The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1877-05-11
A UONDERFCL LAKE.
A PLACE WHERE THE WATER eoLIDlFIEs
on DICKS AND DRAGS THEM DOWN
REMARKABLE CRYSTILIZATION.

REMARKABLE CRYSTlLiZATiON.
The Inyo (Call Independent says: We
have moIe than once hpaId of the wonder
ful properties Of the wa;crSuf Deep Springs
Valley lake. hut, until the present, mot with
sufficieucy uf detail tn give the st"Iy fun
credeuce. Lieut.. Wiiherspoou, Company
ID, 18th United States infantry, in command
of the relief party for Capt. J"e's lmdiaus,
passed several days laSt week ia the valley,
and bears witness to the literal truth ut the
remarkable phenomena. These are. that
at certain times the ducks, which visit the
lake III great numbers, become - l"adrd
down with cryStalizatinns uf hoiaN. salt. or
some other substance, that they aIe utterly
unable To fly. and while in this condition
become an easy prey To the Indians, who
wade into the water and pick them up IN
! their hands. In fact, this substance often
collects upon the birds bill ia such weight
/ as to actually dag their heads under wateI
and drown them. As asserted by Mr..
/ DeaSeley and family, who have lived near
/ the lake for years, the ducks are often
/ loaded with several pounds weight uf this
/ substance. During the first stages the
/ crystals are quite eveily disposed over all
! the birds feathers ahnve water. sticking
/ them together aS firmly as il glued. Then
! 1t accumulates in lunches of strings form
! ing dragS or RATS with which the bind can
| SWIM but slowly, if at all aud if formed
! from the bill Or head, suon causes its death
/ by drowning.
/ The crystalization always takes place in
| the night ,irIe aid entirely disappears af,eI
! Il few hours exposure 10 the morning sun,
~ in the fresh water springs un tie boi,ier
} Of the lake. The cuudiiiuuS necessary 10
produce the crystals iu his manner are no
! less remarkable. 1t occurs duIiug the
spring months only, ard only "n clear
/ nights with a north ind never on cloudy
MI hts With the wind fIom any oiher quar-
. ter than the north. The lahc, which iS
! about a mile and Il quarter la length aud
/ perhaps mile in width, is not over Ih; &c
feet in depth at the deepest. Strong winds,
ne matter from what direction, agitaje> it's
/ waters To- the b tInm. giving them milky
nr yelnAish cast. II this cffrct WAS pro
ducrd Ivy the dc>iccaiing north winds tx
clusIvey, it might afford suuie clue Ia the
cause ot the excessive c:HSiallzHtI"n al such
times. but it Is no: other Winds stir the
( gases from the bottom quite as much ui
! more than that
Dming The liputenaut's stay in the val
! lev the wind one night was from the nurib,
! but the sky was overcast as fnrrtoid 10y
! Capt. Joe, no ducks caught mex,
morning. The following night the wind
Mas from the same point, but there
were no clouds. Ou such occasions, the
! luuiaiS Sl'tuE lie entire hlSht Singing ana
Iu their peculiar incHnt1tIuuS. ia full fa il
hat they could insure AN abundant harvest
Of ducks iu the ear " morning. Their faith
was fully realized un this occasion, fpI, be
fore the suns rays had touched the acrIo
water. Capt. Joe and i.is band had caUgh'
a score of hap pless birds.
There is one part of their incantatInns IL
! which there is obvious virtue 4 detail
each with a torch ur firrhTaud. is STA lone,
( iu OF near the fresh waiei springs uu tl;'
| edge of the lake, and while singing. dane
| ing, and doing other necessary things q
propIiate :he Great Mcdiani, they at tht
same time keep tile ducks away from the
| fresh water, whore oIhrTw i~c they Wuuls
| be sift from these RATS of yStalS. Ih
| principal supply of The lake IL fom lwi
! immense and bottomlcSS pOLlS ur aTteSiai
wells located quite close to the edge. TIN
| valley Itself IL entirely suITuundtf 10y higl
/ mountains. its soil a:d general character
! isticS being mailing unusual to the cuuutIy y
| But the Indians say un ether lake within
then knowledge ever affects ducks "a doe
tins, Notwithstanding there are many "' il
eIs whuee waters ATE even more iupTegu;
ted with salt. borax, etc, in solution. Iha
Tins appears To he. The lieutenant bt"uEl'
over "a quantity uf crystals, which he WI
SubmI fu; scientific ana iyS,s, together vii
"A statement of tie Effects produced uu ia
binds as here out lined.
The scientists will have something t
puzzle their brains foI some tinie, we think
before they educr eIf,crly saii>fHct"r
, explanation OF the phenomena, all the fact
considered.