Glimpses of America: A Pictorial and Descriptive History of Our Country's Scenic MarvelsBuel, James W. (James William)
History
Glimpses of America: A Pictorial and Descriptive History of Our Country's Scenic Marvels
Buel, James W. (James William)
United States -- Pictorial works
The whole region within a radius of thirty or more miles of Kilbourn
City, particularly on the west, is full of natural curiosities, for the
district was evidently at one time, in the remote past, the bed of a
lake whose swirling waters carved the soft sandstones into many
astounding forms, and then were assuaged by some force which geologists
fail to explain, leaving these rare monuments of their work behind them.
Devil’s Lake, nearby, is the relic of that vast inland sea, which no
doubt was a part of the great lakes, on the shores of which are many
images of wondrous shapes and size, with many of which interesting
legends are connected. Thus “Sacrifice Stone,” in “Wonder Notch,” is
popularly believed to be the rock on which an Indian maiden was
immolated at an unknown time to propitiate the anger of the Great
Spirit, while “Cleft Rock” represents the fury of the devil who, while
in a passion over some act of the tribe, rose out of the lake and hurled
one of his fiery darts with such poor aim that it did no other damage
than split the largest stone on the shore.
Cleopatra’s Needle is likewise reputed to be the transformed and
geologic remains of a very ancient Indian chief who was punished by the
devil for the audacity of attempting to penetrate the mysteries of the
lake; while another broken and distorted stone on the front of East
Mountain is connected with a similar and indistinct tradition respecting
the invidious curiosity of a squaw. But though there is no lack of
superstitious beliefs among the few Indians of the district, who respect
these queer formations as the relics of their forefathers, there is no
more foundation for them than the mere claim that “so it has been told,”
for no one has ever heard the particulars. It is a forgotten story.
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[Illustration:
SUGAR-LOAF, MACINAC ISLAND.—Macinac Island is a delightful and
picturesque summer resort, located in the Strait of Macinac, which
connects Lakes Michigan and Huron. It is only about three miles long
by two wide, and is rough and rocky. The natural scenery is
charming. The geologist finds mysteries in the calcareous rocks
dripping at unexpected angles; the antiquarian feasts his eyes on
the Druidical circles of the ancient stones; the invalid sits on the
cliff’s edge in the vivid sunshine, and breathes in the buoyant air
with delight. The haunted birches abound, and on the crags grow the
wild larches beckoning with their long fingers, the most human tree
of all. There are many natural curiosities on the island, the most
noted being Sugar-Loaf, so beautifully photographed on this page. It
is conical in shape, and rises to a height of 134 feet.
]
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[Illustration: CHIMNEY AND BEE ROCKS, CAMP DOUGLAS, WISCONSIN.]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Glimpses of America: A Pictorial and Descriptive History of Our Country's Scenic Marvels — John Shaqi
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