Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1911-03-29

in the midst of this primeval forest
ages ago.
At Lake Amatitlan we find our
selves on a much visited lake. The
borders of this lovely body of water.
lying only IS miles to the south OF
Guatemala City, are the Fairgrounds
of the capital. Situated at an alti'
tude of nearly 1000 feet above the
level Of the sea, IL miles long and 8
miles wide, it is very deep and gives
rise to river, the Guastoya, which
has its outlet in the Pacific ocean, II
miles south of the port Of San Jose,
where it is IL miles wide.
A curious phenomenon, which is a
yearly occurrence, generally during
which takes place at the bottom of
the lake, and great quantities Of sui
phur rise to the surface of the water,
This, for a time, is the death knell
of the fish.
In the boiling springs which abound
is done the laundry work of the city,
the women taking advantage of this
water heated by nature and ever
ready for use Groups of dark-skinned
Indian women, in their gayly colored
native costumes, kneeling by the deep
blue waters amidst the piles OF snowy
linen, present most attractive and
fascinating picture. There is also a
novelty about a picnic, when eggs can
be cooked without trouble by merely
dropping them into one of Mother Ma
lures ever-boiling pots.
1t has been my good fortune to see
many lakes in different parts Of the
world, but never have 1 seen one more
exquisitely beautiful than the curious
crater lake of Atitlan, incompatible
for grandeur of scenery and perfec-
ton of climate. In the very heart of
the mountains we find this lake, 80
miles in length and 10 miles in
breadth. Although many streams emp
ty their waters into it, there is no
visible outlet and its depth is I'M
known, no soundings having been
made with a line of more than 800
fathoms. No fish live in its icy wa
ters, and here and there upon its sur
face mineral springs bubble up from
it's unfathomable depths.
1t is impossible to describe the
charm and witchery of this country,
bathed in moonlight, the scenery at
each step becoming more impressive.
We forded rushing, tumbling noun
tain streams, looking like cascades Of
silver, and we rode through silent In
dian villages, where the inhabitants
we're sleeping in front of their strange
little bamboo huts. The only sound
to break the silence was the plaintive
call of the whippoorwill. Words are
inadequate to portray the scene which
was before us. The great expanse Of
water lay like molten silver in the
moonlight, the mountains, solemn and
awe-inspiring, standing in serried
ranks like giant sentinels to guard
tt is treasure A soft, pearly mist
hung over all, but not so dense as to
hide the perfect outline Of the three
great volcanoes-the two Atitlans and
San Pedro. These stupendous giants
rise to the height Of nearly 10000 feet
anu ldll Ill OlC uADIOhOAA DWCOP " thC
waters edge.
The filmy veil of mist which is
characteristic of this region during
the greater part of the year occasion
ally melts away, and as we stood on
this spot, speechless before the won
der of this panorama, it seemed for
our benefit alone to have crept silent
ly away in the night and earth and
sky and water were perfectly revealed,
outlying each other in deepest tones
of blue. But even as we gazed soft
clouds formed in the valleys below
and crept stealthily up, writhing and
twisting like great white snakes, un.
til once more they had encircled the
mountains like giant serpents whose
power even the great hills could not
withstand Nature seemed to say that
we had looked already too long upon
her secret treasures, and softly but
swiftly she again drew around them
the gauzy mantle in which, except at
rare intervals, she keeps them
wrapped.
E. r. TISDEL.