Historic Cryptid Headline: August 11, 1838 - The Devil's Lake

February 03, 2023 / adam benedict

Richmond Indiana Palladium

August 11, 1838

“The Devil’s Lake.”

[From the Logansport Telegraph.]

In the Northern portion of Indiana there are many beautiful little lakes which give great interest to a country somewhat open. About twenty-five miles from Logansport, and in the vicinity of Rochester, there is one of these lakes about two miles in length, half a mile in width, and of unknown depth. Soundings were once tried with a line of thirteen fathoms, but with no effect.

There is an ancient tradition of the Pottawattamie Indians relative to this lake, which has been handed down from generation to generation, and is now received by the white man with confirmed credence. The precise time at which the tradition was first received among the Indians cannot be determined - probably not a very long time after the emigration of the Pottawattamies across the hard waters of the North, some centuries since, to the district of country, which was then occupied by the Miamic, by whose grant the Pottawattamies became possessed of the lands which they have held North of the Wabash. It appears that the tradition does not owe its origin to the superstitious fears of the red men; but that some gigantic creature inhabited the lake, and does at the present time, is beyond the probability of doubt.

This lake is called by the Indians “Lake Man-i-too,” or the Devil’s Lake; and such is the terror in which it is held, that but few Indians would even dare to venture in a canoe upon its surface. The Indians will neither fish nor bathe in this lake; such is the powerful conviction that “Man-i-too” or the Evil Spirit, dwells in its crystal waters. It may elicit a smile from the incredulous to assert gravely the fact that some very extraordinary creature claims monarchy of that beautiful lake. But the existence of a monster in this lake is not an object of more surprise to us than the remains of the Mastadon, whose teeth measure 18 inches - and which were found but two miles from town, in a prairie through which the canal runs. Were there not assurances from men entitled to credibility that a monster has been seen within a few days in the lake Man-i-too, it might be supposed the strange story originated in the superstitious fears of the Aborigines.

When the Pottawattamie Mills were erecting some ten years since, at what is called the out-let of the lake, the monster was seen by men known to Gen. Milroy, under whose direction the Mills, I believe were erected. There are persons in Logansport who questioned closely those who lately saw the mysterious occupant of the lake, are now convinced of this tradition of Man-i-too being founded upon something more substantial than the basis of fish and snake stories generally.

But two weeks since some men by the name of Robinson were fishing in the lake, when they beheld with surprise the even surface of the water ruffled by something swimming rapidly, and which they suppose must have measured sixty feet. The Robinsons are respectable men, whose fears are not easily excited; yet such was the terror which this non-descript caused that they made a hasty retreat to the shore, much alarmed. Since this circumstance took place, and but a few days since, Mr. Lindsey, who is well known here, was riding near the margin of the lake, when he saw, at the distance of 200 feet from him some animal raise its head three or four feet above the surface of the water. He felt the security of the shore, and viewed the mysterious creature many minutes; when it disappeared and re-appeared three times in succession. The head he described as being about three feet across the frontal bone, and having something of the contour of a ‘beef’s head,’ but the neck tapering, and having the character of the serpent; color dingy, with large bright yellow spots. It turned its head from side to side with an easy motion, in apparent survey of the surrounding objects. Mr. L. is entitled to credibility. So convinced are many of the existence of the monster, that some gentlemen in town have proposed an expedition to the lake, and by the aid of rafts to make an effort to capture the mysterious being which is a terror to the superstitious, but which becomes an object of interest of science, the naturalist, and philosopher.

A Visiter To The Lake.

“Historic Cryptid Headlines” showcases actual articles involving cryptids that were published within United States newspapers back in the 1800s-1900s. The articles posted here are written exactly as they appeared during their original publishing date.

-The Pine Barrens Institute

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