The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-07-23
NATURE as A CHRMIsT.
a Lake of Black Ink in the Volcanic
Region of Arizona.


From the Philadelphia EUening Telegraph
Nearly all of the $500 Cocopah volcanoes
in Arizona are situated near the east end Of
the volcanic area which they occupy. Sew
eral large mounds, once living volcanoes,
are now quiet. Between the hills Of lava,
rock and debris are q large number Of
living, active volcanoes. From the sides of
the hill, so to 200 feet above the surround
ing waters, como forth most beautiful
springs of clear, warm water, some SO sour,
others so sweet, 80 bitter, and SO strongly
alkaline that no living being or animal can
drink it. These waters course down the
hillsides, laying coat of white, pink, pur-
pie, blue or green, made by the mineral salts
they contain, upon everything with which
they come in contact.
In the midst of these hills Is the Lake of
Ink. There run into il scores Of streams of
clear mineral hot water, others that are
warm, aud two that are cold. The lake,
one-fourth Of mile In length and one
eighth in width, lies like gem set in these
hills or these ancient volcanoes. The black,
ink-like water which fills the lake comes up
to within three or four inches Of the level Of
its shores. The temperature near the edge
is about 110e, gradually growing warmer as
you get down into 1t, and as you approach
the center of the lake, on the surface it is
about 1862, and at depth OF $50 feet it is
2l6o. Near the shore on the east south and
west sides the water is only four TO six feet
in depth for twenty feet or more into the
lake, where the shell breaks of perpendic-
ulRrlY. and there no bottom hes ever been
found. To the touch the water feels smooth
and oily. The ashes and oil which cover
the lake when its waters are quiet are from
one-haIf an inch 60 an inch thick. The
water of the lake ia jet black, though it
M he Obi n ~ tsyhN Ank ~
in it.
Under glass the coloring matter seems
to be minute black substance held in sus-
pension by the water, which edheres to
white cloth immersed In the lake. To the
taste the water is warm, salt and bitter
To the bather the sensation on entering the
water is grand, exhilaratiug to a wonderful
degree, 30 much so that bath OF ten or
fifteen minutes makes one fell as TX he were
under the influence Of the very best brandy
Millions of bubbles formed by escaping
gases, keep the surface Of the lake agitated
at all times, till 10 rolls, boils aud foams a.
a ready to break over its banks and escaps
and again only In myriads of sparkling
globules. glitserlng in the sunlight. When
ever the volcanoes rage with anger the
lake follows, and tbs sight Of its maddened
waters is worth seeing.
From time immemortal these watsrs have
been used by tho different tribes OF Indians
far and wide. at war and in peace, as the
great all-heahng remedy, following bath
in the hot mud OF thu peaceable volcanoes,
for all feyers, rheumatism, scrofula and
veneFeal diseases. Tnsy take the invalid
and bury him, all but his ears,
eyes au6 mouth in the hot volcanic
mud for from twenty to thirty minutes on
blanket the 80 or 100 feet to the edge of
the lake aud put him into the water.
holding his head above it, for from fifteen
TO twenty minutes. Then, rolling him in his
blanket, they carry him few feet away TO
a shade which they have provided, and lay
him on the hot, sulphurous sand or rock,
and, there let him sweat. They repent this
IN the afternoon. At night they remove
him TO place where the ground Is not so
warm, and let him sleep, and If possible,
where he can breathe the gases or vapors of
the neighboring volcanoes. The cures
wrought are perfectly wonderful, and could
not be believed If not seen. few white
men have been there and tried the remedies,
and thus far without single failure.