Los Angeles daily herald., 1884-11-21
A I.aite OF rire.

A correspondent oi The New York Tine
writing rom Waterloo, an extensive estate
In Nassau, describefa curious body Of water
10 be seen there II nearly one thousand
feet long and two hundred 10 three hundred
feet broad. II Is an artificial lake, the former
proprietor Of Waterloo having built Il 10
store green turtles In. The plan was TO bug
10 Increase IN Size and numbers, when
they wonld be ready 10 be caught and eaten.
Millions Of fish could be kept In the lake
Al the same time, and thus the occupant Of
Waterloo would always have good dinner
waiting In the yard. The lakes bed Is cut
out Of the solid rock, and Is only a few hun
dred feet from the ocean. II Is connected
with tho sea BY small canal also cut
through the rock and when the gate In this
canal Is left open the tide rises and falls In
the lake
It was one Of the darkest nighisI ever saw.
We went into the penthouse and pushed
out heavy boat. ! took the oars and
we pulled on The first stroke gave me
fine start. There had not been any unusual
appearance Of phosphoresence on the sur
face of the water more than 4 often seen on
tropical seas; but as soon as the oars stirred
Il up they seemed to be dipped In melted
gold. There was actually fire there. was
compelled TO think. While was wondering
nj Il. a FISH, startled by our splatter, darted
across the pond near the surface. and in his
trail was left streak OF yellow FIRE. Then
we saw at different places ON the surface
little yapory clouds Of fire flashing and dart
Ing about like the northern lights.
IF you have newspaper In your pocket
said my companion, "lay II out on your lap
and splash the water with both oars, to see
by"
did so, and was able TO read the heading
and all the large lines without difficulty.
took an oar then and splashed the water,
and wherever a drop fell back into the lake
was round spot Of FIRE. There was some
thing startling In seeing so much fire fioat
Ing about, and had not the faintest notion
where we were. j had gone out upon an
unknown lake, in total darkness, and had
no idea how large or how deep II was, nor
where the current-if there was any--might
| carry US.
III you viii pull hard and watch the bow
ana stern OF the boat, you Will see some
thing curious"
did so, and was well paid for the exer-
ton. When boat moves fast there Is al
Ways cutting ofthe water at the bow and
little eddy left just behind the stern. That
cntwater and that eddy were OF flaming Are.
indeed, wherever the water was agitated 1t
turned apparently Into fire. When the ag.-
tation ceased the fire disappeared, except
| That there was always little sparkling upon
the surface. We splashed, and rowed, and
watched. one of the most curious effects
was to throw something from the boat to a
distant part Of the lake and see the FIRE
| splash fountain put in the center OF the
lake would be a fountain of fire. We meas
| llred the depth with an oar and found Il to
| be four or I'VE feet. II Is mentioned as a
| curious circumstance that the water In the
lake can be changed as often as desired
without destroying Its phosphorescenee
| various analyses OF the water have been
made, but without any great results.