Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1897-05-13
HOME READING.
BESIEGED IN A CRATER.
by II. ALAN CLARKE.

when the ApacheS-thoSe Vlrulent
scourges of the southwestern border
still dominated the lives and happiness
of pioneers in that section. In July OF
the year mentioned, a party of five
Robert Winston, Joe Baker, Clyde Har-
ris, jeff Human and the writer-left
the Rio Grande valley bound on a pros
pecting trip into the Zuni country of
whose extensive mineral wealth we had
heard some dazzling rulnors.
Baker, Harris and 1 were original
" from the east; but Winston and Hin
man were Texans-both splendid speci-
mems of the modern frontiersman.
They were crack shots with rifle and PTS
toll; could ride 'anythin' that growed
HAIR" as ITinman expressed it; and
they were thoroughly versed in plains
craft and Indian warfare.
Before we left the Rio Grande we
heard considerable talk Of attacks hav-
ing been made by raiding parties of
Apaches on the scattering settlers in
the Salt river district; but such rumors
were very current in New Mexico and
Arizona at that time, and we paid but
little attention to them, starting as soon
as our preparations were complete.
Nothing worthy of note occurred dur
ing the first ten days of our journey.
Game was not very plentiful, but we
managed to get enough to supply us
with fresh meat; we found an abund-
ance of grass and water for the horses;
no signs of Indians had been seen; and,
taking. all together, we felt that our
lucky star was in the ascendant.
Any of YOU fellers ever been to the
Salt lake?" inquired Winston, az we
squatted at supper one evening.
In response to our inquiries, he de-
scribcd the lake as occupying the bot
ION Of . deep and almost circular rocky
basin. the sides of which were so preci-
pitous that there was only one place
down which horseman could descend.
The bottom Of the lake, he explained,
was covered with a crust of salt, from
six inches to foot in thickness.
But the queercst part of it all is the
crater. 1t stands at one side of the big
lake, an forms part of the shore.
When YOU get to the rim of it you find
Yourself standin' on the edge of big
funnel-shaped hole, about 200 feet deep;
an right down at the bottom of that is
little lake, so deep nobody has ever
found q bottom to it."
Our curiosity was strongly excited,
and before we turned in for the night
it was unanimously decided to pay a
80 ~ 10 Il
Sunrise found us in the saddle, and
a toilsome ride of two hours duration
brought US 10 the object of our search.
Weird and CHASTITY are the only terms
which properly describe the scene that
greeted our eyes as we refined in our
painting horses. At our feet lay an
enormous basin of perhaps 1000 acres
in extent and some 10 or so feetin depth,
it's precipitous sides garnished with
masses of volcanic rock, some of them
50 grotesque in shape as to appear al
most unearthly. AT the bottom of the
basin, and occupying the greater part
of its area, slumbered lake Of dazzling
whiteness, its shores encrusted with
curious formations of salt, from which
the suns rays were reflected in glitter
ing 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 as
the crater of which Winston had spoken.
Dark and forbidding it reared its
mighty shape, like an Outcast from the
internal regions; its grim aspect SEEM
ing 10 accentuate the awful silence that
brooded over the scene.
They say the Apaches, Navajos and
Zunis have q. superstition about the era
ter" whispered Winston, awed into
something like reverence by the sub
lime picture Of desolation spread out
before US. 'They imagine an evil spirit
lives in the little lake at the bottom; an
that he epits thunder an lightnin'
whenever he gets mad at anybody. I've
heard they won't kill even a white man
in the BASIN"
Guided by Winston, we rode down the
steep trail that led to the bottom of the
basin, and established our camp near
Il little spring that dubbed out of the
rocks opposite to the crater. twas the
only fresh water in the vicinity, but
there were no signs TO indicate that ii
had lately been visited by man or beast
FILLING our canteens, and watering the
horses, we were ready to commence the
ascent of the crater.
Arrived at the summit we at once
saw that Winston's description had not
been overdrawn. At our feet yawncd
Il great funnel-shaped hole, at the bot
tom of which twinltled miniature lake,
its hue of brightest emerald contrast
ing strangely with the dark scoria Of
the crater's sides.
With many turns and twists, and
much unavoidable sliding, we descended
TO the shore of the lake, and seating our
selves on fragments of lava, spent half
an hour in endeavoring to account for
the presence Of such jewel in so in
congruous a setting.
"They say the water is so thick with
salt that teller can't sink in it," re-
marked Winston.
Did YOU ever test it?" asked.
NO, stree! You couldn't hire me to
70 swimmin' in such hole as that. I'd
he afeaTd that spirit 'ud grab me by the
feet and pull me down. There's never
been no bottom found in the center"
The rest of us had no such scruples
however, and, dof1ing our clothes, We
were soon splashing about in the brinH
element
1t gave me a grewsome feeling tc
swim across the fathomless abyss in tht
center. It's ragged circumference, seer
distinctly many feet below the suface
suggested the ravenous jaws and gap
ing nav Of a monster Of the Cyclopear
world, lying in wait for whatever I'M
wary creature might venture into it