The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1896-04-14
BANISHED FOR LIFE.
THE oUTcAsT OF CHURCH ISLAND IN
GREAT SALT LAKE.

III lue center OF Nle Ere1t salt lake
in Utah is a large body Of land known
az Church island. This land consists Of
rlOuntains and valleys. with trees and
vegetation, and has always been used
rs herding ground for cattle belonging
90 the Mormon church. Several YEAR
ago the water ON the east side Of the is
land was shallow and cattle could be
driven across easily. but now the water
is deep and everything must be convey
ed to and from the land in boats. A dis
tance Of about five miles covered with
salt water must be gone over by canoes
TO get to or from the island. On this
famous spot, amid millions Of pelicans.
sea gulls and other fowls, wanders a
lonely old man. without clothing and
devoid Of language or any Of the in
stincts Of humanity. he was banished
years ago by the Mormon church on the
charge Of robbing the dead
Jean Baptiste was n Frenchman who
came to Salt Lake City young man
nearly 40 years ago. He grew up among
tho saints, and. after marrying. was
made sexton Of the small cemetery. His
duties were light and his remuneration
co-respondingly small He resided in a
little cabin ON the mountain side over
looking the city, and spent his time.
when not employed in the cemetery. in
collecting junk and trading and trafiick-
ing with n few Jewish secondhand
clothes dealers who had the hardihood
20 engage in business among the Nor
mons. A regiment Of United States
troops was then camped near the city.
and the gentiles engaged in business
were assured protection.
The little Frenchman was an avari-
cious man and was noticeable because
Of his picking up every cast away arti-
Gle and carrying it TO his home. Old
dry goods boxes. barrels. tin cans and
other packing articles cast away by the
soldiers were especially well cared for
by Jean Baptiste. the sexton. He dress
ed rs a scavenger and resemblea the
modern saloon loafer. who j. always
searching the slums for barrels and box
G. Cf garbage and cast of garments.
The actions Of the sexton created some
comment. and not a little curiosity was
aroused among people who had occasion
to visit his residence ON the mountain
side, over the city.
One day Jean appeared ON the streets
dressed in an elegant suit Of brOadcloth.
A few days before n wealthy stranger
had died and was buried in the ceme-
tCIy. The suit in which the body was
dressed rescilblcd that woIn by the sex
ten. An examination was ordered. and
the corpse was found 20 have been rob
bed of its clothing. A committee wait
ed upon the sexton and made most
startling discovery. The Rraveclothes
uf over 200 persons were found in the
baskets and boxes slowed away IN his
gEoulish cabin. Excitement ran high in
salt Lake City. The boxes Of clothing
were cmptied and the contents taken 20
the city hall. where many q fond moth
er identified the burial robes q her
clild. Elegant silk dresses. at that time
a luxury even 90 the rich. were found m
the various bundles The man was ar
rested ard cast into Jail, pursued by a
mob who sought his life
Brigham Young, then governor and
general dictator in Utah. ordered the
n.an 10 be branded with n hot iron and
bauished TO Church island. During the
quiet hour Of midnight Jean Baptiste
was taken from tho Jail. and his whole
forehead was scared with the follow ing
inscription: Branded For Robbing the
Dead. Two men escorted the culver
ing. naked form from the city q venge-
unCc. A canoe was entered near the
city. and the doomed prisoner was taken
IN chains to the island which in future
was TO lie his home. Without clothing
or food he was landed upon the shore,
the boat returned 20 the mainland. and
the ghoul remained hopeless exile. he
could not leave the island. because in
staut death would follow should he be
seen by any OF the inhabitants Of the
Mormon land Of Zion. he was forced
to seek food aud shelter amid wild ami
NAL. the birds and reptiles.
Tho island was soon known us the
land " hanishment. People Stunned its
shores rs they would haunted house.
Mu- : persons were Lost upon the lake
wbi!o rowing In canoes against heavy
winds. The general suppositiOn q al
Was that those unfortunatcs driited q
the island and wcIC dey uured by the
wild man. Even tho fearless cowboy
has ever refused To intrude upon the
hone land Of the exile. Wild horses
roam over its acres Of broken canyons,
rugged cliffs and grassy meadows The
sea guils and other birds find home un
disturbed en- the deserted shores. Al
the natives, including Indians. warn
newcomers Of the fate Of scores ui
pleasure seekers who have been drifted
upon the shores Of the fated island. The
crsss. bluffs. dark caverns and lonely
canyons warn every boatmAn nearing
the shore to keep away from the hidden
dangers.
In a dark cave about half n mils
from the shore lives the wild man. Hi
home is strewn with the wrecks OF
boats. bones Of victims and other can
nibahstic indications. Away back In