The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1894-01-16

to quake beneath the tread of tho coming

enemy.
we will have Kernel Dyer. And
El-der-kln too. We will have Kernel
Dyer. And El-dcr-kin too. Kernel Dy-
er Elderkin, too" shriekcd the hideous
voices i'll unison. Colonel Over and
Squire Elderkin had been particularly
active against the French. The whole
village Jumped to the conclusion that tho
frciich ana INDIANS were anxious to cap
ture these two leaders. As the outloud-
ISL shrlcks seemed toincrcase in volume.
ana to grow nearer and nearer. the last
doubt that the s;lvages were upon them
passed from every mind.
Colonel Dyer hurried to the VILLAGE
green when the alarm was given. and
the changing church bell soon called the
Villagers together. Squire Eldcrkin.
badly frightened, promptly responded
we'll armed with Il trusty tlintlock. Very
soon the aDlebodied men of the town
were III line, and Colonel Dyer was unan-
lmously chosen commander.
The old feud that few hours before
divided ncighbor from neighbor was for
gotten. All united like brothers to de-
feud their common homes.
Orders We're immediately given TO ad
vance, and the Windham villagers
marched up the hill to the east to check
the enemy. The shout for Colonel
Dyer ana El-dcr-kin, too" steadily grew
stronger and stronger and the gallant
colonel was reported to have shown M
usual caution on this occasion. while
Squire Elderkin, who had never had
military experience, implored the colonel
to halt his command on the hill and
wait until daybreak before he proceeded.
as everything seemed to Indicate over
whclning odds III favor of the enemy.
The last half of the night was one of
terror. The villagers who had been left
behind waited to hear the roar of battle,
but as the hours dragged their tedious
length along without the discharge of Il
single piece all gave way to the fear that
some great horror was impending. The
night, however, finally wore away: the
cast began to grow gray, and the light
was slowly creeping over the hills when
the clamor for Colonel Dyer and Elder
kin, too" began to subside. Daylight
quelled the hideous sounds.
The morning brought Il strange story
to the little army and the panic stricken
villagers.
a mile and Il half to the west of the
village was large millpond, which fur
nlshed water for power to grind the
grain for the surrounding country. The
miller reported that he had been awak-
ened by the outlandish noises in early
evening and on going to the pond found
the frogs i'll great state of commotion.
but owing to the intense darkness moth
ing could be seen. III the morning many
dead frogs were found upon the shore.
No wounds We're visible: no marks Of
violence could be seen; no cause for the
strange comnotion could be found
Some argued that there had been 4 ba, =
tie, hut there was never any evidence To
support this theory. Others advanced
the idea that some mysterious, malarial
contagion, some deadly epidemic, had
broken out and caused the cries of dis.
tress which had driven terror to the
hearts of the the Windham villagers.
This theory too, has been laughed NJ.
and the truth is that the cause of the
great disturbance has ALWAYS been II
dark, ilnpenetrable mystery.
The state of mind of the townspeople
the next morning can better be imagined
than described. All seemed sick with
humiliation at the ludicrous ending of
their frantic fright of the evening before.
squire Eiderkln was particularly morti-
fled and is reported to have suffered Il
two weeks sickness and confinement to
his chamber, during which he was said
to have frequently stated that he had
much rather have lost his scalp than to
have been the victim OF such Il hr-c Joke.
1t was wonderful how the story of the
Windham frogs sought OUT and found
every little nook and CORNER of the conn.
try. There Were no railroads, no tclc-
graphs or newspapers in those DAYS.
The staSccoach was the only means OF
lntcrconmuncation. Vet the story.
greatly exaggerated and elaborateiy
dressed up by the imagination. was told
i'll almost every tavern i'll the land.
The Windham wits had been famous
for years. Those who hal suffered nj
their hands now eagerly seized the op-
portunity to pay back old scores with
usurious interest Ballads were written.
songs We're composed and sung. and cv-
cry chance for Il practical Joke was util-
lied. Colonel Dyer WAS a delegate to the
first congress held in New York. Dur
ing his journey to that city some was
tied an immense frog to the rear OF his
carriage. His arrival is said to have
been greeted with shouts and laughter,
and the joke became the talk of the CITY.
On one occasion Squire Elderkin was
said to have been making very learned
and eloquent plea, when some bufroon
raised the shout of Colonel Dyer and
Elderkin, too" III the long drawn tones
which the frogs had made famous. The
judge lost his gravity, the jury laughed.
and the audience Shoutc1 i'm tho ,nost