The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-03-23
A MARVELLOUS STORY.
The Fisherman, His Limo and Pole ne-
come Petrified.

III. rishcrmnp. His Limo and Folc De'
come Petrifed.
The inhabitants OF that part OF west Ten
lessee known as the earthquake bolt are
considerably exercised over tho gradual
sinking Of the lakes formed by tho earth
quake Of 1911. says a Memphis correspond
cnt of the Atlanta Constitution. The
water level 10 descending without any APP
parent cause, although the streams thnt
empty into some of the lakes are nov A.
fected. This 10 taken as evidence tnas tho
soil at the bottom OF these sheets OF water
il hscominp seamy from seismic action be
meath, thus allowing the water to escape
into the unknown basins below.
The effects Of tho unexplained phenom-
cnon are most apparent in stone lake. !"
beautiful body OF water situated IN Lauder
dale county. The lake ia about q mile
long and half a mile wide, and has an av-
eraee depth of twenty feet. but 30 clear 10 ~
that tho smallest objects can be seen on the
bottom, A more inviting place for ths
ANGLER could not be found any where. put.
strange to say, while the other waters IN
that region are alive with hsh, no liVln9
thing has ever been seen in stone lake, ana
the people Of the vicinity contend thas tAs
water ia certain death to any creature tnns
drinks it. The wild fowl avoid it, though
they swarm in the adjoining ponds ana
bayous. Another popularity OF the IN.
canny water is shat anything cast into IL
quickly retrifes: hence the name IT bears.
And thereby hangs a tale, which, incredible
though il NAV sound, il nevertheless de-
voutly believed by the simple inhabitants
Of the locality. 1t goes back to seventy
years ago, whom the country was tlrst
settled BY emierants from North Carolina
Tradition goes that on n hot summer
day, after his task was finished. an old ana
trusted slave of one OF the pioneers gov
leave to go fishing. and. taking his tackle
and bait, set out for the lake, which he had
remarked as n likely place for bass. Ar.
irving there he walked out on q LOB tha'
proiected from the bank and cast his bait.
Whom night came on no had NOT returned
home and his absence ct roll cal! was notea.
The master, however. paid but little atten,
tion to the circumstances, thinking that old
lsom had probably gone on alark TO some
neiohborino farm. But when lsom failed
70 show up next morning old Capt. Billiard
became uneasy and went out IN ssarcn OF
him. He could learn nothing OF the miss
ing slave from the neighbors. Then he or,
oanized a party and beat the woods to find
him, Strange to say, he had not remem-
bered giving Isom leave TO 90 fishing. 10
ward shutdown a fox hound with the party
struck a trail and followed IL to the bank OF
the lake. Thu hunters went after. ana ar
irving at the lake saw Isom sitting on the
log, Win pOlo cAteAooo NV sRPo
fishing, in deep meditation. He proved
deaf to the vociferous calls OF his master.
The hound sprang on the log and ran mp to
the motionless form, shifted at it. and flew
back to the bank bowling with fright:
Then the old captain dismounted and
charged out on the log. whip in hand. 10
chastise the t,uAnt. He brought his whip
down on the motionless figure with a re-
sounding whack. Still Isom sat stlll. The
old captain caught him by the shoulder.
He crasped not flesh and blood, but stone.
The fisherman. his line and pole were petsi-
fed! The log on which he SGT was also
solid.
When the captain and his followers had
recovered from their fright they made their
way home and told their story. Next day =
large party OF the %neiRhbors went out and
found it to be true. They discovered by
dropping things into the lake the marvellous
effect Of the water. The stone log was
once a giant hickory. Nuts that had fallen
from it were seen p~etrifed on the bottom.
II was thought that Isom must have slipped
and fallen into the lake with his pole, and
the water on his clothes and tackle took Of
feet when he reRained his perch and began
fishing.
The extraordinary figure is still intact.
Among those who have seen it recently are
Captain Jack Haynes. the noted bear hun
ter, and Major Joe Wardlow, the county
clerk Of Lauderdale county.