The Opelousas courier., 1886-11-20
A wonderful Lake in Oregon.

Nine members of our party made tn
circuit of the lake IN a tour of III
spection. The scenery was grand to
degree far beyond our most sanguine OK
pectations. Four strong oarsm2n soor
brought us to Lilac Rock and as we gazec
in silent wonder at its rugged sides
reaching nearly half a mile above us, fol
the first time did | realize the immensit.
of such a spectacle. ,
Beyond Lilac Rock we found a beauti
fnl little bay, and beyond this a larger
one, probably one mile long by a quarter
of a mile deep. Here VIC found a narrow
beach of small gravel running almost the
entire length of the bay, while further
out in the lake the bottom is como sed
of sand. AS this point has not only
never been named, but probably was
never before visited by human beings,
we decided to christen it Fleetwood
Bay.
Passing on II journey it was soon
seen that the cliffs on the north side arc
not SO high as those to the south. In
several places it appeared that good
trails could easily be made to the waters
edge, over which a person might ride,
and in n place without any grading
whatever, a good pack train could des-
cend with comparative case.
About two o'clock a thunder shower
came suddenly upon us, just as two
beautiful grottoes came in view. Into
one of these the boat was run where we
were entirely beyond the reach of rain.
It proved to be about thirty feet deep
and ten feet wide, with an arched roof
prob bly, eight feet above the water,
while the rocky bottom could be dis
tinctly seen ten feet below the surface.
So perfect was its form that it almost
seemed the hand of man had hewn it
from the solid rock. Beyond it towers
an immense cliff, very high, with broken,
rugged sides, picturesque and sublime,
which | insist on naming Dutton Cliff, in
honor of Captain Dutton, who has done
and is doing SO much to make Crater
Lake justly famous.
Immediately north of Dutton Cliff the
elements have worn the sides of the
mountain, leaving a hard substance, resem-
bling the Mansard roof of a cottage, while
IN one place tall red chimneys stand aloft,
making, all in all, such a scene that Cot
eaSC 1lcSh SOuho oNutSCiy NC II piosCO Ou
for a name. Lying between the points
above referred to a break in the walls
was fouad that is almost perpendicular,
but certainly does not exceed 400 feet in
height. This is by far the lowest point
in the walls. Just at the foot of Dutton
Cliff IN island was discovered 200 feet
wide by 400 feet long, and over 100 to
the top of the rocks that stand upon it
like great chimneys or towers. giving to
it an appearance like the castles Of old.
We did not land, but an appropriate
would be Castle Island.
Crater Lake has again risen to the oc-
as accurate tests will prove be- |
yond all question that but few bodies of
water in the world equal it in depth, ex-
cept the ocean, and none whatever of an
equal size, while in the western hemis-
phere it will stand absolutely unrivaled.
Heretofore Tahoe has been considered the
deepest lake in America, being 1910
'eet. Only preliminary soundings have
made as yet, and the figures obtained
subject to slight change. The deep
st water found SO far is 1855 feet,
being 315 more than Tahoe. Portland
TlsoUoo;oa |