The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1897-05-08
|IEGED In A CRATER.
NY II. ALAN CLARKE.


ces of the southwestern border
Nominated the lives and happiness
oreers in that section. In July Of
ear mentioned, party of five
~ Winston, Joe Baker, Clyde Har-
left Human and the writer-left
p;o Grande valley bound on pros
mo- trip into the Zuni country, OF
. extensive mineral wealth we had
a some dazzling rumors.
her. Harris and / were original
om the cast; but Winston and Hin
were Texans--both splendid speci-
Of the modern frontiersman.
were crack shots with rifle and pis-
could ride "anythin' that growed
as Hinman expressed IT.; and
we're thoroughly versed in plains
and Indian warfare.
efore we left the Rio Grande we
a considerable talk of,attacks hav-
been made by raiding parties of
ches on the scattering settlers in
Salt river district; but such rumors
very current In New Mexico and
IONA at that time, and we paid but
Il attention to them, starting as soon
bur preparations were complete.
othing worthy of note occurred dur
the first ten days Of our journey.
me was not very plentiful, but we
naged to get enough to supply us
IN fresh meat; we found an abund-
y of grass and water for the horses;
signs of Indians had been seen; and,
ling all together, we felt that our
XIV star was in the ascendant.
ANY of you fellers ever been to the
i lake?" inquired Winston, as we
Matted at supper one evening.
response to our inquiries, he de-
ibed the lake as occupying the bot
b of deep and almost circular rocky
sin. the sides of which were so preci-
bus that there was only one place
wn which horseman could descend.
e bottom of the lake. he explained,
hs covered with a crust of salt, from
X inches to foot in thickness.
-But the queerest part of 1t all Is the
later. 1t stands at one side of the big
|ke, an forms a part Of the shore.
Then YOU get to the rim Of II you find
|burself standin' on the edge of big
bnnel-shaped hole, about 200 feet deep;
b. right down at the bottom of that is
little lake. so deep nobody has ever
bund bottom to It,"
Our curiosity was strongly excited,
md before we turned In for the night
was unanimously decided to pay a
isit to the strange lake next day.
Sunrise found us in the saddle, and
toilsome ride of two hours duration
|rought us TO the object Of our search.
Weird and CHASTITY are the only terms
which properly describe the scene that
|reeted our eyes as we refined in our
>anting horses. At our feet lay an
'normous basin of perhaps 1000 acres
y extent and some 20 or so feet In depth,
Us precipitous sides garnished with
masses Of volcanic rock. some OF them
% grotesque in shape as to appear al
most unearthly. At the bottom Of the
'asin, and occupying the greater part
u It's area, slumbered lake of dazzling
shiteness. its shores epcrusted with
furious formations Of salt, from which
he suns rays were reflected in glitter
ny light.
On the eastern shore, about half
mile from where we stood, an enormous
mound, in shape like an inverted wash
bowl. lowered to a height of 200 feet or
more; and this we at once recognized az
he crater OF which Winston had spoken.
Dark and forbidding it reared it's
Mighty shape, like an outcast from the
nfernal regions; its grim aspect seem
ng to accentuate the awful silence that
'rooded over the scene.
They say the Apaches, Navajos and
.unis have superstition about the era
En- whispered Winston, awed into
omething like reverence by the sub
me picture Of desolation spread out
efore us. They imagine an evil spirit
YES in the little lake at the bottom; an
hat he emits thunder an lightnin'
'henever he gets mad at anybody. I've
card they won't kill even white man
the BASIN"
Guided by Winston. we rode down the
'eep trail that led to the bottom of the
asin, and established our camp near
little spring that bubbled out of the
ocks opposite to the crater. twas the
My fresh water In the vicinity, but
lere we're no signs to indicate that IL
al lately been visited by man or beast.
Hing our canteens, and watering the
orses, we were ready to commence the
scent Of the crater.
Arrived at the summit we at once
wv that Winston's description had not
cen overdrawn. At our feet yawned
great funnel-shaped hole, at the bot
I'm OF which twinkled miniature lake,
hue Of brightest emerald contrast
g strangely with the dark scoria OF
lie crater's sides.
With many turns and twists, and
'uch unavoidable sliding, we descended
the shore of the lake, and seating our
Ives on fragments of lava, spent half
q hour in endeavoring to account for
lie presence Of such jewel in SO in
'ngruous setting.
They say the water is 30 thick with
1T that a Teller cant sink in It." re-
'arked Winston.
did Won ever fesx x ~, 7 asked