The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1846-10-01
"SYRACUsE, Sept. 10, 1916.

"SYRACUsE, Sept, IS, 1916.
"Dear Sir:-Since | last wrote you | have
visited the Lake which / spoke of in a former
letter. / was accompanied by Major Wm
G.. Brown, who had previously engaged to &C.
company me. We arrived at the Lake about
II o'clock, This sheet of water is almost en-
tirely circular, and covers an area of about
twelve acres, and is almost surrounded by
rocks, the elevation of which we asccrtained
by actual measurement to be one hundred
and sixty eight feet above the surface Of the
water. While Major Brown and myself were
engaged in measuring the heights otthc rocks,
our company who were composed OF gentle
men & ladies, amused themselves with fishing
and other sports on the water. After we had
finished our measurement, we proceeded to
the water, to Join our company, whom we
found in fine spirits. Judging from their APP
pearance they had been visited with a water
spout, or a shower, which themselves and their
boat bore good evidence of. The sport no
doubt was refreshing, for the sun poured its
scorching rays upon the water, which was felt
with much Inconvenience to us all, while the
thermometer in the shade ranged as high as
$50. After rowing into the Lake, we com
mcrced sounding for its bottom, which we
found to be only fifty feet deep. There are
undoubtedly holes much deeper, but not three
hundred feet as | stated to you in a former
letter. We drcwfrom the bottom ofthe Lake
several bottles of water, which varied in tenn
pcrature from AGO to 620. We also, from
accident. drew from the bottom some mineral
water, which when first drawn up, and cork
~ciGrycsccs SC much as to throw cork out
of a bottle with considerable force, and run
out like soda water fresh drawn from a foun-
tain. This water is highly charged with gas,
The water in this Lake is vcry clear, and made
up entirely Of springs. Several rods east Of
this Lake is small stream which makes out
from the assures Of the rocks, its source no
doubt is from the Lake.
Con the south side, and about two hundred
above this natural excavation is an iso-
rock called table rock. Upon this OBJ
servatory you have a fine view which is truly
wonderful and sublime to those who are fond
Of observing the works of Him who hascaused
-he trees to stretch their lofty heads farabove
.hc rocks which surround this aqualogical res
9rvoir. On the other side Of this rock, and
not more than twenty feet from the prccipice
S alarge fssure of great depth. Major b.
md myself procured Il lighted candle, and at
empted the descent Of this assure, which we
ound to be nearly perpendicular, and requir-
NC in us a philosophers steadinesS of brain,
md a rope dancers dexterity of balance. AZ
er descending to the depth of about one
hundred feet, we found the rocks so steep and
that we were obliged to dcferthe de-
in consequence ofthe u~nsafety of the
adder which was formerly used for that pur-
pose. Here we discngaged successfully sew
raj large stones, which swept their r~csistless
course in muttering wrath to the bottom, from
whence they sent up a crash of echoing thun-
Ter that fingered in long, sullen reyerbera-
ion among the rocks, which caused a great
connection among a numerous family of bats.
Major Brown, thinks this fssurc reaches to
he depth of three hundred feet. This range
,frocks is made up of grey limestone, which
S celebrated for building Stone"