Tama County Republican. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1867-1872, 1869-05-13


Lake, Utah, the Territorial Enterprise
of Aug 30 says that gentleman who
has visited Pyramid Lake, and explor
ed several OF its islands at the season
Of laying and incubation tor the myri-
ads Of gulls, ducks, pelicans, and other
waterfowl that swarm upon its waters,
states that at that time the larger
islands are literally white with eggs.
In walking from the shore toward the
centre OF the island it is impossible to
walk fifty ieet without stepping upon
some OF the eggs, SO thickly are they
strewn over the ground. The fowls
inhabiting the island are described as
being exceedingly tame; they hover and
fIu,ter upon the ground about the
intruder upon their breeding ground,
or circle and stream about his head,
and with but little show OF fear. This
absence of fear Of man is doubtless to
be attributed to the fact that until
lately that "iesthered biped," man, has
never been seen by them upon their
islands. Owing to certain supersti-
tious notions held by them in regard
to the lake, the Indians have never, in
the memory Of their oldest chief,
visited any Of the islands. Even were
they not withheld by the fear ofthe
monsters in the lake and upon the
islands, they have no boats or canoes,
and know nolhiny even OF that rudest
nautical art-ratt navigation. Among
the islands OF the lake are two small,
rocky ones near to each other, and
at no great distance from the shore
OF the lake, that are remarkable from
the tact they are alive with rattle
snakes. Huge and lazy old patriarchs
Of the island, with long strips OF rattles
upon their tails, bask in the shade OF
almost every stone, while younger and
more active members Of the tribe
glide about in all directions, and the
intruder upon these islands OF snakes
is often treated to serenade by a
dozen sets of rattles OF various degrees
Of power and shades Of tone. OF course
neither whites nor Indians would care
10 tarry long On these islands nor 10
cultivate more than passing acquaint-
ance with their musica, inhabitants.
1t is suspected that the reason OF these
two islands being SO completely alive
and crawling with snakes, il that a few
having got on their shores by some
accident, and finding convenient dens
in tn. rocks, they have ever since ted
and iattened upon the eggs and un-
fiedycd young of The broodinS water
fowl, and have gone on increasing and
multiplying with nothing to decrease
or disturb them: We have said above
that the Indians have superstitutious
notions about the lake AMI the islands
These notions appear to take no more
definite form than vague tear of
certain black monsters which they
say inhabit its waters, having been
driven into the lake by the united ex-
crtion. OF their people ages ago, be-
case OF their destroying the groves
OF nut pines. They declare that they
have frequently seen the backs OF thsss
monster animals protrudins above the
level OF the water, tar out in the lake.
These stories are doubtless without
the slightest foundation in tact. The
Indians are not much to blame tor
these notions, however, for by indulg
ing in them the, do not exhlbi, great
er degree OF superstition than il dis
played by the white race in all coun-
tries. But short time since there
was published An account OF three or
tour monster scrpents-a hundred feet
ions and four tect m aiameter--hav
ing been seen dlsportiag themselves IN
Owens lake-cau>ing the waters to
boil like pot. These Ovens Lake
monsters are vouchcd tor by Col.
Stevens, superintendent of mining
party at Lone Pine, by ; party OF
Mexican<, and by a party OF white men.
such stores have been told in all
countries, and the sea has hal its
monster serpent ever since the Chinese
first discovered him. ages and ages
ago The monster Of Pyramid Lake,
however, as described by the Piutes,
are not serpents; they more nearly re.
semble the mysterious mons,cr OF the
Lake kurcei Sartur, one Of the west
ern Norwegian isles. which Al uncer-
tain intervals, is said to arch its back
above the lone waters of the lake, and
there remain lying like an isiet, till it
pleased to sink again, drawing the
waters frosn the shores as i: goes down
and creating commotion. The Piutes
have several times tsied to point out
70 white men prospecting in that vi
entity the Pyramid Lake monsters
We have never met with amy one who
was able to see anything more than
the swell on the lake, blackened by
the shadow OF passing cloud.
TALL Saoosisc.-A gentleman re-
marking in tavern that he had shot