Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1896-06-18

their reacn, anu all tuti tlouoIc anu
pains prcftless. Mad at the thought of
being baked, the outlaws took the sur
vivors, the commandant the teamsters,
the soldiers, bound them hand and foot.
| tied heavy stones to them and tossed
| them, living, one by one, over into the
dark water OF all who had laid down
to rest in the evening. not one was
alive in the morning. Pools of blood,
trampled grass, half burned wagons.
| the ashes of expired camp fires, marked
| the spot, and that was all. Deep down
| in the STILL cool water lay the bright
silver, and on the surface swirl here
and there told of the alligators fighting
over their hideous feast.
Exactly one year later to the very
day another party camped at the lake
| They were troopers returning to easy
service in Mexico, after a season OF
| loneliness, hardship and danger on the
frontier. The memory of the tragedy
enacted there had either been forgot
ten or given slight consideration, for
in those days lawlessness was but too
common to cause especial remark.
The troopers picketed their horses
among the trees, camp fires were light
ed, supper was eaten; there was a rest
full hour or two given up to smoking,
story telling, laughter. singing. the
playing upon guitar and mandolin. and
then each man, tired and drowsy,
wrapped himself in his blanket, soon to
be soundly sleeping. All but the senti-
nels, who kept their steady rounds as
the solemn night wore on. There was
nearly full moon, that at midnight
rested Just north of the zenith, H.
Illuminating with it's mild light the sur
face of the open lake, and emphasizing
the black shadows under the trees. The
sentry whose beat lay nearest the shore
CHANGED to glance carelessly out over
the water as he walked slowly along
and he saw something there that
changed him from half somnambnlist
to an intensely awakened man.
The water lay still and quiet as death,
and from it's waveless surface the SEN
tinel saw what first seemed to be
wreaths and strands Of gray mist, rs-
ing and twirling. In moment, even
} as he looked, the shadowy vapors re-
} solved themselves into the forms OF
memorable shapes, with agoniZing
faces, and arranged themselves in
CHASTITY procession, and, swaying as in
} gentle wind, moved swiftly forward
toward the camp of the sleeping SOL
diers. A weird low cry. the shadow
of wall, rose up and chilled the hear
: er's utmost soul with deadly terror.
More from fright than boldness the
sentinel fired his carbine at the adj
vancing shades and then ran shrieking
: into the woods. The sleepers, reused
, up as one man, saw, heard, and they
too fled, panic-stricken, into the thick
, cts. The horses plunged and broke the
! picket ropes. The noise of maddenine
3 beasts crashing through the under
4 growth and the cries Of terror-stricken
J men grew fainter and fainter as al
1 hurried from the horror.
4 Later on in the night a few OF the
e boldest met together and, with cour'
t age somewhat restored, determined tt
= 20 back and have a second look at the
i things that had affrighted them. eau
tiously they returned within view OF thu
y camp They saw forms moving abou
y here and there. strangely dimmed il
: the Pickering radiance Of the camp
g fires and strangely illumined when il
|. the shadows. Dropping behind bushes
: and trees they watched breathless!y
: not daring to advance. The camp was
S indeed, occupied, but by no mortal &C
= cupants. The unearthly visitors mOve
swiftly about as though busying them
= selves with camp duties, and, as tn
d scared watchers yet looked on. the frs
It flush of morning began to mingle Wit
e the wan light of the dying moon. Agail
It arose that vague wailing cry. Agail
II the shades marshaled themselves Il
a regular order and moved down SILENT
II to the edge of the lake and out upo
g the water, there to sink out of sight
II When the demoralized troop had bee
o gathered together again and was wei
y on its way the men spoke Of the &C
II currence with bated breath and Gale
n the place "Espantoso." AS the story be
l. came known the lake came to be re
a garded as accursed. and traveller
l. passed swiftly by, not daring to res
: however weary. Belated wayfarer!
chance hunters and fishermen added re
q luctant tales to the sum total OF eX
periences. Strange forms were see
after dusk and whisperings were hear
from beneath the water and from I'm
seen lips in the air. AS years passe
the experience of the soldiery was IN
dergone by other camping parties, som
strangers who knew not, and other
who had heard and believed not. A
were one in belief thereafter. 1t is ais
said that certain persons who wei
known to have camped there at nigf
were never seen or heard of again. S
evil became the name Of the place thu
the road was finally TUNED away frol
the lake shore. and "Espantoso" BEGAN
n a name to be spoken with dread and
IS place to be avoided. 1t so remains dow
as to this very day.