The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-08-18

Cod certificate, we give Il as we find il in the
LogansPort (Indiana) Telegraph ~ Y.
Star.
THE DEVILS LAKE.
In the Northern portion Of Indiana, there
are many beautiful little lakes, which give
great interest to country somewhat open.
About 25 miles from Logansport, and in the
vicinity Of Rochester. there is one of these
lakes about two miles in length, half mile
in width, and Of unknown depth. Soundings
were once tried with line ola fathoms, but
with no effect.
There is an ancient tradition OF the Potta-
wattamie Indians relative to this lake, which
has been handed down from generation to ge-
neration, and IS now received by the white
man with confirmed credence. The precise
time at which the tradition was first received
among the Indians cannot be determined
probably not a long time after the emigration
OF the .Pottawattnmics across the hard wa
tiers" Of the north, some centuries since, to
this district Of country, which was then occu-
pied by the Miamies, by whose grant the Pot
tawattamies became possessed Of the lands.
1t appears that the tradition does not owe its
origin to the superstitiousfears ofthe red men;
but that some gigantic creature inhabited the
lake, and does, at the present time, is beyond
the probability Of doubt.
This lake is called by the Indians " Lake
Man-i-too," or the Devils Lake and such is
the terror in which il is held, that but few
Indians would even dare to venture in canoe
upon its surface. The Indians will neither
fish nor battle in the lake such is the power-
full conviction that Man-i-too,o or the Evil
Spirit, dwells in its chrystal waters. 1t may
elicit a smile from the incredulous to assert
grayely the fact that some very extraordinary
creature claims monarchy Of this beautiful
lake. But the existence Of monster in this
lake is not an object of more surprise TO us
than the remains of the Mastodon, whose teeth
measures 10 inches-and which were found
but two miles from town, in the prairie through
which the canal runs. Were there not as
surances from men entitled to credibility that
a monster has been seen, within few days, in
the lake Man-i-too, it might be supposed the
strange story originated in the superstitious
fears Of the Aborigines.
When the Pottawattamie Mills were erect
ing, some ten years since, at what is called the
outlet Of the lake, the monster was seen by
those men known to General Milroy, under
whose direction the Mills, believe, were
erected. There are persons in Logansport
who questioned closely those who lately saw
the mysterious occupant of the lake, and are
now convinced Of this tradition Of Man-i-too
being founded upon something more substan-
tial than the basis of fish and snake stories
generally.
But two ..y weeks since some men BY the
when they beheld with surprise the even sur
face Of the water ruffled by something swim
ming rapidly, and which, they suppose, must
have measured 60 feet. The Robinsons are
respectable men, whose fears are not easily
excited yet such was the terror that this nom
descnpt caused, that they made hasty retreat
to the shore, much alarmed Since this
circumstance took place, and but few days
since, Mr.. Lindsey, who is well known here,
was riding near the margin Of the Lake, when
he saw, at the distance Of 200 feet from him,
some animal raise its head three or four feet
above the surface of the water. He felt the
security Of the shore, and viewed the mysteri-
Gus creature many minutes, when it disappear
ed and re-appeared three times in succession.
The head he described about three feet across
the frontal bone, and having something Of the
contour of a "beess head,' but the neck la
pering, and having the character of the SER
pent; color dinRy, with large yellow spots.
1t turned its head from side to side with an
easy motion, in apparent survey Of the sur
rounding objects. Mr.. l.. is entitled to Gre
dibility. So convinced are many, Of the exis-
tence ofthe monster, that some gentlemen in
town have proposed an expedition to the lake,
and by the aid of RATS to make an effort to
capture the mysterious being which is terror
to the superstitious, but which becomes an
object of interest to science, the naturalist and
philosopher.
VIsITER TO THE LAKE.