The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1886-09-03

From those who are fond Of curl.
oslIy, and admirers OF the wonderful
works OF nature, or those who like
rambling about Ia the wilds OF the
mountains, Crater Lake Is attracting
q great deal Of attention. Il Is sit
uated immediately in, not on, the
summit OF the Cascades about 100
miles northeast from Ashland, and 4
miles from where the Rogue river
wagon road crosses tho summit.
Our party, with our amlable agency
physician, DR.. Smith as escort and
guide, With comfortable vehicles,
camping outfit, rod and gun, and
plenty Of the article mort necessary
on such occasions, viz: provisions,
emerged from the dense heat OF the
Klamath basin at 3 q. m. on the 18th
inst. Good roads and brisk teams
soon brought US Into the upper part
OF the valley, which Is a beautiful
diversified landscape. On leaving
tho valley we followed up and I'm
medlately on the verge OF OF Annlo
creek canyon, which in some places
Is Immensely deep and abrupt; per-
haps 600 feet almost perpendicular;
very picturesque and reminding one
OF the wonderful Colorado. Tho
evening being the most pleasant for
travelling, and having good moon
light, we pushed along until 10
O'Clock; here finding splsnded camp
Ing ground with nbundanca OF grass
for horses, and a gushing spring OF
beautiful clear water, 50 extremely
cold as to hold the mercury very pear
the freezing point. Tho next day
after laborIug up a very steep road
until near noon, We suddenly found
ourselves directly on the very bank
Of the wonderful Crater. Well, It's
grand! An immense hole Ia the top
OF mountain. rhe lake Il oblong la
shape; about 5 by miles 10 extent,
aud inclosed by a pTecIpitons blnfF,
the lowest accessible part Of which Is
500 feet above the waters surface; 80
abrupt 10 the bluff that Ia very few
places only Is II pAssable Tor a human,
by great eiIsrt aud tight holding, 10
90 down 20 the waters edge; getting
up OF course Is one kind of fuu. I
will give some figures which may not
be exact, but viii be very near the
aciual measurements taken by the
o. 8. geological party, who, only 3
few days agp, Jeff the lake. They
found the greatest depth 10 be 1856
feet; the deepest body 81 water 10 the
q. s., and the deepest for I's size 10
the world. Tue attitude at the sur
face of the water Il 6O00 feet. In
the southeastern part o. the lake Is
Castle rock, which In the distance,
resembles aship with masts and spare.
In the western part stands butte.
with an elevation of nss1ut 900 feet
ab,.ve the watsr. This hill Il cover.
ed with pine forest, aud has a crater
In the top about 100 feet deep, which
Is partly filed with perpetual .nos.
Near this butte the surveying party
sunk their boats, for future use, 10
400 feet Of water--the shallowsst part.
The appearances are that this VAS
once heaving volcano. The butte
In the center must have beek hea ved
from the interior, and when nearly
out The top b.ew out, and hence the
mountain remained standing; tsis
probabiy being the last exhaust.
Underneath q thin sarface soili- the
valley below, Is Iayerof or 10 feet
Of volcanic ashes, which evidently
came from this hole in the ground.
While camped Of the lake, we had
or choice Of meItiog snow, which
lay about In great banks, or carrying
spring water half mile up steep
hill, for camp use.
Having had an artist Ia company we
expect to be able to present some
fine views.
During the secoud day of our
sojurn, three Of US climbed from the
rear to the top Of the most rugged
and precipatous pinnacles Of towering
rock cliffs tnat ever stood still under
our feet. Just think OF II 4! Gel
down on all fours, and creep very
cautiously TO the very brink, where
you can spIt a round 1000 feet righl
down linto the t0pmost branches o.
lofty pines, and aiths same time car
turn a stone ,sjih v ,ur feet that vii
roll and tpmble with great velocity
for half a mile. At every wave III,
very mountain seems TO trembie as
ifit would toppIe over. ! tell yot
grandly awful. No one can realIz'
the very pecuIIi.r sensation until they
have actually experienced II. Il
trying to sleep during the following
night we would imsgine ourselve