You can stand in the valley of the Yosemite, and look up its mile of vertical granite, and distinctly recall its minutest feature; but amid the canon and falls, the boiling springs and sulphur mountain, and, above all, the mud volcano and the geysers of the Yellowstone, your memory becomes filled and clogged with objects new in experience, wonderful in extent, and possessing unlimited grandeur and beauty.  It is a new phase in the natural world; a fresh exhibition of the handiwork of the Great Architect; and, while you see and wonder, you seem to need an additional sense, fully to comprehend and believe.

* * * * *

FOOTNOTES: 

[Footnote A:  In his diary under date of August 22d General Washburn wrote:  “Stood guard.  Quite cold.  Crows (Indians) near.”]

[Footnote B:  On August 23d General Washburn wrote:  “Indians of the Crow tribe.”]

[Footnote C:  Near where Livingston is now located.]

[Footnote D:  Lieutenant Doane in his report to the War Department under date of August 24th writes:  “Guards were established here during the night, as there were signs of a party of Indians on the trail ahead of us, all the members of the party taking their tours of this duty, and using in addition the various precautions of lariats, hobbles, etc., not to be neglected while traveling through this country.”]

[Footnote E:  Under date of August 25th Lieutenant Doane writes:  “From this camp was seen the smoke of fires on the mountains in front, while Indian signs became more numerous and distinct.”  Under date of August 25th General Washburn wrote in his diary:  “Have been following Indian trails, fresh ones, all the way.  They are about two days ahead of us.”]

[Footnote F:  These blanks were left in my diary with the intention of filling them, upon the selection by our party of a name for the creek; but after going into camp at Tower fall, the matter of selecting a name was forgotten.  A few years later the stream was named Lost creek.]

[Footnote G:  In making a copy of my original diary, it is proper at this point to interpolate an account of the circumstances under which the name “Tower” was bestowed upon the creek and fall.

At the outset of our journey we had agreed that we would not give to any object of interest which we might discover the name of any of our party nor of our friends.  This rule was to be religiously observed.  While in camp on Sunday, August 28th, on the bank of this creek, it was suggested that we select a name for the creek and fall.  Walter Trumbull suggested “Minaret Creek” and “Minaret Fall.”  Mr. Hauser suggested “Tower Creek” and “Tower Fall.”  After some discussion a vote was taken, and by a small majority the name “Minaret” was decided upon.  During the following evening Mr. Hauser stated with great seriousness that we had violated the agreement made