Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-10-07
IT'S DEPTH UNsOUKDED.
A Northwestern Lake With Its Indian
Legend of a Serpent.

From the Tacoma Ledger.
Long before mankind ever started its COM
quest OF this earth from sea monsters the
area that is now distinguished by the name
Of Paiouse county had been subjected 10
violent upheavals ana radical changes m
topography. A great inland SEA rested here
for many centuries.snd the chemical action
OF the water enriched the soil Simultaneous
ly with leveling the sediment IN the form OF
a vast plain. Internal conyClsicus. whether
from volcanic action or from shr.nkage OF
the planet consequent upon the cooling pro-
cess then going on-perhsps both combined
raised the submerged plain high AMI dry,
with a steep decline to u westward. The
rushing mood cut the land INTO ridges and
ravines. high bluffs ana iorcly rocks being
scattered promiscuously in living evidence
of the revolution.
The surface thus presents \ broken and
picturesque scene. Chief among the won
derful products of these prehistoric convui-
sfons and deluges Is canyon over In the
northwestern part Of Whitman county con-
tanning Rock lake, a sheet o. watcr twelve
miles long by about 100 rods wide. bordered
by cliffs ascending perpendicalsrly TO .
height OF LOO TO 2.5co feet The canyon OF
Rock lake runs east TO west II is a deep
hole in a plateau OF solid rock, and the bot
tom never has been sounded by man. The
eastward extremity falls abruptly from the
bed of n small creek down and down so
feet. over a cascade. down another plunge
of 600 feet, and OFF finally over a second cas-
rolls away in small heaps o. stone and bar
rem slopes for five miles on either size.
Down st the bottom is "A VALLEY. one by
three miles in extent, and covered with the
prettiest coat OF tropical foliage TO be found
anywhere.
The climate in this declivity is as tropical
and delightful as that which Iives Hawaii
an envied fame all the world over. The
temperature seldom falls below 20 degrees
Fahrenheit and rarely goes above 80 de-
grees. The cold of winter IS seemingly un-
able to reach the level OF the valley. owing
to the internal warmth naturally belonging
TO hole SO deep. The neat % summer Is
tempered by the cooling Influences OF the
lake adjoining. The west eni Of this little
Garden of Eden jumps abruptly over O
precipice 100 feet into Rock lake. and the
western end OF the lake, twenty miles fur
ther on, finds an outlet throu; h a narrow
passageway between hills slopms sharply,
and soon breaking into rismemberei nyra-
mids OF basalt rock. The surface OF Rock
lake Is not much above sea level. and the
unfathomable depth of the water. clear as
crystal connected with weird surroundings.
affords a theme for philosophic meditation
not surpassed by the sublime ruGsedness OF
the Alps.
An Indian legend of this remarkable lake
makes IL the home OF a inonstrols sea SER
pent. The remnants OF the r.st tribes which
used to frequent its shores tell their white
neighbors that no Indian can venture into
the water. either for a bath or a pleasure
trip in a canoe, without Icing swallowed
whole by the Mucous Teplle, ana TO this
day the aborigines look upon liock lake
with the same Apprehension that an old
time orthodox ponders over the terrors Of
purgatory. Their legend declares that IN
entire tribe was dashed TO destruction ana
eaten not many centuries ago. all TO satisfy
the greed OF this very monster At another
time, during the outbreak auclei by Col
Steptoe in 1858. a band of noble red men, In
their efforts to escape the vigilance Of I'm
Gle Sans bluecoats, tried u conceal them
selves above this lake in rhe little paradise.
but were overtaken by the great fish. the
legend avows and sent to eternity.