The Savannah morning news., 1902-11-30

In the state of Washington, situated
about twenty COO miles from the city
of Spokane, there is a wonderful body
of water that is known to the white
people as Medical Lake, and to the
Indians for years past as the Scookum
Limechin Chuck, or Strong Medicine
Water, which was said by them to
come from the Sahala Tyee or Great
Spirit, a pool that he had created to
cure the Indians of all the ills that hui
man flesh is heir to. This beautiful
little lake is situated in the midst OF
a fine grazing and agricultural coun-
try, fianked by majestic mountain
ranges, and lies like medallion nes-
tied in the midst of groves of stately
pine trees. 1t is about a mile and
half long by a mile in width, and
more beautiful or wildly romantic spot
cannot be found in the world, its nat
ural surroundings being grand beyond
description Its shores are gently slop-
ing, arising to no great hight above the
waters edge, the lake lying like sill
yer sheen at ones feet. This pretty
little lake was first prominently called
to the notice of the white settlers or
that portion of the country about thir-
ty years ago through the yearly pill
grimage of the Indians, who came for
many miles on every side to battle in
and drink of it's wonderful waters.
While encafnped about its shores they
performed strange religious rites, sing
ing and dancing and beating on huge
drums whose thunder roll could be
heard for miles reverberating through
the canyons and hills, calling all In
dams who might be within reach or
their tones to join in the strange cere-
monies, which ofttimes continued for
days. 1t has only been within recent
years that it was safe for white set
tiers to enter that portion of the state
where the lake is situated for that ia
nous old Indian, Chief Joseph, one of
the most renowned Indian warriors the
West has ever known, sent out word
that he would scalp any white man
who dared to invade this Ito the In
dians) sacred ground or to battle in or
to drink of the waters of the lake. Aft
er his subjugation the country rapidly
settled up, and the lake became imme-
diately famous among the white set
tiers on account of it's wonderful me-
dicinal, healing and curative proper
ties. The lake is known to have been
the rendezvous of the sick and afflicted
Indians as far Back as 1907, some of
them being known to come from as
far south as Lower California, dis
lance of nearly thirteen hundred Q,3O0)
miles. One reason why such long pill
grimages were made was because of
the fame the salts had achieved from
the fact that the Indians had for years
been taking away with them a powder
or precipitate discovered in the bot
toms of their cooking utensils or
dishes that they boiled the waters of
the lake in, and these salts were car
ried to those whose infirmitieS made
personal visit to the lake impossible.
Thus yearly many pounds of these
salts found their way into the hands of
these simple children of nature, whose
belief in their curative qualities was
afterward found by the whites to be
we'll founded. The lake has no inlet
or outlet, but is fed by subterranean
springs, which come up with such great
force as to cause the waters to boil
in their immediate vicinity. The
density of the waters differs in differ
ent sections of the lake. Where the
small springs boil up the specific grav-
ity of the waters is said to be less than
where the larger springs come in.
There is practically no rise or fall in
the lake at any season of the year,
and it is said that no living creature
abides in these strangely medcated
waters. No drainage, sewage or filth
of any description goes into the lake,
whose waters are much drunk, as they
are most palatable and delicious A
popularity of the water is one not else
where noted. To the touch it leaves
a sensation as of placing the hand in
OIL the least commotion causing the
water to foam as if impregnated with
soap. There is only a very slight
trace of alkali in the waters, the most
sensitive or delicate skin not being in
the least irritated, even If they are
used in their most concentrated form.
On the contrary, the effect on the skin
is deliciously cooling and soothing.
bath in the waters or made from
the salts acts as an immediate tonic
and invigorator. This feature alone is