Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-03-27

From an Oregon paper | take the following
relative to a remarkable body of water known
to exist in the Cascade range of mountains;
" This lake rivals the famous valley of Slnhad
the Sailor 1t is thought to average 1000 feet
down to the water, all around The wall may
be reported as entirely perpendicular, running
down into the water and leaving no beach. The
depth of the water is unknown, and its surface
is smooth and unrufiled, as it lies so far under
| the surface of the mountain that the air cur
rents do not affect 1t.
" Its length is estimated at twelve miles and
| its treadth al ten miles. There is a beautiful
| island in its center, with luXuriant trees upon
| it. No living man has ever yet reached the
waters edge, and it is not probable that any
ever will. 1t lies silent, still and mysterious in
the bosom Of the everlasting hills like huge
we'll sc0oped out by the giant genii Of the noun
tains in the unknown ages of long ago, and all
around itgreat primeval forests an eternal watch
and ward are keeping"
Remarkable as this body of water NAV SEEM
it is by no means the most remarkable on our
continent. l write this in Central Florida,
where | have Just examined a body of water
which certainly cxcels the great sunken lake of
the Cascades in very many particulars. AS
nothing has yet been published concerning il,
have concluded TO give our readers Of the
American Journal of Microscopy a brief ac-
count OF what | saw, believing that it will not
prove wholly uninteresting even to them:
In company with an experienced guide, /
IedCltu tlc uItle ldhe Ill question at ABOUT ten
O'Clock in the morning. How large it was |
could not tell, but judge it must be of consider
able size, from the fact that | could not see
across it although enjoying Il kind of bird 's-eye
view from a location some distance above the
level of the water.
Seeing nothing unusual about the place, l
was on the point of expressing my disappoint-
Mt TO the guide, when he, having read my
thoughts, cut all short by asking that make
careful survey of the water, remarking at the
same time that while there was really nothing
extraordinary about the lake itself it was
strangely and wonderfully inhabited.
turned my attention to the water, and was
soon convinced that ] had undoubtedly met
with phenomenon, for it was so clear, so very
transparent that could see through it in every
direction with as much apparent ease as if it
had been the atmosphere itself Presently, /
saw one of the inhabitants limited at, little
creature of light brown color, looking, as it
glded here and there through the pure element,
not unlike a common chimney swallow. Then
another came, and another, until all the waters
OF the lake seemed to be thickly swarming with
them.
They were very busy and very swift in their
motions, darling, whrling and angling with the
greatest ease and the mot charming grace-the
guide said that, like birds of the air, they were
IN quest OF their prey, feeding upon animals too
small to be seen by us from our standpoint.
Suddenly, while was gazing in wonGer upon
these strange creatures, a new actor appeared in
the person Of larger animal about the size,
shape and color of a huge muskmelon. He was
quite transparent, so much SO that | could see
through and through him as plainly as if he had
been glass jar; and as he moved leisurely about
| noticed that he was catching and devouring
the little Swallows" without mercy. His in
terror, which seemed to be huge cavity, moth
ing more, was literally filled with them, some
still alive and swimming about in their strange
prison. The entire mass, held within his gigan-
tic stomach, kept up rapid whirling round and
round in one direction, from which inferred
that he had no regular digestive organs, but
simply wore out his fOod-that is, reduced it by
friction to proper condition for his susie
nance.
Scarcely had got fairly interested in this ex-
traordnary animal, when along came something
which looked, with its slim arching neck, very
much like swan. Its course was so directed
that ere long it was brought into contact with
the "muskmelon," and fight was the conse-
quence. II was short fight, however, for neither
of the parties seemed to relish the business, so
they separated and struck off in opposite direc-
tioDs.
A little distance and the "swan" met another
of its own kind, and they commenced billing
and cooling like two mated doves; but their
pleasures were destined 10 be of short duration,
for just at that instant a large and hideous
looking creature, with great horns and glaring
eyes, bounced upon them from covert hard
by Selling them both. terrible struggle en-
sued, in the course of which one Of the Swans"
made its escape; but the monster gripped the
other 6ercely by its slender neck until it ceased
TO struggle, after which he settled down with it
TO the bottom of the lake, and very quietly be-
gan converting it into a meal.
About this time | noticed a second monster
equally as trightlul in appearance as the one
JUST referred to, though evidently of different
sPecleS. dc was moving along on the bottom
VI lne iaKe, and, unless his course was changed
1 would pass very near the other The flrst mon.
Ster treatment OF the "swans" had made me
W enemy, 70 was well pleased with the turn
RusisS showed aprospect Of takipg--I desired