Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1896-05-26

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 rest
| full hour or two given up to smoking,
storytelling, 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
a nearly full moon, that at midnight
rested just north of the zenith, il
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 somnambulist
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, ris-
ing and twirling. In moment, even
as he looked, the shadowy vapors re-
solved themselves into the forms of
men-horrible 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 fred 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 fed, panic stricken, into the thick
cts. The horses plunged and broke the
picket ropes. The noise Of maddening
beasts crashing through tho under
growth and the cries of terror-stricken
men grew fainter and fainter as all
hurried from the horror.
Later on in the night few OF the
boldest met together, and, with cour-
age somewhat restored, determined to
go back and have second look at the
things that had affrighted them. eau
tiously they returned within view OF the
camp. They saw forms moving about
here and there, strangely dimmed in
the Pickering radiance of the camp
fires and strangely illumined when in
the shadows. Dropping behind bushes
and trees they watched breathlessly,
not daring to advance. The camp was,
indeed, occupied, but by no mortal oc-
cupants. The unearthly visitors moved
swiftly about as though busying them
selves with camp duties, and, as the
scared watchers yet looked on, the first
flush of morning began to mingle with
the wan light of the dying moon. Again
arose that vague wailing cry. Again
the shades marshaled themselves in
regular order and moved down silently
to the edge of the lake and out upon
the water, there to sink out of sight.
When the demoralized troop had been
gathered together again and was well
on it's way the men spoke of the cc-
currence with bated breath and called
the place "Espantcso." AS the story be-
came known the lake came to be re-
garded as accursed, and travellers
passed swiftly by, not daring to rest,
however weary. Belated wayfarers,
chance hunters and fishermen added re-
luctant tales to the sum total of ex-
| periences. Strange forms were seen
after dusk and whisperings were heard
from beneath the water and from I'M
seen lips in the air. AS years passed
the experience of the soldiery was IN
dergone by other camping parties, some
strangers who knew not, and others
who had heard and believed not. All
were one in belief thereafter. 1t is also
said that certain persons who were
known to have camped there at night
were never seen or heard of again. So
evil became the name of the place that
the road was finally turned away from
the lake shore, and "Espantoso' became
a name to be spoken with dread and a
place to be avoided. 1t so remains down
to this very day.
A Sad Dream That Came True.