The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1896-06-26
ISOLATED AND STUNNED.
TIE MOST DESOLATE AND UNCANNY
POOL IN TIE WORLD.
TIE HAUNTED LAKE IN TEXAS-THE
STORY OF A TRAGEDY ENACTED
ON IT'S SHORES.


There is a certain lake IN Southwest
Texas that Is we'll worthy the attcn-
tion of the ghost-seeker. The name
itself, "Espantoso," meaning "fright.
ful, 1" is to some extent suggestive Of its
unearthly properties. 1t is body Of
water some tlree-quartcrs Of u mile
wide and dozen miles long. lying
dark and still in the shadows of an al
most impenetrablc forest In the bot
toms Of the Nueccs river. in Dimmitt
county, fifty miles from the railroad
To-day it is one OF the lOnesomcst
spots on the earth, and certainly one
of the uncanniest, says the St. Louis
Globe Democrat.
1t is very deep, so deep that IN
many places no procurablc line has
ever reached the bottom. Hence the
rumor says there is no bottom At all
Its shores are absolutely uninlabitcd,
and the boldcst wayfaIcr llcsitatcs to
tarry near its ill-omened waters even
in the broad light of day.
1t swarnls with fish, and immense
alligators dwell there. Fierce, wild
animals stink unmolcst cd through the
tangled growth along the banks. At
night the owls hOOt and the long.
drawn, high, plaintive wall Of the
hungry panther form a fit accompani-
ment to the ghostly rcvcls OF unquict
spirits.
That some incxplIcablc happening
takes place on these lonely waters On
certain nights is beyond question
The evil reputc has existed for more
than a century-sucll sights have been
seen and sounds heard by those bold
enough to attempt investigation, that
efforts in that line have entirely
ceased; the lake Is Stunned and
further enquiry must be made by
strangers, for no one knowing the
place can bc bribcd or forced to stay
after nightfall.
The lake was the scene OF tragedy
over 100 years ago, and from that day
to the present it has borne an unlial-
lowed reputation. In those old days
there was road that skirted its lower
end. The road was the single high
way connecting Mexico with the mis-.
sion settlements and the Spanish out.
posts along the San Antonio river,
and further east, in what Is now
Texas.
The lake was wcll-knOwn and IA
vored camping place. There was good
water there. good grass and abundant
shade; d welcome rest spot for those
coming from the south over the hot,
sandy cactus-covcred uplands. Near
the close Of a September day long ago,
a large wagon train stopped TO camp
for the night. Within the wagons
were sacks OF silver coin for the pay
mcnt Of troops In the frontier garri
sons. 10 guard this was an armed
mounted, escort, numerous enough Il
put ut rest all fear Of danger. The
whole laid down to rest, and slept
that night, unsuspicious, careless and
negligent. but deadly peril wa,
lurking near at hand, eagcr.cyed
blo0dthirsty and ever watclltul Of ar
opportunity.
All tho way from the Rio Grand,
the trail OF the crawling wagons hat
been followed by bandits-thlcvcs
rcncgades and murderers they were
cruel as tigers, brave AZ grizzlies
Every move had been noted, ever.
camping place watched, every sign o
careless confidence eagerly scrutinizet
by keen eyes that shOnc with the III
reprcsscd light Of anticipated plumber
On this September night, when th'
whole camp was resting, the sentinel
noddlne, even M they stood In tn
shadows Of the trees, the rubber
made their attack; a fierce yell, . rat
tling volley and savage rush. TIL
startled escort sprang up, graspin
their old.fashIoRcd cscopetus, an
made what resistance they could
There was close, desperate lighting a
around, and confusion indescribs
III. The rnmmn nt1ont yca1txcd tha