The Osceola times., 1877-05-12
A Wonderful Lake.

We have more than once heard Of the
wonderful properties of the waters Of
Deep Spring Valley lake, but, until the
present, not with sufficient of detail 10
give the story full credence. Lieut..
Wotherspoon. company ID, twelfth United
States infantry, In command of the re-
lief party for Capt. Joe's Indians, passed
several days last week in the valley, and
bears witness to tho literal truth Of the
remarkable phenomena. These are that
at certain times the ducks, VII Oh visit
the lake in great numbers, become 40
loaded down with capitalization OF
borax, salt. or some other substance, that
they are utterly unable to hy, 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 bills in such weight a. to &C.
tually drag their heads under and drown
them. As asserted by Mr.. Beasely and
family, who have lived near the lake for
years, the ducks are often loaded with
several pounds, weight Of this substance
NOT less than ten pounds in some in
stances. During the first stages the
crystals are quite evenly disposed over
ali the birds feathers above water, stick
ing them together as firmly as II glued.
Then it accumulates In punches OF
strings, forming drags or RATS with which
the bird can swim but slowly, II at all
and, il formed from the bill or head,
soon causes its death by drowning.
The capitalization always takes place
in the night time, and entirely disap-
pears after few hours exposure 10 the
morning sun, or in the fresh water springs
on the border OF the lake. The c0ndi-
tions necessary TO produce the crystals in
this manner are no less remarkable. II
occurs during the spring months only.
and only on clear nights with north
wind-never on cloudy nights or with
the wind from any other quarter than
the north. The lake, which is about a
mile and . quarter in length and, per
haps, mile in width, is not over three
feet in depth at the deepest. Strong
winds, no matter from what direction,
agitate its waters to the bottom, giving
them a milky or yellowish cast. II this
effect were produced by the desiccating
north winds exclusively, it might afford
some clue to the cause Of the excessive
capitalization at such times, but it Is
not; other winds stir the gases from the
bottom quite as much or more than that.
During the lieutenant's stay in the
valley the wind one night was from the
north, but the sky was overcast. As
foretold by Capt. Joe, no ducks were
caught next morning. The following
night the wind was from the same point
but there were no clouds. On such oc-
casions the Indians spend the entire
night in singing and in their peculiar in
carnations, In full faith that they truly
inspire an abundant harvest of ducks in
the early morning. Their faith was fully
realized on this occasion, for, before the
suns rays had touched the acrid water,
Capt. Joe and his hand had caught
scores of the hapless birds.
The principal supply Of the H.
from two immense and pottom'u
or artesian waters located qstoZ
It's edge, The valley IT, 49,
surrounded BY high "a sesre
and general chsr1o1A No hel3
iss;s:' - :