tour of the Yellowstone, which to me was truly a world of wonders. + +[Illustration: MAMMOTH PAINT POTS © _Haynes, St. Paul_] + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +UPPER GEYSER BASIN + + +It was about noon when we reached the UPPER GEYSER BASIN, and I felt +that it would be profitable to take a little rest before going any +further into the mysteries of this "wonderland." OLD FAITHFUL was due +to play shortly after we reached the camp, but I was too far away when +it was announced she was in action to get the full benefit of the +display, and went back to the camp to wait another seventy minutes. +The long drive in the forenoon, and the exposure to the cold, caused +me to feel weary and dull, nevertheless I made an effort to be on hand +at every eruption, which to me became more and more fascinating. + +OLD FAITHFUL INN accommodates 400 guests. It is constructed of +boulders and logs, with peaks, angles, dormers, French windows, etc. +This most restful and impressive abode of the tourists is only two or +three minutes' walk from Old Faithful Geyser, and so located as to +give from its balconies a splendid view of the display. + +[Illustration: OFFICE OLD FAITHFUL INN © _Haynes, St. Paul_] + +The office-room is 75 feet square and 92 feet high, and reaches to the +roof, with a massive chimney that rises to the top. The building is +surrounded with beautiful grounds, furnished with rustic seats. The +chimney is fourteen feet square with eight fireplaces, and balconies +are built around three sides. While everything is of the rustic order, +there is nothing commonplace about the hotel or its furnishings. "It +is a creation of art from the foundation to the peak of the roof." + +OLD FAITHFUL GEYSER in the forefront of Old Faithful Inn is like a +sentinel, and so named because of the regularity of its eruptions. Its +crater, from which the water is expelled to a height of 150 feet, is +an oblong opening, two by six feet, at the top of a mound of +geyserite. Its eruptions sometimes vary a few minutes, in the meantime +giving warning with two or three short spurts, increasing in volume +until the maximum height is reached. The display is short, most of the +water falling back into the crater, but no more fascinating or +impressive scene could be found. The formations around are brilliant +in color, resembling the more subdued tints and hues seen at the +Mammoth Hot Springs. + +In the early part of the afternoon, a number of tourists, including my +brother and sister, went with a guide to GEYSER HILL. After their +return, they had much to say about what they had seen and heard. Later +in the day I felt rested and wanted to make the trip, and my brother +and sister went with me. They had learned all they could from the +guide and were ready to name the various geysers, springs, and pools, +and describe their operations to me. Of these, the Giantess, Beehive, +and Sponge Geysers, were the most interesting. The GIANTESS occupies +the most prominent position on the hill. Its displays attain a height +of about 100 feet, and are accompanied by shocks and tremors much like +earthquakes. The entire eruption lasts from twelve to twenty-four +hours. The crater appears to be about thirty feet in diameter, and +after each eruption a steam period ensues. In 1911, the eruptions +varied from four to twelve days. Some years previous to this, the +eruptions took place about once a month. It is believed that while +activity, as a whole, is decreasing in the geyser regions, a century +brings only a slight change. + +I stood near the crater of the Giantess during the steam period. For a +moment the vapor cleared away, and I could see down the great neck of +the crater into a yawning chasm, so angry and terrible, as to make me +feel that I had seen with the eye what the Bible describes as the +bottomless pit, where the sulphurous flames belch forth, and "where +their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched" (Mark 9:44). + +If there are those who have doubts as to the reality of the lake of +fire, of which Jesus told His disciples, in the 16th chapter of St. +Luke, they should by all means go to the regions of the Yellowstone: +for here, vividly presented to the vision, are the realities of a +burning underworld, with only a thin crust between it and the +habitation of human beings. + +The Bible clearly teaches that hell is located in the center of this +earth, and therefore it must be conceded that the ebon throne of +Diabolus is somewhere in the heated regions below, the intensity of +which the geysers, pools, springs, and volcanoes are continually +demonstrating. + +[Illustration: GIANTESS GEYSER IN ACTION © _Haynes, St. Paul_] + +Whatever may be involved in the separation of soul and body, it is +nevertheless true that the immortal spirit that has not appropriated +the atoning blood must dwell in the confines of the bottomless pit, +which is described in the Scriptures as being in the center of this +earth. Here are the flames by which Dives was tormented when he begged +Abraham to send Lazarus with a drop of water to cool his parched +tongue, and made an appeal for some one to go to his father's house to +warn his five brothers not to come to that place of torment. Abraham +had to refuse both requests, saying, "Son, remember that thou in thy +lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: +but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. And beside all this, +between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which +would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that +would come from thence." Then, when he wanted some one to go to his +father's house to warn his brothers, Abraham said, "They have Moses +and the prophets; let them hear them." But still the doomed man +continued and said, "If one went unto them from the dead, they will +repent," but he was told, "If they hear not Moses and the prophets, +neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead." How +true this is! After all the influence that can be brought to bear upon +people, they rebel against God and follow their own precepts; and true +to fallen human nature, ask for greater evidence of His power. "The +wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God" +(Ps. 9:17). This and other plain scriptures should be sufficient to +warn men to flee the wrath to come. Optimism and presumption +everywhere characterize the multitudes when it comes to this most +important question concerning the future welfare of the soul. + +The man who had allowed the devil to deceive him and take him at last +to his abode in the regions of torment, was still presumptuous and +persistent. He wanted help, which it was impossible for him to +receive, and also warning given to his father's house, which they had +refused to take through Moses and the prophets. + +It is necessary at this period of the world's history to have an +object lesson like that of the Yellowstone National Park to convince +people of the infallibility of God's word. It is the time of the +fulfilment of prophecy concerning the last days, of which Paul says, + +"This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For +men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, +blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without +natural affection, truce-breakers, false accusers, incontinent, +fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, +LOVERS OF PLEASURES MORE THAN LOVERS OF GOD" (2 Tim. 3:1-5). + +Many pleasure seekers are now thronging Yellowstone Park, and in ten +thousand demonstrations are having to face the realities of God's word +and the life that is to come. I saw some of them standing near the +yawning craters of the geysers under deep conviction, and no doubt +silently resolving to live different lives, while others frankly +stated that the depths of their beings had been disturbed, and that it +was no time to trifle with the soul. + +There is no such thing as shirking the responsibility, where Nature +co-operates with the Almighty on such a tremendous scale in the +display of His power. A person may try to stifle his conscience and +refuse to yield to the voice that speaks from above, but he can not +evade the fact that the issue must be met; and why not yield to the +pressure and make the decision now? Life at best is short, and it is +perilous to crowd into some future time the things that should be +taken under consideration now. + +[Illustration: THE SPONGE GEYSER © _Haynes, St. Paul_] + +The TEAKETTLE and the VAULT give warning before the Giantess erupts. +The Vault plays eight feet high, twenty-four hours before the +Giantess. + +TOPAZ at the base of the Giantess mound is a pool of remarkable +beauty. I was much interested in the PUMP near the Sponge Geyser. It +is a hole eighteen inches across, out of which comes a thumping sound, +resembling a hydraulic ram. + +The SPONGE GEYSER has a beautiful cone of flinty formation resembling +that of a sponge. Eruptions are about four feet high, occuring a +minute and a quarter apart. + +The BEEHIVE GEYSER has a cone four feet high and three feet across, +and plays to the height of 200 feet. Its indicator, a small fissure +north of the cone, foretells its eruptions. It is supposed that there +is some relationship between the Beehive and the Giantess from the +fact that the Beehive plays at intervals of from eight to twelve hours +after the Giantess and has been seen to play before the Giantess. + +[Illustration: THE BEEHIVE GEYSER © _Haynes, St. Paul_] + +The DOUBLET POOL is near the Giantess and is marked "Dangerous." The +geyser formations accumulate very slowly and the water here flows out +over a thin crust. + +The LION GEYSER, with the LIONESS and two CUBS, occupies a prominent +place not far from the Giant. Its eruptions occur usually in series of +three, about two and one-half hours apart, after which follows a quiet +period of about twelve hours. The first eruption is the highest and +most charming in appearance. The water is forced up fifty or sixty +feet high, the eruption lasting about five minutes. + +During some seasons the Lioness has not played at all. In 1903 it is +said that the Lioness and both Cubs played at the same time to a large +party of tourists. The larger Cub plays with the Lioness to a height +of about thirty feet, the smaller one plays oftener, but only a few +feet high. + +CASTLE GEYSER is on a prominence opposite Geyser Hill. The mound on +which it is situated covers about three acres, rising more than forty +feet above the river. It has the most prominent cone in the Upper +Basin, resembling an old castle. At intervals the steam escapes and +throws out jets of water, though it erupts only every two days. Near +Castle Geyser is CASTLE SPRING, a beautiful pool of water, highly +colored. + +The SAWMILL GEYSER gets its name from the peculiar noise it makes +during an eruption. It plays at intervals of three or four hours and +at a height of about forty feet. Its indicator is near-by; they both +start together and suddenly begin to throw water in all directions. + +The GRAND GEYSER discharges water in forked columns 200 feet high. It +is said to play much more frequently in the spring than in the fall. +This is because the water supply is greater in the mountain regions at +this season. + +TURBAN GEYSER is near the Grand. The early explorers believed that +internal fires were seen in its crater; if so, it was caused, no +doubt, by the light playing on bubbles of gas. Firehole Lake furnishes +a good example of this phenomenon. The Turban Geyser plays about +twenty-five feet high. Sometimes its eruptions occur with the Grand +Geyser. + +The ECONOMIC GEYSER gets its name from the fact that during its +eruptions nearly all the water flows back into its crater. In form it +resembles Old Faithful, but plays only about fifteen feet high. + +[Illustration: CASTLE GEYSER © _Haynes, St. Paul_] + +BEAUTY SPRING attracts much attention. It is a large, silent pool +remarkable for its coloring. Almost every person, when approaching it +for the first time, remarks about its beauty, hence, our guide said, +it received its name. A rusty color predominates in various shades +from the richest brown, blending into green and yellow tints. + +BUTTERFLY SPRING is about four feet across and has an opening in each +wing. It looks like a butterfly in both color and shape. These double +springs, of which I saw a number, as heretofore stated, have a +spiritual significance, illustrating the two works of grace, +justification and sanctification, so clearly taught in both the Old +and the New Testament. + +The EAR is a most remarkable small spring. Not only is it in the shape +of an ear, but its lobe seems to be pierced, and the earring is a tiny +geyser. "It is here that messages are transmitted, so the story goes, +to regions below." + +BEACH SPRING reminded me of an oyster, the opening in the center +corresponding to the dark spot. It is surrounded by a flat, submerged +beach. + +[Illustration: BUTTERFLY SPRING © _Haynes, St. Paul_] + +After we had visited the springs and geysers on the hill, we returned +to the camp to await the next number on the day's program. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +UPPER GEYSER BASIN (CONT.) + + +Shortly after dinner the news was circulated that a religious service +was to be held in the office of the camp, where the guests assembled +around the large fireplace. I learned from some friends that our party +was expected to conduct the meeting. Later, the manager asked me to +take charge of the service. She said that it would be impossible to +get the people in until after 8:30 o'clock, as Old Faithful would be +due to make a display about that time, and that the great searchlight +from the hotel would be turned on the geyser when the water reached +its maximum height. This caused much excitement among the guests, and +every person sought the best position to get a view of the display. + +Immediately afterward the people gathered in for the service. Song +books were passed around and a lively interest was taken in the +singing, in which nearly every one joined. My brother and his wife +sang a number of pieces together which greatly pleased the audience. +My brother then preached a short sermon and I followed, giving them +some interesting history concerning the Pillar of Fire church. This +seemed to be the subject in which most of them were interested, and I +was glad to be able to give them the information they desired. There +is so much akin to the supernatural in the Yellowstone it made the +preaching of the Gospel easy on this occasion. + +The day, after having been full of interest and inspiration, closed +with a message of salvation for the people, which was best of all. +Many gathered around us to express their appreciation of the service. + +The next morning I arose refreshed and ready to finish the tour of the +Upper Geyser Basin, which contains twenty-six geysers and more than +four hundred hot pools and springs. A party of "hikers," with a guide, +started out about nine o'clock to make the rounds before luncheon. I +was not quite sure that I could keep up with them, but as many of the +places are not accessible to vehicles I had to make the attempt or +miss my opportunity. + +The basin is drained in the center by the Firehole River. Everywhere +steaming hot springs are seen, also mounds and cones of geyserite. In +this basin, within a square mile, are the grandest and mightiest +geysers in the world. There are pools of scalding water whose +marvelous beauty and delicacy of coloring cannot be described. +Everywhere are undulations crowned with geyser cones, or hot spring +vents of a grayish white appearance. In places, the earth trembles, +strange rumblings are heard, and the air is heavy with sulphurous +fumes. How could it be otherwise but that a person should feel that he +is in close proximity to the Inferno which Dante so vividly described! + +The RIVERSIDE GEYSER, on the banks of the Firehole River, plays, we +were told, "Over the River" at intervals of six or seven hours. +Sometimes eruptions occur more frequently for a period of several +days. + +GROTTO GEYSER has the most attractive formation of any geyser in the +park. The Washburn party named it in 1870. Its eruptions are +irregular, occurring at intervals of two to eight hours and lasting +from fifteen minutes to eight hours. Sometimes the Grotto ceases and +the ROCKET plays to a height of fifty feet. After it has ceased, the +Grotto resumes action. + +[Illustration: RIVERSIDE GEYSER © _Haynes, St. Paul_] + +The GIANT GEYSER, south of the Grotto, is the highest in the world. We +found a person near it in soldier's uniform who said he had been +waiting there a week to see it play. Its maximum height is 250 feet, +which is reached during the first twenty minutes of its eruption. Its +cone is ten feet high with one side partly broken off. Eruptions occur +every seven to twelve days. + +Near the Giant are three "boiling caldrons," CATFISH, BIJOU, and +MASTIFF. These are supposed to be indicators, but it is uncertain +whether the eruptions of the Giant are foretold by them. + +The DAISY is a very beautiful and reliable geyser, erupting every one +and a half to two hours. Seventy-five feet is its maximum height. + +The BONITA POOL, across the road, acts as an indicator. + +The BRILLIANT is a beautiful blue hot spring and near to it is the +COMET, which has built up a small cone of geyserite. + +When our party reached Castle Geyser on a hill opposite the Giantess, +our guide called attention to the fact that the Giantess was in +action. Our time was limited, but every member of the party wanted to +cross the bridge and go to Geyser Hill and get as near to its crater +as possible. We did so, and it was at this time, during the steam +period, when the water had receded, that I got a glimpse into its +awful depths; and trembled at the yawning chasm which threatened to +engulf us. It looked as if it might be connected with the place where +the king of darkness dwells and his organized forces operate. We had +only a few minutes to tarry, and hastened back to the vicinity of +Castle Geyser to renew the journey. + +[Illustration: GIANT GEYSER © _Haynes, St. Paul_] + +I was grateful for this little diversion, which broke in on the +regular program of the tour, feeling that I had been fortunate to see +at least one eruption from the crater of the Giantess. + +MORNING-GLORY SPRING, or GEYSER, as it is sometimes called, was to me +the climax in beauty of all the springs in the geyser basins. It +looked as if it might be a gem of Paradise that had survived the +curse. It appears to be a mass of many-colored liquids, resembling a +giant morning-glory, hence its name. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +THE BOTTOMLESS PIT + + +Proof is often asked for statements made that hell is located in the +center of the earth. John, as recorded in the 20th chapter of +Revelation, said, + +"And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the +BOTTOMLESS PIT and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold on the +dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil and Satan, and bound him +a thousand years, And cast him into the BOTTOMLESS PIT, and shut him +up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no +more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled." + +Where else could the bottomless pit be but in the center of this +earth, when it is implicitly stated that the angel came down from +heaven with the chain to bind Satan? Ours is the sphere for which he +is contending and where he has so long deceived the nations. Where +else could the angel lock him up but on the inside of the earth? + +In the 16th chapter of Numbers we have an account of Korah's company, +who murmured and rebelled against the Lord, and Moses, in trying to +show how great was their crime against God, said, + +"If these men die the common death of all men, or if they be visited +after the visitation of all men; then the Lord hath not sent me. But +if the Lord make a new thing, and the earth open her mouth, and +swallow them up, with all that appertain unto them, and they go down +quick into the PIT; then ye shall understand that these men have +provoked the Lord. + +"And it came to pass, as he had made an end of speaking all these +words, that the ground clave asunder that was under them. And the +earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up, and their houses, and +all the men that appertained unto Korah, and all their goods. They, +and all that appertained to them, went down alive into the PIT, and +the earth closed upon them: and they perished from among the +congregation. And all Israel that were round about them fled at the +cry of them: for they said, Lest the earth swallow us up also." + +[Illustration: GROTTO GEYSER © _Haynes, St. Paul_] + +In the first chapter of Job, we have an account of a controversy +between the Lord and Satan. And the Lord said unto Satan, + +"Whence comest thou?" + +Then Satan answered, "From going to and fro in the earth, and from +walking up and down in it." + +The Lord asked Satan if he had considered His servant Job, a perfect +and an upright man, one who "feareth God, and escheweth evil." + +Satan, unwilling to admit Job's loyalty to God, said, + +"Hast not thou made an hedge about him, ... on every side? thou hast +blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the +land. But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he +will curse thee to thy face." + +The Lord took the challenge, and said, + +"Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not +forth thine hand." + +It follows that calamity fell upon Job's household, and he lost his +sons and his daughters and all that he had. And again Satan presented +himself before the Lord, after he had lost in the battle with Job, who +maintained his integrity through his afflictions, and sinned not nor +charged God foolishly. + +The second time the Lord said unto Satan, + +"Whence comest thou?" + +And again the answer was, "From going to and fro in the earth, and +from walking up and down in it." + +Here is an admission from Satan himself which proves without a doubt +where he dwells; and it is here that the mighty angel will capture him +and bind him with a great chain and lock him up in the center of this +earth for a thousand years. It is comforting to know that Job won in +the second battle, after Satan had afflicted him with boils from the +soles of his feet to the crown of his head, and so will Satan be +defeated at the closing up of this age, when judgments shall fall upon +the wicked, as upon Korah's company, and great demonstrations of God's +power be seen and felt. + +Jude speaks of the angels which kept not their first estate, but left +their own habitations (that is, came down to earth) whom God "hath +reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the +great day." He also makes mention of the inhabitants of Sodom and +Gomorrah, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire. These are but a +few of the instances mentioned in the Scriptures showing the location +of hell, which is the abode of the wicked, and where Diabolus has his +throne. + +[Illustration: SAPPHIRE POOL--BISCUIT BASIN © _Haynes, St. Paul_] + +The impression that was made on the explorers of the Yellowstone +regions is indicated by certain names that were given to some places, +such as "Devil's Kitchen," "Devil's Frying Pan," "Black Growler," +"Hell Broth Springs," "Devil's Hoof," "Devil's Inkwell," "Hell's Half +Acre," etc. + +That the suggestion of these things should be a mere freak, or fancy +of the mind is out of the question, when there is so much scriptural +proof to the contrary. + +Man has been created in the image of God, and a little lower than the +angels (Heb. 2:7). There is a voice that speaks to the soul when all +others are hushed. Intuitively he knows that punishment awaits the +wicked, however much he may try to stifle his conscience and evade the +issue. + +The only way to escape the wrath that is to come, is through the +atoning blood, the efficacy of which is proved when conditions are +met. "Without shedding of blood is no remission" (Heb. 9:22). + +[Illustration: PUNCH BOWL © _Haynes, St. Paul_] + +The PUNCH BOWL is situated in a narrow divide in the valley. Its rim +is ornamented with yellow, saffron, and red. It is one of the gems of +beauty in the upper basin, and is so located as to revive the spirits +of those who, starting out on foot, from the Upper Basin Camp and Old +Faithful Inn, have grown weary in making the tour. When our guide +called it out, I felt that I could go no farther without resting, but +after tarrying a few minutes, and admiring its beauty, I was +refreshed. I was, perhaps, the only one in the company who was +overtaxed physically, and had to trust to the good will of the guide +not to leave me too far behind. He kindly took notice, and halted, +giving everybody a few minutes to rest, while he explained the +scientific action of the geysers. + +These beautiful springs in remote places reminded me of the gems of +salvation that are obtained only through sacrifice and suffering. +There is always a price to be paid for anything that is of worth. It +cost me something to visit some of them on foot, but I was well paid. +After leaving the Punch Bowl we followed the trail down across the +bridge where a number of surprises awaited us. The HANDKERCHIEF POOL, +which is sometimes called the LAUNDRY, was among them. We threw our +handkerchiefs in and they were carried down into the opening, and then +brought back and delivered, as carefully as if they were being handled +by unseen hands. + +[Illustration: HANDKERCHIEF POOL © _Haynes, St. Paul_] + +EMERALD POOL is not far from the Handkerchief Spring, and is by far +the most beautiful in the upper basin. It thrilled me as I looked at +it from different angles, blending from a deep green in the center to +yellow toward the edge. The formations around the pool are red, the +water is hot, but never boils, and slightly overflows. + +CLIFF SPRING boils violently. Some people call it a geyser, but it is +supposed to be only a spring. + +BLACK SAND SPRING and SPECIMEN LAKE simply defy language in trying to +describe them, the coloring presents such remarkable varieties. The +extremely delicate pinks are mingled with equally delicate tints of +saffron and yellow, with here and there shades of green. + +While the springs in this neighborhood are fascinating in the extreme, +we did not tarry long, as it was nearly noon, and our guide said we +would have to hasten. + +When the party started toward Old Faithful Inn and the camp, I +decided to take my time and go alone. I had gone only a short distance +through the wood when a harmless snake crossed my path. It frightened +me, and I tried to kill it, but did not succeed. There was a +significance to me in running on to the reptile; it settled something +in my mind, whereas I had not as yet been able to come to a decision; +and I took it as being among the all things that work together for +good to them that love God and who are the called according to His +purpose. + +On my way to the camp, I came to three boiling pools, and was +surprised that no mention had been made of them on the tour. Later, I +learned that they were the THREE SISTERS, not far from Castle Geyser +on the road leading from Riverside Geyser, to Old Faithful Inn. + +I stopped at Haynes' Picture Shop. Here I saw some marvelous specimens +of art, showing the wonders of the Yellowstone, but none, of course, +could do justice to what I had seen. + +To finish up the tour it would take another day, but our time was +limited, and as we had spent a day at Cody and the weather was getting +cool, we decided to leave in the afternoon. + +[Illustration: EMERALD POOL © _Haynes, St. Paul_] + +Among some of the attractions that we would have to miss in not +finishing the tour to Yellowstone Lake, were Kepler Cascade, Two Ocean +Pond, Moose Fall, and the Continental Divide which extends from Canada +to Mexico. + +At the THUMB there are several geyser cones, springs, and paint pots. +The FISHING CONE with a boiling spring in the center, is surrounded by +the cold water of the lake. At one time fishermen, without moving out +of their tracks caught fish from the lake and swung them into the +spring where they were cooked while still on the hook. This practice, +however, is now prohibited by law. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +THE VOICE OF GOD + + +Thirty-four years ago, while teaching school, I had an opportunity of +going to Yellowstone National Park with a camping party of school +teachers and others from Southern Montana, but as I needed money, I +decided to teach a summer school and to postpone the trip until some +future time. When the party returned and tried to tell me about the +many wonders they had seen, I resolved not to lose another opportunity +to go, but I did, and for the same reason that kept me from going +before. After this I was not so enthusiastic over the Yellowstone and +the many miracles to be seen there. + +However, I was always interested in some of the descriptions of the +geysers,--Old Faithful, the Giant, Giantess, and others, that threw +boiling water, at intervals, from 150 to 250 feet into the air. In +Gospel messages I used them to illustrate spiritual truths, but no one +had ever given me the slightest conception of the Grand Canyon, the +Upper and Lower Yellowstone Falls, the boiling pools, the paint pots, +the cascades, Mammoth Hot Springs, the exquisite colorings of the +mineral formations, Roaring Mountain, "Hell's Half Acre," the majestic +mountain peaks and ranges, Rainbow Lake, the Punch Bowl, Amethyst +Spring, and a thousand other things which so awed and inspired me that +out of the depths of my being, I exclaimed, "What is man, that thou +art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? For +thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned +him with glory and honor. Thou madest him to have dominion over the +works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet." + +But how unworthy has he proved to be! Amidst the magnificence and +grandeur of the wonders of Nature, he is ever showing his ingratitude, +and the tendency to prostitute these things to the uses of his baser +nature, and take all the glory to himself. He makes use of the gold +and silver to build himself a habitation that storms are destined to +shatter, leaving him exposed to divine wrath. + +As I meditated upon these things, my heart cried out, "Who shall +ascend into the hill of the Lord? or who shall stand in his holy +place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; ... He shall +receive the blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of +his salvation" (Ps. 24:3-5). My heart overflowed like the boiling +springs and the gushing geysers, which symbolize the sanctified life. + +[Illustration: JUPITER TERRACE © _Haynes, St. Paul_] + +When I first had opportunity to go to Yellowstone Park, I did not +enjoy the experience of sanctification, and therefore could not have +appreciated its many wonders as I do now. Who knows but this is the +reason why the door closed and did not open for me to go until I +should be in the enjoyment of this experience, and able to impart +spiritual truths to others? + +There is an inner chamber of the soul that corresponds to the hill of +the Lord. It is the place where the Shekinah dwells and His secrets +are made manifest. Those who know Him in the relationship of the Bride +can better appreciate His handiwork. Submission to the whole will of +God is the price of such an experience. + +There are those who appreciate the grandeur and magnificence of the +Yellowstone as a whole, but there are thousands of spiritual lessons +which the book of nature unfolds that the ordinary sightseer fails to +grasp. + +[Illustration: BUFFALO HERD © _Haynes, St. Paul_] + +At one place, there are two openings in a pool, or two springs so +close together that they are called THE GOGGLES. Here again the two +works of grace are beautifully set forth. Our guide illustrated some +love affair by the two springs to the amusement of the young people in +the company, but inadvertently my mind turned to the deeper spiritual +truths of which they furnish a splendid example. + +It takes the Holy Spirit to read God in nature as much as it does to +interpret His word. Jesus said, "But the Comforter, which is the Holy +Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all +things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have +said unto you." Also, "Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, +he will guide you into all truth; ... and he will shew you things to +come" (John 16:13). + +The two springs, to me, represented Justification and +Sanctification,--the two works of grace in the atonement, without +which the soul is exposed to the wrath of God. It is the office work +of the Holy Spirit to reveal Jesus to the heart and to act in the +capacity of the Comforter, but when He takes possession He cleanses +and purifies His temple. This is done when the heart is sanctified +wholly. It is thenceforth the abiding place of the Holy Spirit. + +I could not help but think of what it shall be when the earth shall be +rent, the mountains removed from their places, and men shall cry for +the rocks and hills to fall upon them to hide them from the presence +of Him that sitteth on the throne. There is no fear where the Holy +Spirit is the abiding Guest. The rocks may rend and the earth be +removed out of its place, but peace will flow like a river. + +Those who are so fortunate as to see the wonders of the Yellowstone +will either soften or harden as the result of coming in touch with +that which is so closely allied to the supernatural. It is like the +melting influence of the Holy Spirit under a Gospel message when men +are compelled to make their decision for eternity. God forbid that +they should harden. If so, what could awaken them to their danger? The +great war that has so recently terminated, bringing so much suffering +and sacrifice, has made people better or worse. It has been a +blessing or a curse, and so will the geyser region be to those who +visit it. + +[Illustration: ELK STALLED IN SNOW © _Haynes, St. Paul_] + +Should there be those who pass by the wonders of the Yellowstone with +cold indifference and a lack of response to what is seen there, it is +proof that the world has already played havoc with their finer +sensibilities, and as a result of this hardening process the mind and +heart refuse to yield when brought under the strongest moral and +spiritual influences. May God save people from such a calamity,--from +becoming clay that is irresponsive to the divine touch. May they learn +to magnify His name while suspended by the brittle thread of life over +a yawning chasm of burning lava which is threatening to engulf them. +Should man not be prepared for the great event that must come to +everyone, there will be no one to blame but himself. God has made him +a free moral agent, capable of choosing between right and wrong. If he +should make the wrong decision, he will have to abide by the +consequences. + +How many tourists will see the spring called the Ear and yet fail to +hear the voice of God speaking to the soul through its many beauties! +How many fail to hear Him speaking through the great subterranean +channels hundreds of feet below the surface, thundering the terrors of +a broken law and heralding the news of His impending judgments! + +[Illustration: GOLDEN GATE CANYON AND VIADUCT] + +A great author said, "O woman, thy name is frailty." The many +short-comings of the gentler sex provoked this expression, but does +not the word frailty equally apply to every individual on whom the +curse has fallen? There is ever a downward tendency and a proneness to +place the affections on material things, to worship the creature +rather than the Creator. + +It is with much difficulty that tourists in the Yellowstone are +prevented from defacing the formations around the geysers, which have +been centuries in making. There are those who would pay almost any +price to be permitted to carry away souvenirs, but if they were +allowed to do so one can readily see what the consequence would be. Of +what use are pieces of geyserite when taken away from their natural +environment? It would be impossible to form an opinion as to what they +represent. Likewise there are those who are satisfied with mere forms +of religion,--baptism, church membership, or any substitute for real +salvation. What knowledge would a piece of geyserite give a person of +Old Faithful, the Giant, or the Giantess, in action? + +Baptism with water is an outward sign of an inner work, but there are +multitudes who are satisfied with the souvenir and go blindly on to +the Judgment to find their mistake when it is too late to make amends. +There can be no excuse on account of ignorance, for the Scriptures +furnish abundant evidence that there must be a work wrought by the +Holy Spirit in the heart before a person is ready for the skies. + +There is no better illustration of the sanctified experience than that +which the geysers demonstrate. Jesus said to the woman at the well, +"But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never +thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of +water springing up into everlasting life." + +So with one who obtains the living water,--he has an inexhaustible +supply, springing up in his soul. Outward conditions do not affect the +deep whence it has its source, but it flows on regardless of +conditions on the surface, bringing life and happiness to multitudes. + +At three o'clock in the afternoon, we boarded one of the touring cars +to Yellowstone, Montana, the Western Entrance to the Park, where +there is a branch terminal of the Union Pacific Railroad. A little +more than four days had elapsed since we started on the tour at Cody, +Wyoming, but to me it was the beginning of a new epoch, and I felt +that enough had been crowded into the four days to talk and write +about for the rest of my life. I had stocked up my storehouse with a +supply of illustrations to be used in books and Gospel exhortations; +and not only expected to profit by what I had seen, but to do what I +could to make an impression upon others; and the result so far has +been satisfactory. + + + + +THE YELLOWSTONE PARK AND HOW IT WAS NAMED + + The Devil was sitting in Hades one day, + In a very disconsolate sort of a way. + One could tell from his vigorous switching of tail, + His scratching his horn with the point of his nail, + That something had gone with His Majesty wrong, + The steam was so thick and the sulphur so strong. + He rose from his throne with a gleam in his eye, + And beckoning an agate-eyed imp standing by, + Commanded forthwith to be sent to him there + Old Charon, employed in collecting the fare + Of the wicked, who crossed the waters of Styx, + And found themselves soon in a deuce of a fix. + + Old Charon, thus summoned, came soon to his chief, + As the Devil was angry, the confab was brief. + Says the Devil to Charon, "Now, what shall I do? + The world it grows worse and grows wickeder, too; + What with Portland, Chicago, Francisco, New York, + I get in my mortals too fast for my fork; + I haven't the room in these caverns below, + St. Peter, above, is rejecting them so. + So hie you, my Charon, to earth, far away, + Fly over the globe without any delay, + And find me a spot, quite secluded and drear, + Where I can drill holes from the center in here. + I must blast out more space; so survey the spot well, + For the project on hand is the enlargement of Hell. + + "But recollect one thing, Old Charon, when you + Can locate the district where I can bore through, + There must be conveniences scattered around + To carry on business when I'm above ground. + An 'ink-pot' must always be ready at hand + To write out the names of the parties I strand. + There must be a 'punch-bowl,' a 'frying pan,' too, + A 'caldron' in which to concoct a 'ragout.' + An 'old faithful' sentinel showing my power, + Must shoot a salute on the earth every hour, + And should any mortal by accident view + The spot you have chosen, why, this you must do: + Develop a series of pools, green and blue, + That while these poor earth bugs may beauties admire, + They'll forget that below I'm poking the fire. + Now fly away, Charon, be quick as you can, + For my place here's so full that I can't roast a man." + + To earth flew fleet Charon, to regions of ice; + He found these too cold--so away in a trice + He sought a location in Africa's sands, + He prospected, and finding too much on his hands, + He cut out Australia, Siberia, too, + The north part of China--no! they would not do; + Till, just as about to relinquish the chase, + He stumbled upon a most singular place, + 'Twas deep in the midst of a mountainous range, + Surrounded by valleys secluded and strange, + In a country the greatest, the grandest, the best + To be found upon earth--America's West. + Here the crust seemed quite thin, and the purified air, + With the chemicals hidden around everywhere, + Would soon make the lakes that the Devil desired; + So he flew to Chicago, and there to him wired: + "I've found you a place never looked at before; + You may heat up the rocks, turn on water, and bore." + + Then the Devil with mortals kept plying the fire, + Extracting the water around from the mire, + And boring great holes with a terrible dust, + Till soon quite a number appeared near the crust, + Then he turned on the steam--and lo! upward did fly, + Through rents in the surface, the rocks to the sky. + Then with a rumble there came from each spot, + Huge volumes of water remarkably hot, + That had been there in caverns since Lucifer fell-- + Thus immensely enlarging the confines of Hell, + And it happens that now when Old Charon brings in + A remarkable load of original sin, + That His Majesty quietly rakes up the coals, + And up spouts the water, in jets, through the holes, + One may tell by the number of spurts when they come, + How many poor mortals the Devil takes home. + + But Yankees can sometimes, without doing evil, + O'ermatch in sagacity even the Devil. + For not long ago Uncle Sam came that way + And said to himself, "Here's the Devil to pay. + Successful I've been in all previous wars; + Now Satan shall bow to the Stripes and the Stars. + This property's mine, and I hold it in fee; + And all of this earth shall its majesty see. + The deer and the elk unmolested shall roam, + The bear and the buffalo each have a home; + The eagle shall spring from her eyrie and soar + O'er crags in the canyons where cataracts roar; + The wild fowls shall circle the pools in their flight, + The geysers shall flash in the moonbeams at night, + Now I christen the country--let all nations hark! + I name it the Yellowstone National Park." + + --WM. TOD HELMUTH. + +(Reprinted from Haynes' Guide of Yellowstone National Park). + +[Illustration: Administration Building, Zarephath Bible Institute and +Zarephath Academy, Zarephath, N. J.] + + + + + ZAREPHATH BIBLE INSTITUTE + + ZAREPHATH, N. J. + + ALMA WHITE (Bishop Pillar of Fire Church), _Founder_. + REV. RAY B. WHITE, A. B., _President_. + + For the training of PREACHERS, EVANGELISTS, + and MISSIONARIES. + +A four years' course of study, equipping the student for efficient +service in the Lord's work. + + + _Write for Catalog._ + + _Pillar of Fire, Zarephath, N. J._ + + _______________ + + ZAREPHATH ACADEMY + + ZAREPHATH, N. J. + + ALMA WHITE, A. B., _Founder_. + REV. ARTHUR K. WHITE, A. B., _Dean_. + + (_Registered by the State Board of Education._) + +A four years' Academy course is given in this school, preparing +students for college; also a full business course for those who desire +it. + + + _Catalog sent free on application._ + + _Pillar of Fire, Zarephath, N. 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