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

rran wolves in complete possession
But the silver was beyond them, out Of
their reach, and all their trouble and
pains profitless. Mad at the thought oil
being baked, the outlaws took the sur
yiyors, the commandaht, the teamsters
the soldiers, bound them hand and foot,
tied heavy stones to them and tossed
them, living, one by one, over into the
dark water. or all who had laid down
10 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 a 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 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 10 cause especial remark.
The troopers picketed their horses
among the trees, camp fires we're light
cd, 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 eenti-
nels, who kept their steady rounds as
the solemn night wore on. There was
a nearly full moon, that at mi1E-s0t |
rested just north of the zenitA. IL
with It's mild light ti.s SIR
face OF the open lake. and emphasizing
the black shadows under the trees. The
sentry whose beat lay nearest the shore
TO glance carelessly out over
the water as he walked slowly along
and he saw something there that
him from half somnambulist
10 an intensely awakened man.
The water lay still and quiet as death.
md from it's waveless surface the SEN
incl saw what first seemed to be
greaths and strands Of gray mist, ris-
ns and twirling. In a moment, even
IS he looked the shadowy yapors re-
lolyed themselves into the forms of
nen horrible shapes, with agonizing
aces, and arranged themselves in
hastily procession, and, swaying as in
gentle wind, moved swiftly forward
oward the camp of the sleeping sol
iera. A weird low cry, the shadow
I d wall. rose up and chilled the hear |
RS utmost soul with deadly terror. G
fore from fright than boldness the |
eutinel fred his carbine at the adj |
ancing shades and then ran shrieking /
ITO the woods. The sleepers, reused '
p MS one man, saw, heard, and they q
20 fed, panic-stricken. into the thick t
IS The horses plunged and broke the 0
Icket ropes. The noise OF maddening L
casts crashing through the under v
rowth and the cries of terror-stricken II
zen grew fainter and fainter as all h
lnied from the horror. il
Later on In the night few of the IL
oldest met together. and. with cour-
70 somewhat restored, determined to
, back and have a second look at the
ings that had af1righted them. eau :
ously they returned within view of the :,
mp. They saw forms moving about
re and there, strangely dimmed in -
Q nickering radiance of the camp :,
es and strangely illumined when in -
Q shadows. Dropping behind bushes =,
"a trees they watched breathlessly, - =.
I daring to advance. The camp was a. a.