The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1897-08-07
THE HAUNTED LAKE.

In southwest Texas there is a lake
that bears the reputation Of being the
most desoIate and uncanny pool in the
world. The place is a veritable city Of
ghosts 1t is 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 Dimuitt
county. The lake is very deep; so deep
thaE in many places no proCurable line
haa ever reached the bottom. Hence,
the rumoT says there is no bottom at all
It's shores are absolutely uninhablted,
and the boldest wayfarer hesitates to
tsrfy near it's ill-omened waters even
In the broad light of day.
Il swarms with fish, and immense al
ligators dwell there. Fierce, wild ami
mails stink unmolested through the tam
glod growth along the bank At night
the OWLS boot and the long-drawn,
high, plalntive wall of the hungry pam
Their form a fit accompaniment to the
ghostly TeVels of unquiet spirits.
That some inexplicable 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
and sounds heard by those bold enough
to attempt investigation, that efforts in
that line have entirely ceased; the lake
Is Stunned, and further inquiry must
be made by strangers, for no one know
ing the place can be bribed or forced
10 stay there after nightfall.
The lake was the scene of a tragedy
over 100 years ago, and from that day
TO the present it has borne an unhal-
lowed reputation. In those days there
was a road that skirted it's lower end.
The road was the 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 a well-known and IA
Vored camping place. There was good
water there, good grass and abundant
shade; welcome rest spot for those
coming from the south over the hot
sandy cactus-covered uplands. Near
the close of a September day long ago, a
large wagon train stopped to camp for
the night. Within the wagons we're
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-
cious, careless and negligent. But
deadly peril was lurking near at hand,
eager-eyed, blood-thirsty and ever
watchful of an opportunity.
All the way from the Rio Grande the
trail of the crawling wagons had been
followed by bandits-thieves renegades
and murderers they were, cruel as
tigers, brave as grizzlies. Every move
had been noted, every camping place
watched, every sign of careless conf
dence eagerly scrutinized by keen eyes
that shone with the il-repressed light
Of anticipated plumber.
On this September night. when the
whole camp was resting, the sentinels
nodding, even as they stood in the dark
shadows of the trees the robbers made
their attack; a fierce yell, a rafting vol
ley and a savage rush. The startled
escorts sprang up, graspipg their old
fashioned escopetas, and made what re-
sistance they could. There was close
desperate fighting all around, and
confusion indescribable. The COM
mandant realized that the fight would
soon go against HIM so, exhorting his
men to stand to the last, he gathered
the teamsters about him and togther
they took the sacks of silver from the
wagons and threw them over into the
bottomless depths of the lake.
There was barely time, for all re-
sistance was soon overcome, the sur
vivors begging for mercy and the hui