Odd, Old News: The Blue Lakes Monster

Clear lake with Mt. Kenocti in the background, from Clear Lake 4-H Club camp site.

Clear lake with Mt. Kenocti in the background, from Clear Lake 4-H Club camp site. [Crop of an image from the Metcalf Collection at UC Berkeley]

Nuggets of old news served up once a week by David Heller, one of our local historians.

As we have seen over the last several weeks, reports of giant fish and/or serpents in lakes and rivers are not uncommon in California, and Native lore is full of ‘stories/myths/legends’ of such creatures.

Lake County’s Blue Lakes was the site of a number of sightings in the early 1870’s, as newspapers of the area duly reported.

Russian River Flag, Number 4, 8 December 1870
A VOICE FROM BLUE LAKE
… I am located on the shore of one of the Blue Lakes, on the route of the stage which carries the U. S. mail, and passengers between Ukiah and Lakeport. These Lakes are situated high up in the range of mountains that lies between the Sacramento Valley and the upper Russian River valleys. They are twelve miles northwest from Lakeport and eighteen miles northeast from Ukiah. They are closed in snugly on all sides by mountains which are very steep, and seemingly these continue their course downward, below the water, at the same angle as above it, until they meet at a great depth below, and the Lakes are simply very deep mountain gorges or canons, partly filled with water. They have been sounded to a depth of 300, feet without finding bottom. The water is very transparent, the reflection of the woody hills giving it a bluish tint—hence the name: Blue Lakes.

It is said that there is a monster fish, or water dragon, inhabiting the upper Blue Lake. He is described as being thirty feet long and has only been seen by a few of the older inhabitants. The Indians of this country have long had a superstitious notion of the presence of his fishship and regard him as a sort of deified king of the water. They never camp close to that lake. One of my neighbors here is so strongly impressed with the belief that such a fish does inhabit the lake that he has had made a hook and is now engaged in trying to catch him. The hook is nine inches long, and attached to it is twelve feet of strong chain, which he don’t believe any fish can bite in two, and to that is attached a good large rope seventy feet long, which is firmly fastened to a tree near the water’s edge. The hook is baited with a ham of venison and is now floating in the lake awaiting the approach of this fabulous Hydra.

It is generally understood that there are three of the lakes, but in reality there arc only two. The upper lake is nearly cut in two by a neck of timbered land that makes out into it, but the waters are connected by a narrow channel. This one is about a mile and a half long and from one-fourth to one-third of a mile wide. The lower lake is about a half mile south of the other. It is almost one mile long and a quarter of a mile wide. The water in the lower lake is not as clear as in the other, in consequence of which fishing is much better in the former. This state of the water is caused by the backing over of Scott’s Creek in times of high water. The lower Blue Lake empties into Scott’s Creek, that into Tule Lake, Tule Lake into Clear Lake, thence into Cache Creek, and the latter into the Sacramento. …
H. D. L., Jr. Lower Blue Lake. Nov. 27, 1870

A few months later a man driving a wagon on a road overlooking the upper lake shared his mind-changing ‘fishship’ encounter.
Russian River Flag, Number 10, 19 January 1871

The Monster in Blue Lake
Your correspondent—“H.D.L.” in a most recent letter to you of this country, and among other things, mentioned a reputed inhabitant of one of those lakes. But he, like many other, myself included, discredited the existence of his fishship. My doubts were dispelled the other day, however, by an awful view of this curiosity. While coming across the grade on the bank of the upper lake last Saturday, I caught a glimpse of him swimming near the opposite shore, a distance of some four hundred yards from me. I stopped the team to have a good look at him. When I first saw him he was at a considerable depth in the water, but he soon rose to the surface, so that I could see him plainly. He moved slowly a short distance, then changing his direction swam out of sight. I should think it would measure at least twenty feet in length and five or six feet around the body.

The Indians here-abouts have the superstition that a sight of this monster devil fish, as they call him, is certain death to them. They will not fish in the lake he inhabits, (the Upper Blue Lake). I refused to believe this big fish story until convinced by the evidence of my own eyes. I find my incredulity gone but am unable to say what this huge creature is. Inhabiting the water, it is evidently a fish. Of what kind I shall make it a point to ascertain if possible. Our neighbor, who for some time has had a mammoth hook set for this monster, has never had a bite yet; but it is no wonder, since he pays no attention to his hook, and never changes the bait.
Ink Stand
BLUE LAKES, Lake County, January 9th, 1871

And a few months later the newspaper of record shared that there had been a group sighting of the creature.

Russian River Flag, Number 26, 11 May 1871
The Blue Lake monster.
A private letter received here from Blue Lakes, Lake county, states that that fabulous monster of those waters has been seen again, and so plainly as to establish himself in the minds of those who saw him as a reality. A party of picnicers from Ukiah stopped on the shore of the lake, and the brass band [began] to play, when the fish, or whatever he is, came to the top of the water near shore and was plainly seen by all present. A member of the Ukiah brass band who was in Healdsburg on last Monday, confirms the report.

The Indians have always asserted the existence of this large fish, and they regard it with superstitious awe, believing it to be something supernatural; while the most of white men, excepting the few who claim to have seen it, have thought it too big a fish to swallow; but it has been actually seen too often, lately, by respectable, truthful persons, for the existence of the extraordinary creature to be longer doubted.

The next recorded sighting occurred in 1872 and provoked a a serious reaction from the Pomo as was recounted in 1880 with the publication of the History of Mendocino by Lyman Palmer.

“The Blue Lakes, covering an area of about four square miles, are situated about five miles northwest of Clear Lake, and twelve from Lakeport on the road to Ukiah. During the wet seasons they are connected with Clear Lake. The water is a beautiful sea blue and of a wonderful depth…….

These lakes, according to Indian tradition, have in their waters a huge monster resembling a half fish and half horse, to which they are pleased to give the euphonious appellation of Devil Fish. Different reports as to the size of this monster vary in length from ten to twenty feet. Its presence in the lake, according to Indian history, is some hundred years. The monster is held in great dread by the Indians. It is said to make its appearance on the surface of the water only once in ten years. It is asserted that his presence is followed by great calamities befalling the Indians.

This monster, or Devil Fish, was seen by the Indians in March, 1872; hence large gatherings of all the tribes congregating in Big Valley, on the shore of Clear Lake, to indulge in a grand pow-wow and making peace offerings to the Great Spirit, to appease his anger and avert evils hanging over their wigwams.”
Historical & Descriptive Sketch Book of Napa, Sonoma, Lake and Mendocino: Comprising Sketches of Their Topography, Productions, History, Scenery, and Peculiar Attractions, Campbell Augustus Menefee, Reporter Publishing House, Lake County, California, 1873, p. 225.

With these accounts Odd Old News will leave the sensational, for the more mundane news of yesteryear.

Earlier Odd and Old News:

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23 Comments
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Guest
Guest
Guest
4 years ago

There best be at least a disclaimer added about the less than respectful repeating of earlier derogatory references to Native Americans. Like McKinley’s statue, the prevailing attitudes of the times are no excuse for enduring the ugliness of history now.

hmm
Guest
hmm
4 years ago
Reply to  Kym Kemp

But its gives people bad feelings, isn’t that more important than truth?

NoShitSherlock
Guest
NoShitSherlock
4 years ago
Reply to  hmm

Are you kidding? The truth is the TRUTH! Embrace it and grow into an enlightened being knowing that you do not have to be as ignorant as those in the past, but don’t forget so you don’t repeat!

David Heller
Guest
David Heller
4 years ago
Reply to  Guest

I certainly did not mean to offend Native Americans by quoting a voice from that time period that shows the racism of the time in what I read as an ignorant caricature. As a historian of the genocide period, and knowing of the forced marches and massacre enroute that happened to the Pomo people later in the year, my scale of the ugliness of the history of this period perhaps blinded me to the language used in the quote as needing a disclaimer. I do apologize to anyone offended. Part of my agenda with these early posts has been to share some good stories from newspaper accounts, that in my mind validate Native perceptions of the natural world… without posing as a white guy telling their myths and stories (notice no links to Native legends).. those are their stories to tell. Navigating modern sensitivities to the telling of ugly history is something I am clearly learning about as I go… again, apologies for offending anyone.

Ernie Branscomb
Guest
Ernie Branscomb
4 years ago
Reply to  David Heller

Kym and David. Thank you for not trying to correct history. Most cultures adopt a philosophy of “Never Forget”. We are the only culture in the world that tries to bury our dark past. I had an uncle that was raised as a kid with many Indian playmates. He knew most all of their stories, legends and Great Spirits. My uncle honored and believed their personal beliefs. He was always going to write a book but he felt it was not his story to tell.

He retold many of those fascinating tales to me. The fact that they were not believed gave me great reason to not believe in the Christian Bible. Which is no less a fascinating story than many of the Indian beliefs.

David, as an old white guy you are fair game because you are the blame for everything, get used to it. ( I say respectfully, and somewhat humorously…)

Michael Wagemann
Guest
Michael Wagemann
1 year ago
Reply to  David Heller

People just need to be mad at something. I’m from the area and had no idea. Thanks for sharing.

Willie Caos-mayham
Guest
4 years ago

🕯🌳Good morning Kym, thanks for the nugs of history and the links. Yes some is good and some is bad but it’s our history,thank you. 🖖

Ben
Guest
Ben
4 years ago

Wow.. great story.. The Blue Lakes were once the home of a bean industry and cannery.. Hence, Blue Lake beans..

Ernie Branscomb
Guest
Ernie Branscomb
4 years ago

Thanks David. When I was a kid I was told that the bottom of the lake could not be accurately found and they thought that it might be another vent to the Konocti Volcano.

Maybe the monster fish moves freely underground from lake to lake in in the lava tubes of the Konoti area.

David Heller
Guest
David Heller
4 years ago

Thanks Ernie, in researching this post I read that Clear Lake is considered to be the oldest lake in California! I used to live near the Canadian border and Lake Osoyoos, another deep lake with a long history of sightings of a creature nicknamed “Ogopogo”. Many lakes across America have similar stories.

John Parker
Guest
John Parker
4 years ago
Reply to  David Heller

Hi David,

Clearlake is the oldest lake in the Americas. It’s current stand has existed for at least 500,000 years and possible for 2.3 million years.

John Parker, Ph.D.

John Parker
Guest
John Parker
4 years ago

From 1903-1915, Anthropologists interviewed tribal elders from all over the Pomo territory. They gathered information about daily lifestyle, culture, religion, myths and legends. Part of the Pomo cosmology included supernatural beings that could do both good and harm. One of those beings was called “Bagil”. This being lived at Blue Lake and made that location a danger to humans. Barrett, S.A. 1933, Pomo Myths, Vol 15, pg 1-608, Bulletin of the Public Museum of Milwaukee.

Dave Kirby
Guest
Dave Kirby
4 years ago
Reply to  John Parker

As I recall Clear Lake, in ancient times, actually drained to the west and overflowed into what is now the Russian River watershed. A large seismic event caused a landslide that blocked that watercourse and the overflow was diverted to the east into what is called Cache Creek. The two Blue Lakes are a remnant of the western flow.

Ernie Branscomb
Guest
Ernie Branscomb
4 years ago

To David Heller and those who might not know Dr. John Parker is a Lake County archaeologist who maintains a very interesting website.
Link : http://www.wolfcreekarcheology.com/

Dogbiter
Guest
Dogbiter
4 years ago

I failed to find anything derogatory said about the Indians.

David Heller
Guest
David Heller
4 years ago

Good to have an authoritative voice contributing, Dr. Parker. I have been reading my recent download of Barrett’s Pomo Myths, what an amazing rich cosmology.
(and thanks for the link Ernie!)

Steven Lehman
Guest
Steven Lehman
4 years ago

History is now being taught from the point of view of “oppressed peoples.” No wonder this gets politicized. People, both settlers and indigenous, living in conditions of scarcity were not the best examples by which to judge their behaviors by modern standards. Most of the commenters have never missed a meal.

Mendo Historian
Guest
Mendo Historian
4 years ago

Page 96 Geography of California, 1911, States that both Clear Lake and Blue Lakes Watersheds used to drain into Russian River Valley through Coyote Valley ( Lake Mendocino ) before a landslide just West of Blue Lakes, which formed Blue Lakes and Clearlake both of which which now drains into the Sacramento River Valley through Cache Creek.
Read: page 96 ; “The watershed of the Coast Ranges is comparatively
simple, and like that of the Sierra Nevada, lies near its
eastern edge. The only exception to this is the Clear
Lake basin, which is drained by Cache creek, which flows
easterly, finally to empty into the Sacramento river.
Clear Lake once drained westerly into Russian river, but
a landslide occurred below the beautiful blue lakes,
which lie in its old outlet, and the waters were turned
in the opposite direction. This is one of the most remark
able examples of the reversal of the drainage which we
have in California.” …..

Mendo Historian
Guest
Mendo Historian
4 years ago

Overland Monthly:
Vonuxvn: IX.
SAN FRANCISCO:
JOHN H. CARMANY & COMPANY.
1872.
LEGEND OF THE COYOTE.
Once upon a time there lived a man
among the Yukas, of the Black Chief’s
tribe, fierce and terrible, with two sons
like himself— bloody-minded and evil
men. For their great wickedness, he
and his two sons were turned into :0
yoter. Then they started from Rice’s
Fork and journeyed southward, biting
and slaying all the beasts they came
upon. As they passed over the defile
to come into Potter Valley, one of the
coyote sons drank so much water from
the spring near the summit that he died,
and his father buried him, and heaped
over him a cairn of stones, and wept
for his son. Then they journeyed on
through Potter Valley, and went down
to Clear Lake; and there the other son
drank so much water that he died also,
and his father buried him and wept sore.
Then the father turned back and went
on alone to a place called White Buttes,
and came unto it, and discovered there
much red alabaster, of which the Pomos
make beads to this day, which are to the
common shell-beads as gold to silver.
And when he had discovered the red al
abaster at White Buttes, his hair and
his tail dropped off his body, he stood
up on his hind legs, and became a man
again.
The interpretation of this legend is
difficult, and its meaning mysterious.
The Tahtoos have the same fable in a
slightly different form, which circum
stance throws some little light on its
signification. From both taken togeth
er we gather darkly that there was once
a memorable and terrible drought in this
region, during which Eel River totally
disappeared, and there was no water
anywhere, except in Clear Lake, and a
little in the spring at the head of Potter
Valley, near the cairn in the pass. Both
tribes account for the heap of stones
in the same manner; and the simple
fact that they resort to a legend to ex
plain its existence, when it was so man
ifestly made to mark the boundary-line,
indicates that it must have been heaped
up hundreds of years ago. Mystery,
like moss, always gathers upon anything
that is ancient; and these fables, origi
nated in explanation of so patent a mat
ter, argue the high antiquity of the In
dians. The Tahtoos, living at the head
of Potter Valley, also have traditions of
two monstrous reptiles, one of which
was a hundred feet long and had a
horn on its forehead, and the other
long enough to reach around a mount
ain, where it died, leaving a circle of
bones which it was death for any Indian
to cross over. It is held that the In
dians of Virginia had a fable of the
mammoth, which is related by Jefferson;
so it would seem that the Tahtoos may
have arrived in the country at a time
contemporaneous with the last of a spe
cies of saurians now extinct. These
things go to confirm the theory of a
great antiquity, which I ventured to
found on the above legend.

Mendo Historian
Guest
Mendo Historian
4 years ago

There are stories richer than goldmines about our areas rich history if you know where to look for them. Happy Searching.

David Heller
Guest
David Heller
4 years ago

Thanks for the Overland Monthly entry Mendo Historian! Some of my favorite articles from the Monthly are by Lt. Tassin who wrote some great articles about Round Valley, and his friend Tony Metock.

Raymond
Guest
Raymond
3 years ago

Great story thanks for posting