Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1892-10-21
ALAKE or INK.


A0nA'a Volcanoes.
Nearly oil Of the $500 Cocopah vol.
can0es In Arizona are situated near the
east end OF the volcanic area which they
0ecupy. Several large mounds, once
living volcanoes, are now quiet. Boz
tween the hills Of lava, rock and debris
are . large number Of living, active vol.
canoes. In the midst Of these Ia tho
Lake Of Ink. There run into 1t scores
OF streams Of clcar mineral hot water,
others that are warm, and two that are
cold. Tho lake, one-fourth Of n mile In
length and one-eighth In width, lies like
. gem SGT in these hills or thes . ancient
volcanoes. The black, ink like water
which nils the lake m up to within
three or four inches Of the level OF it's
shores. The temperature near the edge
IL about ITO degrees, gradually growing
warmer ~ you get down In 1t. and as
you approach the center Of the lake, on
the surface, 1t 10 about 1855 degrees, and
at q depth OF $50 feet 1t is ZIG degrees.
Near the shore on the east, south and
west sides the water IL only four to six
feet In depth for twenty feot or more in
to the lake, where the shelf breaks of
perpendicularly. and there no bottom
has ever been found. To the touch the
water feels smooth and oily. The ashes
and oil which cover the lake when it's
waters are quiet are from one-half an
Inch to an inch thick. The water Of the
lake 10 jet black, though it does not col
or the skin Of those who battle In 1t.
Under . glass the coloring matter
Teens to be u minute black substance
held In suspension by the water, which
edheres to white cloth immersed In the
lake. To the taste the water IL warm.
ealt and bitter. To the bather the sem
sation on entering the water is grand.
ex~hilarating TO q wonderful degree, so
much 90 that . bath Of ten or fifteen
minutes makes one feel as II he wero
under the influence Of the very best
brandy. Millions OF bubbles, formed by
escaping gases, keep the SURFACE Of the
lake agttated at all times, till 1t rolls,
boils and foams as II ready to break
over It's banks and escape, and again
glittering In the sunlight. Whenever the
follows. and tho sight of It's maddenel
waters ID we'll worth seeing.
from time immemorial these waters
have been used by the different tribes Of
Indians, far and wide, at wal ard In
peace. a the great all healing remedy,
following . bath in the hot mud OF tbs
reaceEble volcanoes, for all fevers.
rheumatism, scrofula and venereal dis
eases. They take the invalid and bury
him, ill but his ears. eyes, nose and
mouth. In the rot volcanic mud for fr m
twenty to thirty minutes. then carry
him covered with mud on q blanket the
nifty or . hundred feet to the edge OF the
lake and put him into the wateR hold.
ing his head above it, for from ten to
fifteen minutes. Then, rolling him in
his blanket, they carry him q few feet
away to q shade which they have pro-
vided and lay him on the hot, sulphur
sand or rock. and there lot him
sweat. They repeat this In the alter
noon. At night they rcmove him 10 q
spot not * warm and let him sleep, and.
II possible. where he can breathe the
gases or vapors of the neighboting vol
canoes. The cures wrought are per-
lectiy wonderful, and couli not be be-
licved II not seen. A few white men
have been there and tried the remedies.
and thus far without . s.ng.e failure.