4
THE CHEMAWA AMERICAN
and free from the wave danger of the Italian cavern. The facade of this
grotto is colored with the most wonderful yellows, grays, browns, deep
orange, and a velvety black with much silver sheen. The roof of the
grotto is covered with stalactites of irregular length. Some are of a
frothy effect like burnt alum, others like clear alum and still others as
clear as crystal. Whenever the blue water was tiirown upon it they
reflected light like a blue white diamond. Out in the lake the water
loses its blue color when dipped from the lake, but in the grotto the color
remains in the water when it is thrown on the roof of the cavern and also
as it falls back with a splash into the lake beneath. The whole colorings
of the water is doubtless due to the light, but they are intensfied in the
grotto. Near this point, some distance from the shore, there were bub
bles on the surface of the lake which resembled crystal marbles. 1 hey
seemed to be dancing over the waters. Scientists have been unable to
account for them unless they are due to gases from below.
Near the southern shores is a craggy islet known as the Phantom Ship.
Its rocky pinnacles extend 175 feet above the water; from the distance
its base suggests the hull of a ship and the towering rocks, masts. This
fact and also because in certain lights it disappears from view gives rise
to the name. Crater Lake is the deepest body of fresh water in the
world. Originally there were no fish in it, but the lake has been stocked
with rainbow trout. Fishing can be done without a state license, for
it is in a national park and is governed only by national laws; the only
restriction is a five fish limit in one day for each fisherman.
In 1886 President Cleveland issued a proclamation, withdrawing ten
township, including the land about the lake, from the market, but it was
not until seventeen years later that the act passed Congress making it a
National Park.
When the shades of night come on a fog quickly covers the lake and
the lights become so deceptive that it is no longer possible to distinguish
one portion of the rim from another. To prevent a boatman from becom
ing lost and being compelled to stay out all night, all are required to
return to the landing by 5:30 P. M. From certain positions in the park
the observer can see the base of the engulfed mountain rising about a
thousand feet above the general crest of the range on which it stands,
convincing more and more that there is probably truth in the supposition
that above the lake once towered a lofty volcano.
Every Oregonian who can should visit Crater Lake. Its grandeur
will well pay for the difficulties encountered in making the trip. But
go while it is in its natural wildness, before rail-roads and other modern
conveniences commercialize it, and do not fail to go upon the water.
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