Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1873-08-07
Revengei
Ny fathers death avenged
By his son.
A Wonderful Lake.

A letter IN the P1ttSbufg Commercial
tells how party of gentlemen recently
succeeded in making their way to the
shore of Lake 'Okeechobee, and in
making a partial exploration of that
great, dismal body of water, which lies
in the midst of the gloomy swamps
and sombre forests of Southern Florida.
Concerning Lake Okeechobee, COM
parativelY little has been known.
except in regard to it's geographical
position and the peculiar character of
it's shores. It is from twenty to forty
miles wide, and is supposed to be over
sixty miles in length, and to cover an
area of more than two thousand square
miles. It is surrounded on every side,
except the North, by dense forests of
cypress and pine, and vast and almost
impenetrable swamps.
Several United States forts are, stu
ated in this portion of Florida, some
in the very vicinity of this lake; but
its uninvitine character, and the entire
absence of suitable means for exploring,
have combined to discourage those
who were stationed there from making
any extensive observations, 80
that succeeding garrisons, from time to
time, went to and came away from
there, and while each wondered what
this curious water contained, all were
compelled to leave without unwilling
the secrets of this secluded lake.
The party were over four weeks in
moving their boat to the shore of the
lake, distance of fifteen miles. They
visited number of islands of consid-
elable extent, upon some of which they
discovered heaps of stone lying in such
position as to resemble ruins of some
kind of structures. None of tho ruins
were extensive, and the structures
must, therefore, have been of small
dimensions. Similar ruins, if such
they we're, were found in great num-
bers upon the small island north of
this one.
Upon the summit of cliff which
stands upon the eastern shore of the
large island, the party fornd large
heap of stones lying III u semi-circular
form, and facing to the east. The
length of these ruins was nearly 200
feet in front of this semi circle, and
about fifty feet from it was large heap
of stones nearly twenty feet square,
The ruins found on the plain below,
and upon the small island, were much
smaller than those found upon the cliff,
being only from five 10 ten feet square.
There can be little doubt that these
stones are ruins of ancient struc-
lures, but of what kind of structures
no one can tell. Their limited size
precludes the possibility of their hav-
ing been used for this purpose by peo-
pie of ordinary size. The lake in the
vicinity of these islands swarmed
with alligators, many of them being of
monstrous size and uncomfortably
tame. This fact, in connection will,
the insignificant appearance of the ISL
ands, induced the party to remain bat
Il short time in thia vicinity.
The explorers left. their boat upon
the bank of the bayou, AMI returned
home very much gratified vt the sue.
cess of their undertaking. They con.
template making another and more
extensive exploration of the lake nj
lsome time during this seas on, and hope
to ntld much more to their knowledge
t Of this lake. They are fully satisfied
that the lake Is more extensive thar
has been generally supposed; that II
extends further south into the everglad,
swamp, and is somewhat wider thai
hitherto believed. The islands fount
in; this lake, although not extensive
IRE at least beautiful md interesting
and the ruins discovered npon thet,
may yet prove to be key to the earl,
history of one OF the loveliest portion
! Of America.