New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1872-07-04
Lake Ontario Agitated.

The Water Rises and Falls Several Feet In y
Caln-Continuance Of the Dist us bsHce for
Half Day.
The rise and fall of the waters Of Lake
Ontario are occasionally subjects of Observa-
ton and remark. The waters i'm this lake, as
well as in others of the great chain OF lakes
between the States and Canada, are some
times much lower than at others, and with
out apparently any sufficient cause for the
variation. The waters have been low this
season, leaving, in still water, considerably
more dry land on shore than in years past.
In the last thirty years (ani perhaps longer,
We speak from our own recoliection,) there
have been reports, at Intervals, of a sudden
rising and depression of the water of the lake,
listing some minutes, and in one instance we
believe the agitation continued for about an
hour ormore. The phenomenon was observed
at the same time at Oswego, Pultneville,
Eagle Harbor, and ut other points, but the
period of the occurrence has generally been
so brief, or the observers took such brief no.
tice of what they observed, that the move
ment has been regarded by many as in great
part, if not entirely, imaginary. Those,
however, who have given the subject atten-
ton and noted facts stated by the various OBJ
servers, and at different times, have a WE'LL
settled belief that the waters of Lake On
tario arc at times greatly agitated, rising and
falling in q singular manner, and in absence
ofstOrIn or other apparent cause for the COM
motion.
We have now to record a remarkable in
stance Of the rising and recession of the
waters of the Lake, noticed by parties and
under circumstances that admit of no halluci-
nation or mistake. On Thursday of this
week, several well-known gentlemen of this
city, in company with their families, went
down to Charlotte to enjoy day of fishing.
They crossed over to the east pier, and while
some OF the party were engaged near the
beach with seine in taking minnOws, and
where the water was Ordinarily two feet
deep or more, their boat suddenly grounded
and the water reccded, leaving the surround
ings nothing but sand bank. This unac-
cOuntablc freak of the water they thought
very singular, and it was the occasion of some
iovial remarks. The gentlemen strolled
down the pier toward the lake, and in short
time, on looking back where they had left the
stranded boat, they discovered it afioat and
dashing about in apparently deep water.
With some difficulty the boat was secured,
and the drawing Of the seine for minnows
again commenced; but i'm twenty minutes
the boat was hard aground again, and all
low water. BY this time the party became
interested in the ebbing and flowing of the
lake tide, and for three hours watched this
singular tidal wave. The ebb and flow oc-
CURED every twenty minutes that is, for ten
minutes the water would gradually recede,
then commence rising and continue to rise for
about ten minutes. The water rose two feet
and three or four inches above the ordinary
level, then receded about the same distance
below the usual level, making variation in
the height OF the water of nearly or quite four
feet and a half every twenty minutes. The
water flowed up the beach some five rods be-
yond the point touched i'm still water, and it
flowed back ten rods beyond the ordinary
water edge; thus the ebb and flow covered
or laid bare the beach for fifteen rods. The
water OF the river at the steamboat landing
rose twenty-five inches above the level.
boards, HOLLYWOOD, and logs, that Law along
the river, high and dry previously, were
washed ont into the lake. Until the sqliall
came up at 81 or o'clock, the wind was in
the east, and with only gentle breeze and
the lake was still and the waters calm, ap-
parently, upon the surface, beyond the piers.
On the approach Of shower jus; at even
ing, which was accompanied by high wind,
our friends left their point of observation
how long, therefore, after ) O'Clock this eb!,-
ing and flowing continued is not known. 1t
is presumed this unusual phenomenon was
observed at other points along the lake, both !
on the south and north shores. and if noticed
as carefully as by our infornants. we hope
their statements will be published. We |
leave the philosopher and scientist TO explain |
the causc