The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1877-05-10

mon would have sent @n0o0 Ap10m0
int ahe boiling lake. i
ful than strange. Fenced in steeF
mos(ly, indeed, perpeqdicqlar, nhks. vi
ryimk from sixty to hundred Fl htgl
cut Ont in ash and pum1ce, tho Ike rag6
and roars like . wild beast IN ID cage;
the surface. to which such measurements
q We could make assigned about two hum
dred yards in length by more than half
the same amount In breadth, Is that Of .
giant seething csuldron, covered with
rapid steam, through which, when the
veil Is for . moment blown apart By the
mountain breeze, appears . confused
mass Of tossing waves, crossing and clash
Ing In every directi0n-a chaos Of boiling
waters. Toward the center, where the
ebullition IL ct it, 6ercest, geyser like
masses are being constantly thrown up to
the height of several feet, mot on one
exact spot, but shifting from side to
side, each fresh burst being preceded
by noise like that Of . cannon fred on
ct some great depth below, while lesser
jets often suddenly make their appearance
nearer the sides Of the lake. What the
general depth Of water may be would be
difficult to ascertain; but . line stretched
out over the edge from the end Of . pole
indicates sheer descent of fifty Or sixty
feet within couple of yards distance
from the shore. The heat Of the water,
where it beats In seething restlessness on
the cliff, Is 1856 deg. f.; We tied ther-
m0meter to stick and found tie surface
temperature at the distance OF few feet
further on to be almost 200 deg. F. The
height of the lake above the sea 10 . little
n ~ ~ux1H3m1A al an
average atmosphere temperature of "a
9U deg. f., Of near 1t.
The lake Is evidently supplied for the
most part from springs within its own
circuit. hut LITTLE stream, formed BY the
union Of two small mountain fivulets, runs
down from the heights 70 the north; the
water Of the brook Is cold, and may con.
tribute somewhat, especially in the rainy
season, to the volume Of the lake. The
the highest water line along the cliffs,
bright yellow band Of sulphur deposit,
was at the epoch Of our visit, that is, at the
conclusion Of the dry season In Dominica,
only few inches above the actual water
level, an additional proof that the lake il
almost wholly supplied from below. In
fact, the principal effect of . heavy rain
shower or an augmented inflow j.
said to be q sudden increase In the violence
of the surface action, the result doubtless
of the shock produced by the meeting Of
such very opposite temperatures.
/ This torrent, by the stones and earth
brought down with it in Its descent. has
formed slope which, though steep, per
mits of q cautious approach to the waters
| edge; everywhere else the cliffs are ab-
solutely perpendicular, but gradually
lessen In height toward the southern ex'
tremity, where gate like rect has been
formed, through which the waters rush
ott in sca1ding torrent and bear theil
heat with them far down the mountain
sides, - they seek the Eastern Sea at Mu
latto Point. No vegetation, except The
dreafy clusia with dingy kind Ut moss
and not more cheerful looking growth ol
anger of the heated sulphur0us vapors
background closed In by noble forests.
Here we remained, as long 40 prudence
and the mindfulDess of the long and difh
wondering delight; tried to walk r0unt
the lake along the cliffs, but could no
manage it; took measurements; tested tn,
heat Of the water; irritated the geyser
like action, where not too far from tn
margin, by throwing down stones, whicl
were followed, after nearly minutes In
lent ebullition than customary; and, last
| ~, attempted sketches from several point
Of view; but found the attempt to he
l - a. As<%2 o,,1<snc ~,