Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-07-14

Some one having asked what theory they
mad to advance in explanation of this
strange visitation, the Major said that
there was lake ON the summit or the
steep mountain that was full of Lizards,
and ne mad no doubt that the wind, which
was very high, mad scooped out that body
of water with all it contents and dumped
them on the Laramie plains. He had
known OF a similar case in Kansas once.
A cyclone had followed the line Of river
and scoOped it out so clean for Il distance
OF nineteen miles that farmers living
thirty miles from the stream found fish,
turtles and frogs in their front dooryards,
| and believed they had rained down. The
Colonel said he had brought few OF tne
lizards in to show the folks, and would get
them, but after searching the wagon box
in vain he was forced to apologize by say
ing they had probably come to life and
crawled away.
Capt. Howard, the saloon keeper, who
had been a patient listener, shook his head
and said:
"Old Hank Moore was the only man
ever knew who could get 'em, and be kind
of pleasant and sociable with 'em. lie
never made no fuss, never got excited, and
never got scared. He'd be walking along
on the sidewalk and all OF sudden he
would see little baby elephant ahead of
him, and would run along andtry to climb
on his back. Then, when he'd fall, he'd
swear that somebody had tripped him up,
and he'd get all over it. An hour later he
would get you off in the corner and tell
you conIidentlally that he wanted drink,
but that he couldn't swallow it, unless you
took that alligator off the bar. Eve seen
Hank go out IN the street lots OF times to
avoid stepping on toad that he thought
he saw. But he was always happy and
see
more elephants in "a minute than any man
! you ever knew, and sometimes when they
were particularly thick, he would get up
! dance with them. He was a pleasant
man to have around. When he got the
tremens, he would always get them right,
and nobody was any the worse for it.
HOne day he came in from the Laramie
| plains with long story about seeing a
| drove Of elephants out there. | didn't
know him so well then as did afterward,
| and he was so quiet about ii that L be-
| lieved him, land just for the tun of The thing
| | drove out there with him. After we had
| gone few miles ne made me stop and then
| start up slow because he didn't want to
| hurt them.
"'Hurt what?' SAYS [.
"'Tne little elephants,' said he.
"Then looked at him, and he jumped
out of the buggy and began to chase one
| VI biIclns lGbbg 5OOh L SOb tilNus anu
! began to chase him. He and had it there
| for about two hours, but ran him down
at last and got him into the wagon. Then
he wanted me to take one of them home
with me, ana Just to please him l pre-
tended to put one into the wagon. He
patted the imaginary elephant and was
very contented with it until we got mos
to Laramie, and then it vanished, to his
great sorrow. Strange things happen OIL
/ the Laramie plains, gentlemen
After all hands had partaken ofthe land
! lords cheer, be said:
"Now, then, Judge, Major and Colonel,
cunt mind telling you tnat Hank MOore's
drove of elephants was seen in the same
place that the lizards were, but there was
something rather entertaining about the
way he led 'sm. Pm afraid you're mixing
| little too much"