Croaking in Angels Camp

Inspired by Mark Twain's 1865 tale The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County, the old California Mother Lode town of Angels Camp has for the past 43 years sponsored an annual frog-jumping contest. The occasion, reeking of rustic America, always draws entries from across the nation, including those of Governors, Senators, Congressmen and their toadies.

This year more than 2,000 frogs were sent to participate, but as a festival of American folklore, the jump developed some ugly warts. About 76,000 visitors descended on Angels Camp. There were fights, stabbings, seven auto wrecks, 21 motorcycle accidents, three dog bites. A barn was burned, fences were ruined, and 141 celebrants had to be treated for injuries. One 16-year-old sleeping in a field was run over by a car and killed. County Sheriff Russell Leach brought in 100 extra deputies and still could not keep up with the trouble. Sam Clemens might have liked it that more than 100 years of pretense to civilization had done so little to calm his brawling mining camp.

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