The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1851-11-12

nv JAMES FENNIMonE cooPEh

The Seneca is remarkable Tor its
" Wandering Jew" and the Lake
Gun" The first is a tree so balanced
that when its roots are clear OF the bot
tom il floats with IFS broken and point.
ed trunk n few feet above the surface Of
the water, driving before the winds, or
following in the course OF The currents.
Atlimes the Wandering Jew" is seen
of Jefferson, near the head Of this beau
tiful sheet, aud next it will appear ans
chored, as il might be, in the shallow
water near the outlei.-For more than
half a century has this remnant Of the
forest floated about from point to point,
its bald head whitening with time, until
its features have become familiar 10 all
the older inhabitants Of that region Of
the county. The great depth Of the
Seneca prevents il from freezing aud
summer aud winter, spring,time and
autumn, is this wanderer to be ubsery-
ed occasionally battling with the ice
that makes short distance from the
shore, now pursuing its quiet way be-
fore q mild southern air in June, or
anchored, by its roots touching the bot.
tom, as il passes point, or comes ia
contact with fats. 1t has been known
to remain year or two at time in
view Of the village of Geneva, until,
accustomed to its sight, the people be-
gan 10 think that II was never TO move
again from its berth any more but
fresh northerly breeze changes all this
the Jew" swings to the gale, and like
a ship unmooring, drags clear of the
bottom, anu goes off to the souihward,
with its head just high enough above
the water to be visible. 1t would seem
really that his wanderings are not TO
cease as long as wood will float.
No white man can give The history Of
this Jew" lie was found laving hi 5
sides in the pure waters Of the Seneca
by the earliest settlers, and it may have
been ages since his wanderngs cons
menced. When they are to cease is
secret in the womb OF time.
The Lake Gun " is a mystery. 1t
is sound resembling the explosion of
a heavy piece of artillery, that can be
accounted for by none Of the known
laws Of nature. The report is deep,
hollow, distant and imposing. The lake
seems to be speaking to the surround
ing hills, which send back the echoes of
its voice in accurate reply No sat-
isfactory theory has ever been broacked
to explain these noises. Conjectures
have been hazarded about chasms, and
the escape Of compressed air, by the
sudden admission OF water; but all this
is talking at random, and has probably
no foundation in truth. The most that
can be s@d is, that such sounds are
heard, though at long intervals, and that
no one as yet has succeeded in ascer-
tanning their cause.
1t is not man, lustrums since curiosi.
ty induced an idler. traveller, and one
possessed of much attainment derived
from journeyings in distant lands. first
10 inquire closely into all the traditions
connected with these two peculiarities
ofihe Seneca, and having thus obtained
all he could, to lead him TO make the
tour Of the entire lake. in the hope Of
learning more by actual personal obser-
valion. lie went up and down in the
steamboat was much gratified with his
trip, but could see or hear nothing to
help him in his investigation. The
Gun " had not been heard in a long
lime, and no one could tell him what
had become Of the 4" Wandering Jew"
In vain did his eyes roam over the vast
expanse Of water they could discover
nothing to reward their search. There
was an old man iu the boat OF The name
OF Peter, who had passed his life on The
Seneca, aud 10 him was our traveller
referred, az the person most likely to
crafty his curiosity. Fuller (for SO we
shall call the stranger for the sake Of
convenience was no, slow to profit by
this hul, aud was soon in amicable re-.
ations with the tough old fresh water
mariner. A half-eagle, opportunely
bestowed, opened all the stores Of Pc
ter's lore; and he prolessed himself
ready TO undertake a cruise, even, FOR
the especial purpose of hunting up the
Jew"
haven't seen that ere criiter now"
Peter always spoke of the tree as #
| il had animal life" for three years.
We think he dosen'i like the steam-
boats. The yerv last time | seed the
old chap, he was a-goin' up afore
smart or.wesler, and we was a'comin'
down with the wind in our teeth, when
[ made out the Jew " about a mile,
or, at most, mile and half ahead OF