The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1896-06-26


so cxhOrting his men to stand to the
last, he gathered the teamsters about
him and together they took the sacks
OF silver from the wagons and threw
them over into the bOttOmlcss depths
Of the lake.
There was barely time, for all re.
sistancc was soon overcome, the sur
vivors begging for mercy and the hu-
man wolves in complete possession.
But the silver was beyond them, out
OF their reach. and all their trouble
and pains profitlcss. Mad at the
thought Of being balkcd, the outlaws
took the survivors, the commandant,
the tcamsters, the soldiers, bound
them hand and foot, tied heavy stones
to them and tossed them, living, one
b. one, over into the dark water. OF
all who had laid down 70 rest In the
evening, not one was alive in the
morning. Pools Of blood, trampled
grass, half-burncd 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 fight
ing over their hidcOus 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
lonliness, hardship and danger on the
frontier. The mcm0ry Of the tragedy
enacted there had either been forgot
ten or given slight consideration, for
in those good old days such lawlcss-
ness was but too common to cause cs-
pecial remark.
The troopers pickctcd their horses
among the trees, camp fires were
lighted, supper was eaten: there was
u restful hour or two given up to
smoking, storytelling, laughter, sing.
ing, the playing upon guitar and man.
dolin, and then each man, tired and
drowsy, wrapped himself in his blank
ct, soon to be soundly sleeping. All
but the sentinels, who kept their
steady rounds as the night wore on.
There was a nearly full moon, that
ut midnight rested just short OF the
zenith, illumining with its mild light
the surface OF the open lake and en-.
plasizing the black shadows under
the trees. The sentry whose beat lay
nearest the shore CHANGED to glance
carcless!y out over the water, as he
walked slowly along, and lie saw some
thing there that changed him from a
half-somnambulist to an intensely
awakened man.
The water lay still and quiet as
death and from its wavclcss surface
the sentinel saw what first seemed to
be wreathcs and strands Of gray mist.
rising and twirling. In u moment,
even as he looked, the slladOwy va
pors resolved themselves into the
forms Of men-horriblc shapes, with
agonizing faces and pale lights diMly
shining in their faces. that arranged
themselves In glastly procession, and,
swaying rs In Il gentle wind, moved
swiftly forward toward the camp Of
the sleeping soldiers. A weird low
cry, the shadow OF q wall, rose up and
chilled the hearers utmost soul with
deadly terror. More from fright than
boldness the sentinel fred his carbinc
ut the advancing shades and then ran
shricking into the woods. The sleep.
ers, reused up as one man, saw, heard,
and they, too, fed. panic-stricken,
into the thickct. The horses plunged
and broke the picket ropes. The noise
Of maddencd beasts crashing through
the undcrgrOwtll, and the cries OF
tcrror.strickcn 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'
aye somewhat restored, determined tO
70 back and have a second look at the
things that had affrightcd them.
Cautiously they returned within view
OF the camp. They saw forms moving
about here and there, strangely dim
med In the Pickering radiance Of the
camp.tlres and strangely llluminct
when In the shadows. Dropping be
hind bushes and trees, they watched
breathlcssly, not daring to advance
The camp was, indeed, occupied, bu1
by no mortal occupants. The un
earthly visitors moved swiftly ant
noiselessly about as though busyint
themselves with camp duties, and, al
the scared watchers yet looked on, tb'
first flush Of morning began to mingl'
with the wan light Of the dying moon
Again the shades marshallcd them
selves in regular order and m0vet
down silently to the edge OF the lak'
and out upOn the water, there to sinl