Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1893-12-15


tho enemy. The shout for Colonel
Dyer and El-der-kn, too. steadily grew
stronger and stronger. and the gallant
colonel was reported to have shown uu.
usual caution ON this occasion. while
Squire Elderhn. who had never had
military experience. impl1red the colonel
90 halt his command on tho hill and
wait until daybroak before Doe proceeded,
a. everything seemed 90 indicate over.
wholming odds iu favor Of tho onomy.
Tho last half Of the uignt was one OF
terror. Tho villassr WHO had been loft
behind waited 90 hear tine roar of battle.
bat as the hours dragged their tedious
Length along without the discharge oi q
single picco all gave way TO The fear that
some great horror was impending The
night. however finally wore away: tho
east began 90 Hr1w smy. and tho lirht
was slowly creeping Vv.f tho hills when
the cIsmor l0r Colonel Dyer and Elder
kin. too" began 90 suhsile. Daylight
quollcd tho hldo1uR sounds.
The morning hruugHtn STRANGE story
60 the little army and tuo panic stricken
Villagers.
Amile and % half i1 tho wot Of tho
village was "a largo mi.ir0uj. which fur.
nislol wator for power 20 grind tho
grain for the surrounding c1untr, The
miller reported that ho had been awak.
ouc1 by the uutHulish noises Boo early
evening and on going Zoo the pond found
the frogs 30 a great state Of commotion,
but owing to tho iniause darkness moth.
ing could b. seem. Do the morning many
dead frog were found upon the shore.
80 wound. were visible. no mrrta u
violence could h' seen. no cause Tor tho
strange comm0t0n could bo found.
Some argued that there had been o. bat.
tie, hui there was mover amy evidence 10
support this theory. Others advanced
the idea that some mysterious. millrinl
contagion. some deadly epidemic. had
broken out and caused the cries oi dis.
tross which had driven terror 60 tho
hearts Of tho tho Windham villagers.
This theory. too has been laughed at.
and the truth Is that the cause of the
great disturbance has always been
dark. impcuctrablc mystery.
The state Of mind of the iownspooplo
the next morning can better boimaglucd
than described. an seemed sick with
humiliation at the ludicruus ending Of
their frantic fright Of Intervening before.
Squire Elderldn was particularly morti.
fled and is reported TO have suffered
two weeks sickness and confinement 10
his chamber. during which Doc was said
60 have frequently stated that Do had
much rather have Lost bis scalp than 20
huyO been Tho victim of such huge Joke.
10 was wonderful how the story of the
Wiudham lfoW sought out aud found
every little nook aud corner OF the conn.
try. There were mo- railroads, mo- tole.
graphs or newspapers Ia those DAYS.
The Btugocoach was tho only means uf
INSTRUMENTATION. Yet the story,
greatly exaggerated and claborntcly
dressed up by the imagination, was told
IN almost every tavern Ia tho land
The Windham wits had bcon famous
for years, Those who had suffered ut
their hands now eagerly seized tho Cd.
flrtunity 20 pay back old scores with
uaurious interest Ballads wcro written,
songs were composed aud sung and oy.
cry chance Tor pracdcnl Joke was util.
izod. Colonel Dyer was delegate to the
first congtC held IN New York. Dur
ing his journey 10 shat city some weg
tied an immense frog 10 the rear OF his
carriage His arrival Is said 10 have
boon greeted with shouts and laughter,
and the joke became the talk Of the city.
On one occasion squire Eldcrldn was
said 10 have hoon making a very learned
and eloquent plea, when some buno1n
raised the shout Of Colonel Dyer and
Eldcrkin, too, in tho long drawn tones
which tho frogs had made famous. Tho
judge lost bis gravity. tho jury laughed,
and the audience shouted In tho most
boistcrous manner. The squire, famous
for his self possession. lost his tompcr,
which greatly added 10 the amusement
Of the onlookors.
The humiliation Of tho Windhamites,
however soon passed away, and they
rogaiuod their native shrewducss. Colo
mel Dyer was tho hrft 90 turn the tide.
He adopted tho bullfrog as coat ~
arms Hc had "a metal frog made for
door lmochpr and IN various other ways
showed hia disposition 20 accept the sit.
untion good naturcdly The squire soon
saw this was the better way and felt
very kindly toward the colonel Tor his
tact Ia stommmg the current Of popular
! persecution. Ho ever after accepted any
mention Of tho frog story with smile
and apparent good nature, although II
was generally believed that the smile
was forced aud the good nature was On.
tirely assumed.
Tho memorable fright had enc good
effect, Colonel Dyer and Squire Elder.
kin became fast friends, Pcaccuud good
will roIgued throughout thecommuuity,
aud the littlo village has since become
noted for the spirit Of ngighborly kind.
meas and hrotherly love which seems to
hover over II and poryado theyury air.