The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-08-23
TRINioAp's LAKE OF FITCH.
Singular Quality Of tho Acknowledged
II Its Origin.

~ It's Or1g1n
RIGHT and lr,ft, q fiat surface extends
over forty acres of space, dull black in
color and inte~sected every few rods by
pullies or assures whose sides fall into a
point four or five feet down, filled with
sweet water, slightly favored with as
phalt. Here and there a few scrawny
bushes mark where little soil has been
blown into assure and given them a
chance 10 cling ard pole or two, half
sunken, is a guide 10 forgotten eXcava-
tions. There are no birds. no fishes IN
the water, and the whole scene is singu-
larly desolate and uninviting.
Near the edges. the pitch is 50 hard ~
to fracture with a blow. will support
carts that carry it away and feels as firm
as rock under foot Yet it is possessed
Of singular quality. II a heap of fras
ments is piled up, il slowly levels down
fat again; and great hole left by work
men engaged in quarrying it for removal,
gradually fills until no trace is visible OF
the depression. Where my camera
stood was apparently quite solid, but
the short time needed to make two or
three exposures proved sufficient for the
tripod to make half inch deep holes be
meath It's weight where the feet had
rested
Toward the center of the lake, this
mobility increased until it assumed visi-
BILE speed. seeming to advance toward the
II iddle with a motion like that of q Land
slide-slow, steady and gliding. Here the
pitch grew So soft as TO be perfectly
liquid and hot enough TO char paper yet
devoid Of adhesive quality A stick
thrust into the mass was withdrawn
without any pitch adhercnt to #, and a
ball could b. nodded in the hands that
remained quite indebted.
The amount exported last year was
about 5000 tons. without the Smallest
apparent diminution Of quantity and If
may well prove what it appears TO he-ao
iIeXhaustible source OF future supply and
OF income 20 the colony
From the lake a lovely roll brought U4
back TO the village, winding between the
richest display OF tropical verlfrr had
over seen, natural pavement Though =
natural park. Wonderful orchids bios
sOmed on wonderful trees. gayiy painted
birds iluttercd amongst sill horo-s Of
gorgeous hues and unknown name, and
clear brooks OF sweet water wound their
way down TO the near sea between banks
whose dark brown color told Of pitehy
origin. and when we emerged from those
thick recesscs upon the beach. our horses
feet sounded hollow as they swiftly on 1
a shore that was of the same material
Even under the sea it still exists. and
possibly forms oceans bed across 10 zen
ezucla. upon whose shores, only few
miles away. similar deposits Of Ike IA
ture occur The Indians had pretty
legend of its origin
Ages ago the place where is now the
Lake was land of such marvellous fertility
in yield Of pineapples that it was chosen
by the CLaima tribe for their home
Actua'od by some evil spirit, they began
to i,iil The pretty humming bird J'iere'
in their musical toaguel although they
knew thcm 20 hold In shining coat, Of
feather t...s ancestors spirit Esd ,aa
Great Father caraged at SUCH imp.ety
sank their town and It's people In q single
night replacing 81 with this monument
oi asphalt as p warning 81 future sinners.
-Dt William f Hutchinson IN American
Machine