The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1896-05-06
BANISHED FOR LIFE.
THE oUTcAsT or CHURCH ISLAND IN
GREAT SALT LAKE.

IN Utah is a large body OF land known
as Church island. This land consists of
mountains and valleys. with trees and
vegetation. and has always been used
as herdirg ground for cattle belonging
70 the Mormon church. Several years
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
ell 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.
sen gulls and other fowh. wanders q
lonely old man. without clothing and
devoid Of language or any Of tho in
stiDcts Of humanity. He was hanished
years ago by the Mormon church ON the
charge of robbing the dead.
Jean Baptiste was a Frenchman who
came to salt Lake City n young man
nearly 30 years ago. He grew mp among
the saints. and, after marrying. was
made sexton Of the small cemetery. bis
duties were light and his remuneration
correspondiugly small He resided in q
AAAAAr EAuAu NAt NlAuuNnln NlIN NNtL-
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 Frouchman was an avari-
cious man and was noticeable because
Of his picking up every cast away arti-
Gle and carrying il TO his home. Old
dry goods boxes. barrels, tin cans and
other packing articles cast away by the
soldiers We're especially well cared for
by Jean Baptiste. the sexton. He dress
ed as n scavenger and resembled the
modern saloon loafer. who Is always
searching the slnms for barrels and box
es Of garbage and east of garments
The actions Of the sexton created some
comment, and not n 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 siEccts
dressed IN an elegant suit Of bruadcluth
A few days before a wealthy stranger
had died and was buried in the ccme-
teIy. The suit in which the body was
dressed reSembled that worn by the sex
ton. An examination was ordered. and
the corpse was found to have been rob
bed II its clothing. a committee wait
ed upon the sexton and made "A most
startling discovery. Tie graveclo;hcs
Cf over 200 pcrsuns were found IN the
baskets and boxes slowed away In his
ghouliSh cabin. Excitement ran high in
salt Lake City. The boxes ~ clothing
were emptied and the contents taken TO
the city hall. where many a fond moth
/ er identified the burial robes of her
| child. Elrgant silk drcsses. az that time
I lUXGry even 90 tho rich. were found IN
I the various bundles The man was ar
rested and east into Jail. pursued by a
mob who sought his life.
Brigham Youug. then governor and
general dictator IN Utah. ordered the
man u he branded with a hot irun and
baDished 20 Church island. During the
/ quiet hour Of midnight Jean Baptiste
was taken from the Jail. and his whole
/ forehead was scared with the following
\ inscription Branded For Robhing the
I Dead. = Two men escorted the quiver-
ing. naked form from the city Of venge-
ance. A canoe was entered near the
| city. and the doomed prisoner was taken
IN chains to the island which in future
was To bo his home without clothing
or food he was landed upon the shore.
the boat returned Co the mainland. and
the ghoul remained n hopeless exile. He
could not leave the island. because in
stant death would follow should he be
seen by any of the inhabitants If the
Mormon land Of Zion. He was forced
to seek food and shelter amid wild ami
mails, the birds and reptiles.
The island was soon known as the
land II banishment. People stunned its
shores as they would a haunted house
Many persons were lost upon the Lake
while rowing IN canoes against heavy
winds. The general superstition Of all
was that those unfurtunates drifted 70
the island and We're deyuured BY the
wild man. Even the fearless cowboy
has ever refused TO intrude upon the
home land Of the exile. Wild horses
roam over it, acres Of broken canyons.
rugged cliffs and grassy meadows. The
sen IullS and other birds iiud home un-
disturbed ON the deserted shoreS All
the natives. including Indians. warn
newcomers Of the fate of scures Of
pleasure seekers who have been drifted
upon the shores of the fated island. The
crags, bluffs. dark caverns and lonely
canyons warn every boatman nearing
the shore 70 keep away from the hidden
dangers.
In dark cave about half n mile
from the shore lives the wild man. His
home i strcwn with the wrecks II
boats, bones of victims and other can
nibalistic indications. Away back IN
IL. u