The Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1869-1872, 1869-10-20

TEE lEGESDAET SNAEE OF PYRAMID LAKE,
FOR many years there has been a story cur
rent amongst the miners and proSpec:Ors Of
NeTada- Of . monster snake in Pyramid Lake
Humboldt county, Nevada but none Of them
had ever seen the smphibious monster and
only related the story as an Indian legend
Every Indian In the region firmly believed in
this snake, and you could no more get one of
them 20 90 near the lake than YOU could get
him TO rush into a buruing pile Of sagebrush.
Some, more yenturesOme than Others, had ap-
preached the lake and obtained a glimpse Of
the monster while he was sporting in the
waters. But all firmly believed in its exist
ence, and by common consent gave the lake as
vide berth as possible. Some time ago a
prospector, who had a half scientific educa-
ton stnyed away into the mountains, and
finally arrived upon the shores OF this lake
and from the appearance and taste of the
v'atsT- he came 20 the conclusion that il con-
tanned bOrIte OF soda. Upon his return 70
his home he organized e company for the pJIr-
pose of erecting works upon the lake shore
and engaging IN the Manufacture OF bOrax
But the Company. before putting much money
into the enterprise, determined 70 send an
agent 10 the lake to explore 1t. and 20 thor
ouChly test Its waters. They selected man
by the name az Spence, who resides We b.
H.ys. AZ Cisco, furnished him with a boat AS
e!Sianis- AMI the necessary equipments 20
accomplish the object in view Acr0r,lir,.,I,
- =
departed on his journey. and soon reached
the lake. When some miles away he met an
old Indian who euieayUr-i 10 persuade him
from going near the lake hy telling him that
he would surely be desirDy ed 10y the snake.
which, according 10 the Indian possessed the
power Of drawing everything into its mouth
that came within a mile of its head Mr.
Spence did not believe in ghosts, neither did
he believe Ill scI-seTpents but he did believe
IN performing the task set for him. Therefore
he pushed on aud reached the lake shore on
the evening of the 2sth Of September. and
made his camp beside a clear spring that he
was lucky enough to discover. The next dav
he devoted to taking observations along the
shore. and making tests of the water On
the morning Of the 30th he launched his boat
upon the lake, and determined to row across
II. The lake was some 10 OF II miles wide
and perhaps 20 miles long. Its waters were
as smooth as "a mirror. for q dead calm had
existed ever since they had reached the lake.
The tnp across the lake was begun. and as
the rOy19cTTs looked down into the clear
water, they wondered why there was no fish
TO be seen. They also wondered why they
had seen no ducks nor waterfowl upon its
surface. They had rowed for more than an
hour, and had got some eight miles from the
shore, when Mr.. Spence discovered what ap-
pe''red To him 10 b. AN immense serpent. IL
was lying upon the surface of the lake. appa-
Tenily asleep, for il was not moving After a
consultation with his companions. il was
finally resolved TO approach his serpentship
still nearer They accordingly moved for
ward, and each moment the snake grew in
proportions. Stopping when within a hum
dred yards of the monster. they took good
survey Of it. As near az they could Judge. II
was about 300 feet long. and in the thickest
part was probably three feet in diameter. Its
scales appeared 20 be black and white. with a
tendency to copper color. The appearance Of
the monster was anything but inviting, and n
lengthy consultation ensued. whether 10 back
out or TO go on. Mr.. Spence argued that IL
was no more dangerous TO 90 forward and
touch the monster than to approach as close
as they had already. The result was that they
determined to go forward. and few more
strokes Of the ore brought the boat alongside
of the snake, when Mr. Spence discovered
that 1t was not monster serpent, but an
agglomeration Of millions OF worms, of n
species never before seen by him They had
fastened upon one another until they present.
cd the appearance Of a monster snake. Mr..
>. believes tina. whenever there Is n calm in
the waters of this lake for several DAYS, these
worms agglomerate together. but the moment
breeze springs up, and the surface of the
water Is ngtated. the worms separate We
leave the explanation Of this singular pho
nofnena TO scientific men, and hope tho Acad-
envy OF Sciences will place themselves in com.
municntion with Mr. Spence, and get fuller
account Of his trip than we have been able 10
gives. f. Gait