The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1866-03-17
rhe Hell.Broth LAX. of Mono.

We have tasted many strange beverages,
says The Reese River (Cal. Reveille and i'm
bibed numerous queer connections, but never
anything so devillsh-so unequdlly nasty-as
the water from Mono Lake. We fouud the
other day bottle of this " hell>broth" in the
cabinet of Mr.. j. r. Murphy, superintendent
of the laboratory of the National Bank.
We were ia the pursuit of Science, and found
her with a vengeance. has uE-rE :
Mono Lake is in California, near the base
of the Sierra Nevada, aHd its water is so
highly impregnate with alkaline matter as to
parch and burn the tongue on tasting it ::
wash your hands in it, and the skin will
shrivel unless Immediately rinsed in fresh
water. The lake has been most inaptly
termed the dead sea" of the West 1t
should be called the g. live seat is a sea of
life, and is always lively from the most dread
full storms 1t is true the lake contains no
fish of any kind, yet its waters TEEN with
animal life. This alkaline solution abounds
with myriads of aquatic insects and animalcu-
les. They arc first seen as q larya ttoatlI g
on the surface. then lower in the water in the
form of animalcule, and finally they sport in
the shape of small grub>worms, swimming
about in the manner of little fishes. The
margin of the lake is strewed with their tiny
carcasses. where they are driven by storms
and piled up in ridges mounds from one
foot to three feet in height. Their renal 5
emit very unpleasant odor, and around
which continually swarm peculiar fly, either
feeding off the decomposing mass or deposit
ing Its ova.
The lake affords fine feeding ground for
innumerstble water fowl, such As gulls, ducks.
gee.e brant, and swan, which remain in the
neighboIhood until spring, laying their eggs
Il. i, IL,
that many of these birds have been shot and
the corrosive quality of the water The few
Indians that now inhabit the country around
tha lake, collect vast supplies Of those aquatic
grubs, AMI after drying them in the sun, roll
them between stones until a white kernel falls
out, which they mix with the flower or wild
rye and roots, and devour as lusci3us mOrse!s.
The lake contains numerous isa .ds, several
of which have many boiling SprIugs. sending
up beautiful columns 6l steam. All of the
islands present evidences of intense volcanic
disturbance on every side are 10 be seen the
craters OF those extinct fires, and lava and
other igaeous remains cover the ground
with their fintastic forms. Numerous large
streams flow into the lake, which has no ap>
parent ontlet. Though it is well sheltered by
n succession of lofty mountain ranges encIr,
cling 1t, perhaps no more boisterous sheet of
water can be found anywhere. Storms and
hurricanes prevail full nine months of the
wear; they are not regular and continuous.
but occur IN the most sudden and fitf.Il fash.
ion without moments premOnitiOn, which
renders any attempt TO Navigate il unpleasant
ii not hazardous Near the southern ex-
tremity Of the lake are the remains of three
verv remarkable volcanoes. There three cone
shaped peaks rise 70 the height Of fifteen
hundred feet, presenting craters Of great and
variable depth. from which there once belcL-
ed forth vast volumes 4 molten lava. Their
sides from summit ~ base. a-c even nov
covered with vast acc mutations OF debris,
I'D offer L most inviuug field to the curious
aud intelligent trayt Her We are indebted
to Mr Murphy IyT these few interesting pa
ticulars Of this wonderful lake IL Mono, tn,
Internal water OF which has added 70 c'r a.
ready large stock Of bitter e1pssieuce.