Box 23, Folder 6: Geographical and Topographical Description of Wisconsin 1855, Third Edition

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originals [with] while the picture of a little skiff was one day `seen represented beside the phantom island, the boatman in the sky appearing to row his bate an as unconcernedly as his original on the [bottom?] of the lake. The most wonderful mirage was observed from [on] the north coast of Lake Royale, which we were coasting along from the eastern to the western end of the island. I took particular notes of the metamorphosis of Thunder Cape, which was subject to the most remarkable changes as viewed inverted in the air. A diagram may give some idea of it, but it would be impossible to represent its varied appearances, except by instantaneous daguerreotype impressions.-

Thunder Cape, fifteen miles distant to the north, a lofty [and] mural [precipice?], said to be 1300 feet high and rising directly from the lake, presents the form of an irregular truncated pyramid. By the phenomena of mirage it suddenly changes its forms into a huge anvil, sending out a long horn to the right while a dark black mass rises behind it, which might be represented as old [Vulcan?] himself.

This singular phenomena attracted much attention, and on observing it with care, I found that the horn of the anvil was the image of the talus of the cliff on the shore, represented in inverted picture. The image seen at the summit was probably that of a conical peak in the rear of the cliff, represented inverted over the cape. Turning away from this phantom for a while, when we looked again the anvil horn had been removed, and the figure over it was gone, but it soon reappeared as before, and for several days we were

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gratified with a view of these singular [phenomena] and interesting appearances, which seemed like the changes of a magic lantern. Not among the least curious and important refractions are those produced on the rays from the celestial bodies. At times the sun yields to the strange refractions produced by the atmosphere over this great lake, and as he draws near to the horizon, expands his broad cheeks most good-naturedly, or sends out a long pear-shaped neck towards the horizon. It is the uncommon thing on other parts of the lake to see vessels inverted in the air before their hulls become visible above the horizon."

Prof. Agassiz stated to the meeting that "not only did the shores and islands, with all their vegetation, appear repeated higher up, and in an inverted position, but that above this inverted landscape there was sometimes still another, in which every thing was upright so that the picture was twice repeated above the surface of real nature-once inverted, and above that, the same erect. This may be simply the imagery the landscape inverted upon the surface of the lake, reproduced with the inverted image of the landscape itself."

Every summer tourist on these upper lakes has abundant opportunity to observe, admire, and study into the cause of the most wonderful freak of nature.

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That the citizens of Wisconsin have occasional opportunities of witnessing some of the more interesting and remarkable phenomena of nature, is shown by the following extract from the Southport Kenosha Telegraph.

"Water Spout."-The interesting phenomenon of the Water Spout was witnessed by quite a number of the citizens of this village, on the morning of Sunday, August 20, 1843. The attention of the beholders was first directed to a dense dark cloud hanging over Lake Michigan, distant, apparently, some ten or twelve miles in a southerly direction from this place. From this cloud was seen converging downwards a thick mass of vapor, trumpet shaped, or in the form of a pyramid reversed; at the same time the surface of the water below appeared greatly agitated, bubbling, foaming, and rising up in hundreds of little sharp pyramids of various heights, until at length an aqueous cone rising upward, united with the descending one-forming a volume apparently some two hundred feet high, and exhibiting the form of two funnels united at the little ends; the point of uniting between the ascending and descending cone being much the smallest part of the column. In the middle of the column was seen what may be termed a transparent tube through which the water appeared to rush with a spiral motion, and with a velocity truly wonderful. Such was the apparent force and power of the current of water rushing through the tube or column, that a misty vapor was thrown off at a considerable distance around, not unlike such as is seen in the presence of huge cataracts. The different shades and colorings reflected by the combination of water and clouds, formed a most magnificent and sublime scene in this wonderful exhibition of nature.

It should be mentioned, that as soon as the Water Spout above described had formed, a second one made its appearance in the immediate vicinity of the first, exhibiting the same process of formation, and in all respects similar to the first. A third also commenced its formation from the dense cloud above, but failed to unite or meet with any column of water from below. The time from the first appearance of the Water Spouts we have described, to the period of their disappearance, was about twenty five minutes. The wind blew at the same time moderately from the [N.E.] north east, and the temperature of the weather was not far from forty five degrees. The appearance which we have been imperfectly describing, was not only seen on the morning before stated by many persons of this village, but also by many individuals residing on the lake shore for many miles south of this place."

This wonderful phenomenon has been witnessed on many other occasions though its occurrence is rare.

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The constant change of level of the surface of the great lakes has long been a subject of canal observation, and a theme for speculation. The nature of these changes [are] were not clearly understood and consequently we need not wonder that some of the theories invented to account for them fail when [are] examined by the test of experience and actual observation.

Those of Lake Michigan, with which I am most familiar may be ranked under [four] five different heads, each [caused by] referable to very different and distinct causes. The following remarks are especially applicable to the phenomena as observed at Milwaukee, situated on the west side of the lake, opposite its widest point, but considerably south of the middle of its length.

We will first consider those constant & hourly changes which are clearly owing to the direction and force of the wind. A heavy northeast wind, which is by far the most common, will cause an accumulation of waters at the south end of the lake. This excess of water being acted upon by gravitation, seeks its level, and returns [with great force] towards the north-hence causing an undulation, or tide, which perhaps will continue to ebb and flow until another storm [will act] acts upon the lake, and produces the same results, keeping the water in constant motion, and causing it to rise and fall at particular places as much as four feet.

The stronger the wind, and the longer it continues to blow-in any one direction, the greater will be the changes of level. In cases of violent

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storms the fluctuations are very considerable, and often extend to places over which the storm did not pass. So sudden and remarkable are these changes of level, that they have been by some attributed to earthquakes. An observer stationed at the mouth of the Milwaukee river which is opened to the Lake by the government [prices?-illegible] so as to afford a free passage of the water in either direction he will observe perhaps a strong current running into the river; the water gradually rising. A few hours or minutes afterwards, the water begins to fall and is followed by a current setting in the other direction.

By continuing the observations he will find these changes constantly taking place. But if he attempts to discover any law governing these remarkable changes he will fail-as they are as fickle as the winds. In the winter these changes are seen by their effects upon the ice where it is connected with the banks of the river. When the water is high it elevates the ice in the middle of the stream and runs over it at the shores. Piles driven deep into the bed of the stream have often been lifted entirely out by the repeated operation of this elevating process.

That there are strong and variable currents in Lake Michigan, has been known ever since the days of Hennepin; and sailors often discover that, upon casting anchor, their vessels turn around against the wind by the force of this current. This of course will only happen when the wind is light, and in a direction opposed to the current. It is evident that this current cannot be caused by the passage of the waters of the river through the lake, especially in Lake Michigan, which may be considered as a branch, and not a part of the great river that connects the lakes; and besides, the current is as often in a direction up the lake as down it.