Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1897-07-09
THE HAUNTED LAKE.

In southwest Texas there Il lake
that bears the reputation OF being tho
most desolate and uncanny pool In tht
world The place Is a veritable city OF
ghoata. II liz a body OF water three
quarters OF a mile wide and dozen
miles long. lying In the shadows OF an
almost impenetrable forest In the bot
toms Of the Nueces river In Dlmpilt
county. The lake IL very deep; 50 deep
thas IN many places no proeurable line
has ever reached the bottom Hence.
tie rumor says there is no bottom at all.
Tla shores are absolutely uninhabited,
and the boldest wayfarer hesitates to
tarfy near its lli-omened waters even
Ii the broad light Of day.
II swarma with fish, and immense al
hgatora dwell there. Fierce, Wild ami
Eala slink unmolested through the tam
zled growth along the bank. Al night
the OWLS boot and the long-drawn,
high plalntive wall Of the hungry pan
Their form III accompaniment TO the
ghoatly revels Of nnquiet spirits.
That some inexplieable happening
takes place on these lonely waters on
certain nights is beyond question. The
evil repute has existed for more than
century such sights have been seen
sud sounds heard by those bold enough
to attempt investigation, that efforts in
that line have entirely ceased, the lake
Is summed and further inquiry must
be made by strangers, for no one know
Ing the place can be bfibed or forced
TO stay there after nightfall
The lake was the scene OF a tragedy
over 100 years ago. and from that day
TO the present 1t has borne an unhal- |
lowed reputation. liz those days there |
was road that skirted its lower end |
The road was tho single highway con |
Meeting Mexico with the mission set
Elements and the Spanish outposts
along the San Antonio river, and fur
Their east. in what Is now Texas.
The lake WAS well-known and ia
vofed camping place. There was good
water there. good grass and abundant
shade; a welcome rest spot for those
coming from the south over the hot
candy eactus-coyered uplands. Near
the close of September day long ago. a
large wagon train stopped TO camp for
the night. Within the wagons were
sacks of silver coin for the payment Of
troops In the frontier garrisons. To
guard this was an armed mounted es-
cort. numerous enough TO put at rest all
fear OF danger. The whole lay down
TO rest and slept that night, unsupi-
cioua. careless aud negligent. But
deadly peril was lurking near az hand.
eager-eyed. blood-thrsty and ever !
watchful OF an opportunity.
All the way from the Rio Grande the I
trail OF the crawling wagons had been
followed by bandits thieves. renegades
and murdercrs they were. cruel as 7
tigers. brave as grizzlies Every move
had been noted. every camping place {
watched. every Sign Of careless conf
ienee eagerly scrutuized by keen eyes {
hat shone with the lll-repressed light q
II anticipated plunder G
On this September night when the I
Whole camp was resting the sentiaels c
Ioddlng. even rs they stood In the dark z
hadows Of the tfees. the robbers made I
heir attack a fierce yell. rasillng vol b
IS aud a savage rush The startled G
seoFta sprang up grasping their old I
ashlened escnpetag. and made what re- p
istanee they could. There was close a
desperate fghting all around. and 4
indescrihable The COM s
aandant realized thai tho fight would q
Don 10 against bin. SO. exhorting his d
len 70 stand to the last. he gathered q
he teamsters about him anG tegtbar v
hey took the sacks OF silver from the W
'agons and threw them over into the 81
ottomless depths o. the lake. k
There was barely time, for all re- y
lstance was soon overcome. the SUR e.
iyors begging for mercy and the hui 4