Book
Description
"Notes
on the way to wonderland -- or, -- a ride to the infernal
regions!" So began a unique travelogue in the September
9, 1871 issue of 'The New North-West', a Deer Lodge,
Montana newspaper. In a series of 17 articles, Calvin
Clawson, the newspaper's editor, recounted a horseback
trip he and five companions made in August 1871 to what
would become Yellowstone National Park.
Unlike previous
expeditions, this small group did not have a scientific
mission. Instead, having heard of Yellowstone's wonders,
they simply wanted to see the sights. Thus they became
Yellowstone's first tourists Their three-week trip was
full of adventures and mesmerizing scenery. Along the
way they encountered Indians, wild animals, and the famous
Hayden Expedition.
Until now the Clawson trip had been largely unknown and
never accessible in book form. Montana history writer Eugene
Lee Silliman discovered the original newspaper articles
and researched the trip and its members. His detailed introduction
provides an excellent description of each member of the
group and the circumstances surrounding their trip. In
addition to its historical significance, Silliman notes
that A Ride to the Infernal Regions is "a good read" with well-crafted descriptions
and a flair for story telling.
In his foreword, Yellowstone historian
Lee Whittlesey recommends that readers "curl up somewhere in a warm place, pretend it
is 1871, and enjoy C.C. Clawson's fascinating tale of pre-stagecoach Yellowstone."
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