The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-10-13

ITS DEprH uNsouNDED.


A Northwestern Lake with its Indian Lc-
gend of II Serpent.
TaeonG Ledger
Long before mankind ever started its
conquest OF this earth from sea mon.
sters the area that is now distinguished
by the name of Palouso county had been
subjected to violent upheayals and radi.
cal changes in topography. a great in.
land sea rested here for many centuries
and the chemical action Of the water
enriched the soil simultaneously with
leVeling the sediment in the form OF
vast plain. Internal commissions,
whether from volcanic action or from
shrinkageof the planet consequent upon
the cooling process then going on-per'
hlps both combined-raised the sub
merged plain high and dry, with u steep
decline to the westward. The rushing
flood cut the land into ridges and RAJ
vines, high bluffs and lonely rocks be-
ing scattered promlscuously in living
evidence OF the revolution.
Tho surface thus presents n broken
and picturesque scene. Chief among
the wonderful products OF these pre-
historic commissions and deluges is Il
canyon over in the northwestern part
OF Whitman county containing Rock
lake, sheet OF water twelve miles long
by about 100 rods wide, bordered by
cliffs ascending perpendicularly to a
height OF LOO to $500 feet. The can
yon OF Rock lake runs east to west. 1t
is deep hole in q plateau Of solid rock,
and the bottom never has been sounded
by man. The eastward extremity falls
abruptly from the bed OF small creek
down and down 500 feet, over cascade,
down another plunge OF 600 feet, and
oil finally over second cascade 800
feet to the bottom. Above the land
rolls away in small heaps OF stone and
barren slopes for five miles on either
side. Down at the bottom is II valley,
one by three miles in extent, and GOV.
cred with the prettiest coat OF tropical
foliage to be found anywhere.
The climate IN this dcclivity is as
tropical and delightful as that which
gives Hawaii an envied fame all the
world over. The temperature seldom
falls below 60 degrees Fahrenheit and
rarely goes above 90 degrees. The cold
OF winter is seemingly unable to reach
the level OF the valley, owing to the in
ternal warmth naturally belonging to
hole so deep. The heat OF summer is
tempered by the cooling influences OF
the lake adjoining. The west end OF
this little Garden of Eden jumps abb
ruptly over n precipice 100 feet into the
Rock lake, and tho western end OF the
lake, twenty miles further on, finds an
outlet through narrow passage way
between hills sloping sharply, and soon
breaking into dismembered pyramids
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 theme for philo-
sophie meditation not surpassed by the
sublime ruggedness OF the Alps.
An Indian legend OF this remarkable
lake makes it the home OF monstrous
sea serpent The remnants Of tho red
tribes which used to frequent its shores
tell their white neighbors that no In
dams can venture into the water, either
for bath or pleasure trip in canoe,
without being swallowed whole by the
hideous reptile, ard to this day the
uborigines look upon Rock lake with
the SHINE apprehension that an old-time
orthodox ponders over the terrors Of
purgatory. Their legend declares that
nm entire. tribe was lashed TO destruc-
ton and eaten not many centuries ago.
ali to satisfy the greed OF this very mott
ster At another time, during the out
break quelled by Colonel Steptoe in
1858, band Of noble red men, in their
efforts to escape the vigilance Of Uncle
SANS blue coats, tried to conceal them
selves above this lake in the little para
disc, but were overtaken by the great
fish, the legend avows, and sent to