Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 186?-1872, 1872-03-30
Mirage on the Desert,

A friend sends us the following in
regard to mirage he and prospect
ing companion witnessed on the Forty
Mile Desert, beyond Ragtown, one
day last summer. The desert named
is a level plain of alkali as white, hard
and smooth in many places az plaa-
tered WALL
We were toiling through the
wide desert, and had traversed half
the distance across it when an cxcla-
nation Of surprise uttered by Will
liams, caused me to look before APP
parently in second the whole faces of
the landscape had changed. Instict-
lively and without word, We both
drew rein and halted. Before us
where but a moment previous had
stretched the white, glittering, sterile
desert, bounded by high coast line
of rugged hills burnt to various hues
expanded
A BROAD AND PLACID LAKE,
beyond which was seen the sembance
OF Villas and large castellated piles
Some Of the latter occupied bold prom.
ontorles, while others crowned smell
islands which seemed to float upon the
calm surface Of the lake. Tall trees
OF tropical appearance-yct unlike any
thing had ever seen in any country
reared their heads above the castles
and clustered in groves about the vii
las. To render the deception more
complete, all that was seen on the
seeming shorc-castles, trees, and vii
las-was seen perfectly mirrorcd in the
lake. Even upon that shore of the
| lake nearest US was seen the work of
lenchantment wrought by the mirage
There were no castles nor villas, but
there was everywhere tropical luxu-
rance Of vegetation. trees loaded. or
rather overloaded with the most won
derful masses Of bright green fol age
and grasses that lowered aloft and
waved to the breeze like some Afri-
can jungle A small flock of crows
that had settled near the margin of
the lake seemed at least fifteen feet in
height, and as they walked about in
their queer, swinging way, with necks
swaying to and fro, presented weird
appearance, But these are appear
anocs which frequently have been no.
ted and described. What | desire
most particularly to mention is what
now took place, and of which have
as yet seen no account in descriptions
Of mirage phenomena As we gazed
upon the enchanted scene, the lake
began to glide rapidly against the vii
las, castles and groves, and down,
down, they went beneath its CLASSY
surface, while beyond new villas and
castles ran up. These were d ffcrent
| in form and location from the first,
but We only had time to note them
slightly before they melted down and
disappeared under the advancing wa
tiers Of the lake, new and still newer
wonders rising upon the reced 'ng
shore. Now, as suddenly as the for
mer change, the land began advancing
upon the CLASSY bosom of the lake,
pushing forward grove, villa, and cas-
! tie 40 rapidly that these objects seemed
rolling over and over each other and
tossed here and there as though by the
throes of mighty earthquake. The
/ land was then in turn driven buck by
the water, and these changes soon be-
came SO rapid that the eve could hard
| ~ follow them, reminding Us of the
rapid shifting of the slides of magic
latern This was succeeded by sud
den light up of the scene, when the
mountains were shown much in their
natural shape, but inverted, while
above them rose up moving columns
or spires of white, glittcring lights,
closely resembling what is seen in bril-,
liant northern lights. There we're
some other curious changes, but the
only other We will note was that of
second, third, and fourth inverted
range appearing above the first. As
we advanced upon the scene it held its
ground though with many kalcidoseo-
nc chonCos, until we were close upon
the fairy reolm. The road we we're
following though veil worn and plain,
was cut on from our elght ~ the lake
20 . I'.'guc, 80 about tho, lurlral