Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1889-07-25

another and here is another" )" One lady
braver than the rest, lay still in her bed
with her little child, thinking perhaps
she would keep still and not make such
show of herself as the rest We're doing,
when suddenly, as she was peeping out
to see what the others were doing, she
discovered one within six inches Of her
face, making directly for her, she gave
one scream and Ill two bounds reached
the other side OF the tent, distance OF
sixteen feet. Finally the commander
said it was no use trying to kill them, as
they came too fast and too ntmerously,
and ordered the ladies to get on what
clothes they could as quickly as possible,
while he went for wagons and buggies to
put them into. It So happened he had
one large tent not yet occupied, he put
all the buggies he could conveniently
get into that and assisted the ladies into
them, where they remained until break OF
day, vowing that if ever daylight appear
ed they would start for home. In an
other tent one Of the varmints craWled
over ladys foot that had strayed from
under the clothes, one crawled up "a
gentleman's back and had to be forcibly
elected. No one car fully appreciate the
situation until 1key have felt one OF the
| COll(, CldLlN UlluHS I'll lIS DdlO lICSA.
| They are hideous enough to look at to
make one shiver. but to feel them un-.
| awares is horrible. Shadow pantomines
were at par The lights inside the tents,
usually on the ground, cast the shadows
in bold relief on the white walls of the
tents. and in the darkness outside were
plainly visible, and would excite ones
sense of the lud1crous in spite OF the
| horrors Of the situation. The Valley
City delegation, consisting OF some fif-
teen, had pitched their tents little apart
! from the rest on the hill, but they were
! not exempt from the intruders. From
their camp came the same unearthly
screams, mingled with blows and occa-
! sionally burst OF. laughter, showing
that they also had a keen sense OF the
ludicrous. This sort OF thing continued
until about twelve o'clock, when every
lizard Disappeared. They left as quickly
| and as suddenly as they appeared, and
during the remaining four days and
nights the people stayed, not one was TO
! be seen, except occasio1illV IL dead one
i that had failed to be qaked up the next
morning Capt. Van Dusen, who served
| during the war in the army Of the Poto-
mac, informed us that he saw many OF
them in Virginia and that they are harm
less. He says there are many different
kinds; one somewhat similar to our
| invaders. called "swifts." which dart
rapidly from one place to another. This
kind however is called Slows" and
they go about half as fast as man can
| walk, that they are harmless, but love
human company and will follow one
about. Tie live in holes III the ground
and come out only when it rains, and,
by the way, we had quite a shower that
evening before they made their appear
ance They are from eight to fourteen
inches in length. OF dark brown color,
nearly black, with yellow spots and
stripes. The next morning not fish
would bite and not until nearly night
and every fish caught that night or the
next day, contained lizard. They
must have gone INTO the lake.
Wednesday morning the sun rose
bright and clear, and soon began to dis
pei the clouds Of discomfort that had
gathered the night before, The old
soldiers went to work with will, and
soon had frames made with legs and
boards on top, on which to place the beds,
after which all felt comparatively safe
from lizards. Early in the morning
many more families arrived, and began
10 Uu6lE C0uUS dLo lliuhO eAC'AA1CA' 70
comfortable, not scared by the horrible
tales of the night before. All day people
we're arriving from every point of 4the
compass, until you could not believe
there was another conveyance in the
county. During the morning tent
was erected on the beach for ladies wish
ing to bathe to change their clothes in, and
! many improved the opportunity.
During the afternoon the camp was
startled by the rumor that two young
ladies of jamestown were drowned. Their
clothes we're found upon the beach, but
nothing could be discovered of them for
hours. Finally they were found IN
boat far out on the lake in their wet
bathing suits. They had climbed IN a
boat while bathing and managed to row
out into the lake, but could not get BACK.
Wednesday evening q large camp tire
was lighted as the shadows began to fall,
and at the sound of the bugle all gather
ed around, and the camp was formally
opened by prayer by Rev. Teal of James
town, who was present with his family
during the whole Of the encampment,
and their tent was ever open and their
table ever spread for the weary and
hungry. After prayer hymn OF praise
was sung, then came the usual round of
song and story, which make these camp
fires so delightful. About ten o'clock
they all dispersed to their tents. being
very tired from the raid of the night be-
fore. Bnt camp life is not quite so
smooth and peaceable as it is at home.
Many there are who love fun and frolic,
and the usual nightly serenade disturbed
the peaceful slumber.
Thursday morning was bright and fair
and by nine O'Clock many families had
Joined the camp, and pitched their tents.
And arrivals continued during the day.
The usual daily amusements were in
dulged IN, eating, boating, fishing and
bathing being the order of the day, lawn
tennis also occupied the hill during the
afternoon. At the sound of the bugle
all gathered on the hill Just outside the
camp to witness the old soldiers on dress
parade, where they were photographed,
also the Ladies Relief Corps, by Mr..
Judd, of jamestown photographer. And
now let me say q word for the Ladies
Relief Corps. They are organized at
present for tue relief of OLD soldiers.
But in time of war they go to the front