Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1877-04-20
EUREKA LAKE.
The Result Of an Exploring Ex
petition.


lake existing on Main street, yer,
nearly in the center Of the city. Te
those OF romantic tastes this beautifu
sheet OF water recalls Bulwer Lytton'
description of Lake Como, or to com,
nearer home, our own incompatible,
lake Tahoe. The dim waters do not pos
sess the limpid br~illiancy of the latter
nor are the shores conlpassed about b,
tae picturesque surroundings of Ia
hoe, the lofty pines, and giganti,
mountain chains being in this cas-
lacking, but better still, we have its
destinations in the midst of the busy
marts of trade. On one side looms vi
the building dedicated to a noble or
der, typical of the benevolent and
charitable instincts OF man, and on til,
other the halls Of justice, a token O
the advanced civilization of the hu
man race. Standing on its shores,
with the pure liquid having oul
feet, and ripping at every breath ol
the gentle zephyr that disturbs its
placed surface, u can but be thank.
ful that nature has been so beuificent
TO her children as to place this hand
some body OF water at our very doors.
THE EXPEDITION.
Although several adventurous spir
its have launched their craft on its
bosom and sailed over its surface, we
believe that it has never been thorough
ly explored, and the proprietors of the
SENTINEL, emulaliugthe illuslrious ex.
ample of the New York Herald, gave
us a carte blanche on their exchequer
for the expenses of the trip, and We
Immediately organized an expedition
"a la Stanley determined to penetrate
its mysteries, or perish in the attempt.
Our companions in the expedition were
Messrs. Chamblin, Clark and Immel,
three as noble sportsmen as ever drew
trigger on savage jackass- rabbit or fe-
rocious sagehen; men noted for their
cool intrepidity and daring courage,
as the SPOTS of many a chase testify to.
We had already negotiated for the
purchase of the bed of a prairie
schooner, and had calked its seams
and loaded it with stores for the trip.
Launched upon the raging sea-, u
gallant bark flew before the wind, and
we were soon out of sight OF the busy
hauDts of man. A feeling OF isolation
and sadness stole over the party as it
remembered the comforts left behind,
and the doubtful issue of the expedi-
ton; but our spirits recovered, and
while the sportsmen looked after their
guns and ammunition, we, as compos-
ing the scientific part of the expedi-
ton, got out our lines and commenced
sounding the unknown depths. 1t has
been a matter of much speculation as
to whether it WAS unfathomable or not,
many ~contending that, II being
THE CRATER OF AN EXTINCT VOLCANO,
1t would be impossible to determine
as to its bottom. This fallacy was
soon exploded, for we found it after
paying out 2,s32 feet of line. The res
idue brought up was submitted to
a microscopical inspection n the
analysis revealed the lac that its bot
tom was covered with an ooZe of mud
mingled with a decayed vegetation
that had probably been held suspend
ed in the water for some time, and
finally deposited. In IN Of the sound
ings we were fortunate enough to raise
a portion of the fur of some animal
that had
MET a SAD FATE,
And had been preserved by the purity
of the water until disturbed by us. ID.
Immel, the naturalist of the expedi-
ton, pronounced 1t a portion of the
outer covering of an animal known as
the genus fetis-Linnaen-one of the
c%arniyerous mammalia. The remnant
was carefully preserved. Game up to
the present time had been very scarce,
and hardly enough for the wants Of
the party had been secured, but as we
approached the banks on the farther
side of the lake we We're ushered into a
sportsman's paradise. Beautiful plu-
mayed ducks, of every variety, We're
found in flocks, feeding on the tender
grasses. or sailing quietly on the sur
face. The bang, bang of the breech-
loader was intermitted by the hoarse
>Quawk of the mallard or the shrill cry
of the teal, nor did II party cease fir
ing until the accumulated game warned
them of the uselessness of continuing
the murderous work. Attention was
now paid to the exploration of the
shores, and we were much disappoint-
ed on finding evidences of it having
been visited by others. We had be-
lieved that we were the first to find this
wild region, but remnants of a power
full Tribe were found all along the
banks. Oyster cans strewed the
beach, of dogs. decaying
vegetables, hoop-skirts, and other de-
bris, showing that we had been fore
stalled by a people who even now
might be found in the interior. Luther
Cha k made a
GRAN DISCOVERY,
And his excited EXPLANATIONS drew our
attention to it. Down in the crystal
depths could be seen the familiar red
wagon-three Of them-and from out
of the mud protruded twenty pair OF
ears, the natural appendage of the
mule. No doubt some unfortunate
teamster had wandered from the beaten
track and in this treacherous bottom
had met a sad fate. Engulfed in the
yielding mud the team had sank on
| of sight, and the rising waters from
rain and flood o covered them. Nc
attempt vas made to disturb them
and we sailed owe the grave that ma
ture had provided for the wanderers
One characteristic of the lake is singu
lar. There is neither inlet nor outlet
Hnw IL receiyes its supplies of ate