The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-04-29
LAKE MIRAGES.
Fhantom Cities Seen In Chicago's
Early DaY Rsappear.

Early Day Rsappear.
Lake Michigan is indulging in the
mirage habit once more. Years ago,
When all the present oldest inhabit
anus OF Chicago were lively young peo-
pie, mlrase5 over the lake and TO the
served The shores of the state Of
Michigan" according TO report. says a
Writer IN the Chicago Tribune, were
oIten TO be noticed at that time when
the weather was sunny. This phenom-
enon mad been observed many times
DsIore II was learned that IL was in
reailty mirage
then Tor long period of years the
fnlrages did not appear About three
years ago the one which used to haunt
me Iow-lying land to the west of
washington park suddenly came into
existence again, being visible only from
the north end of the speeding track.
from THIS point the track itself, on
orlght afternoons, when the suns rays
were lengthening, seemed to be en-
tlreiy un6er water. The horses trOtting
along II appeared to splash through the
sparkling fluid breast high. But the
mirage over Lake Michigan. until late
~, has not been visible for many years.
About two weeks ago a resident of
hyde Park stood on the express
PLATFORM OF the Illinois Central rail-
way, waiting to take the train 70 the
CITY Looking northward from the
PLATFORM the big waves which rush into
the little bay behind the Chicago beach
Motel can be distinctly seen. Rising
above them and apparently stretching
Tar out into the lake, a shining city
seemed to stand. The day was bright
and sunny. with a faint. light mist
hanging over the horizon Of the lake.
But the spires, and roofs, and walls of
the mirage city were unclouded by any
Napor. The oldest thing about this
phantom city was that it seemed all
cleaning white and yellow, whereas
the prevailing tone of Chicago coloring
is dingv gray or drab.
When the train flashed by the points
10 which the mirage seemed opposite,
no shining city was to be seen. That
was between Fiftieth and Forty-Sev-
enth streets. But between Thirty-fifth
and Th1rty-siXth streets another mi
rage Sprang into view. This illusion,
however, while also Stimulating a city
in appearance, was dull and gray
looking and might easily have been the
reflection of Chicago itself 1t seemed
to stand out farther from the shore
than the mirage farther south.
Since that day both mirages frequent
ly have been visible. although not every
day. SunShiny weather, with the rem
nants of light mist floating over the
water in places, seem to form the con-
ditionS most favorable to their appear
ance. The Thirty-fifth street mirage
can be seen from points a little either
south or north of the spot where it
seems to stand. The Fiftieth street
phantom city can be seen, apparently,
only from an elevated position several
blocks to the south It has been no.
ticed by several Hyde Park residents
whose windows command a view Of the
lake, and is most clearly visible be-
tween 3 and 4 O'Clock in the afternoon.
Old-time residents of Chicago assert
that appearances much finer and more
distinct were once frequently visible off
both points, but add that they have
not been seen of late. By superslti-
tioUs people and the lovers of the mys-
tic these mirages are said to portend
great and remarkable changes or
events for Chicago. Scientific thinkers,
however, are inclined to believe them
solely due to certain atmospheric pc
culiarities.