Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1877-04-18
A Wonderful Lake.

we nave more than once heard of
the wonderful properties of the waters
OF Deep Spring Valley Lake, but, un-
III the present, not with suifciency of
detail TO give the story full credepce.
Lieut.. WotherSpoon, Company ID. 18th
United. States Infantry in command of
the relief party for Capt. Joe's Indians,
passed several days last week in the
valley, and bears witness to the literal
truth OF the remarkable phenomena.
These are, that at certain times the
ducks, which visit the lake in great
numbers become so loaded down with
crystallizations of borax. salt or some
other substance, that they are utterly
unable to .ly, and while in this condi-
ton become an easy prey To the Indi-
ans, 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 as to actual
ly drag their heads under water and
drown them. AS asserted bv 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 Instances. During
the first stages the crystals are quite
evenly disposed over all the BIRDS
feathers above water. sticking them
together rs firmly as if glued Then
1t accumulates in punches of strings
forming drags or RATS with which the
bird can swim hut slowly, if at all:
and If formed from the bill or head,
soon causes its death by drowning.
The Capitalization always takes
place in the night time, and entirely
disappears after few hours exposure
to the morning sun, or in the fresh
water springs on the border of the
lake. The conditions necessary to pro-
duce the crystals in this manner are no
less remarkable. 1t 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 mile
and quarter in length and
perhaps 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 milky or
yellowlsh cast. Ii this effect was pro-
duced by the desicating north winds
exclusively, it might afford some clue
to the cause of the excessive crystal
lization at such times, but it is not:
other winds stir the gases from the
bottom quite rs 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 fore
told 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 occasions, the Indians spend the
entire night III singing and in their
peculiar lamentations, in full faith that
they truly insure 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 band had caught scores Of
the hapless birds. There is one part
OF their incantations in which there
IS obvious virtue. A detail, each with
81 tbitH VI lIitbldil,, 10 StdJlputt III VI
near the fresh water springs on the
edge of the lake, and while singing,
dancing and doing other necessary
things to propitiate the Great Medium,
at the same time keep the ducks away
from the fresh water, where other
wise they would be safe from these
RATS of crystals. The principal sup
ply Of the lake is from two immense
and bottomess pools OF artesian waters
located quite close to its edge. The
valley itself is entirely surrounded by
high mountains, its soil and general
chal acteristics being nothing unusual
to the country. But the Indians say
no other lake within their knowledge
ever affects ducks rs does this, not
outstanding there are many others
whose waters are even more impreg-
mated with salt, borax. etc. in solu-
ton, than this appears to be. The
Lieutenant brought over "A quantity
of crystal, which he will submit for
scientific analysis. together with
a statement of the effects produced on
tne birds as here outlined.
The scientists will have something
to puzzle their brains for some time,
we think, before they educe perfect
ly satisfactory explanation of the phe-
nomena, all the facts considered. -
Inyo (Cal) independent.
= 10. 10. H..