The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1890-07-10
A v~rmcas Cnrie.i,y

I abt frfsbN hNuNhiuF Nftf wv htffht
actually floats upon the top Of the water.
There is no doubt about il. II is not at.
isehed 10 the main land on any part of tho
lake. oae can pass entirely around Il Ia a
boat.
The fact that II really floats on the water
was made evident last year, Al that tme
. stone dam was bnili at the outlet Of tho
lake over sii feet hish. witch raised tho
water little more than Elk feet When
the gates were shut aud the water Tor the
FIRST lime began to rise 10 the lake, there
was great curiosity to see whether the ls
land would be submerged or rise with the
water. II took about IS hours for tho
water In the lake TO reach the top of tho
dam, when II was discovered that the ia
land presented exactly the same srpear.
ance that II did when tho water WAS six
feet lower There is no part OF the island
that has ever been more than two or three
feet above the surface OF tho water There.
lore II II did not float when the lake was
raised SIX feet by this new dam IL would
have been entirely submerged.
Since the water was raised this great
mass OF land has flosted about more readi.
ly than II previously did. Portions OF il,
containing from one TO three acres. have
been broken away from the main island
and go swimming around independently.
There are four such pieces Three Of them
are close together, and already 90 or GO
rods to the northeast Of the main island.
Sometimes they are five or six rods apart.
Then again they will all be in a cluster,
the smaller ones floating around faster
than the larger ones. AS the wind carries
them more easily.
The great main island, which contains
over 100 acres, moves about slowly. The
prevailing winds ara from the south and
west, aud after IL Las blown hard for n day
or two the main island is found TO have
changed It's position several rods. Some
times it will be near the east shore, aud
then again 1t moves over toward the aeat
IL has never come nearer than u quarter Of
q mile OF the north shore.
There is a small forest OF .amarack trees
growing upon this remarkable island
Some Of them are more than % feet high
They are III thrifty condition, and are u
large siz, at the butt, Smaller trees Of
the same kind are rapidly growing up be.
side them. Tue wonder is how the roots
OF the trees are nourshed. The lake il
situated in marshy surroundings on tho
southwest side aud IT is supposed that
there is vegetable matter enough in the
water to keep the trees in healthy con.
dltion. Cranberry bushes grow in great
luxuriance. Alder bushes aud great va.
riety Of native weeds grow on all parts OF
the island. The serfsce is spongy. and in
many places soft. but there are other parts
of it where it is comparatively solid. There
is no difficulty in getting upon the island,
although in some places persons who visit
il have to be careful that they do not sink
through 1t.
uC uboNO 10 lIuIIi uu hIuClO III WV DUN
ton Sunday Globe. To this portion, de.
scriptive Of local curiosity. is aided IN
interview by q Globe reporter with Hon.
ii. b. Ballou, who tells what he has OBJ
served about tho island during the last 90
years. Judge Ballou, the reporter says, Is
native Of Nottingham, 'is now more
than 60 years OF age, and is an exceedingly
intelligent and interesting man. He is OF
large stature. his face somewhat resemb.
ling that Of Daniel Webster" The float
ing island, Judge Ballou said, is known
locally as the swimming land. He says
the trees have grown up from small bushes
since his remem bersnce, and he thinks the
island has grown greatly In size, or from
about 80 acres 10 some 100 acres in extent.
The smaller islands have probably been
broken oil by the action Of the wind upon
the trees. The soil OF the island is CON.
posed OF soft vegetable mould, aud II
was through this crust that the boys used
to cut holes about two feet Ia diameter, to
hoi iSi bbih B'htss bb ufpbu VI Wuttf
under the island used to be five or s!x feet,
but 1t is probably 10 TO IL feet since the
dam was rsised. The siz, OF Sadswga lake
Is a mile or more 10 length by about three
quarters Of mile in width at the widest
place, OF the origin Of the name Of the
lake and village Judge Ballou said:
ut was named after the Indian chief
Ssdawgs, who made his summer camp on
the banks Of this lake considerably more
than hundred years ago. ! have seen
man who remembers seeing this old lpdian
phief Its said that when SAdswga ADD
bis band Of indians fi-bed 10 this lake. be.
lore the conntry WAS settled, there was 10
stand iu ii, 30 the land must have been
ormed within the last 100 yesr. 1 can
show you the spot where this Indian chief
lsed 10 have his wigwam. There 10 pile
II stone there. and many arrow heads have
,esn found in that vicinity. The tradition
I, tbs. the last ever seen Of Ssdswga was
shen be went down the Deerfeld river 10
ais csnoe, ss bo went s~sy ffom bis sum
ner camping ground. Truman Dir says
bat the last time Sadsxgs came here be
isd q small number Of Indians with him
~ an expedition. Whether ssdswgs wss
irowned Ia the Deerhsld river. or what
,eesme d him nobody knoxs; but this
ake, sboul which be spent many year. 10
ishi0g and bunting. was nsmed Tor him.
nd the village Of Ssdawga received its
zane from the lake"
Bn' few persons sbo view . passenger
r,lu ss II goes LAUNDERING past have an
lea that II represents cash ,aine oi from
IT9 900 TO Sl20. 900. bot snch is the ease.