Milford chronicle. [volume] (Milford, Del.) 1878-1974, 1896-01-31

lonely old man, without clothing ana
devoid Of language or any of the in
stincts Of humanity. He was banished
years ago by the Mormon church on the
charge Of rohbing the dead.
Jean Baptiste was a Frenchman who
came to Salt Lake City young man
nearly 40 years ago. He grew up among
the saints, and, after marrying, was
made sexton Of the small cemetery. His
duties were light and his remuneration
correspondingly small. He resided i'll 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 tratick-
ing with a few Jewish secondhand
clothes dealers who had the hardihood
to 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 as a scavenger and resembled the
modern saloon loafer, who is always
searching the slums for barrels and box
es Of garbage and cast off garments.
| The actions Of the sexton cresred some
comment, and not q litslg curiosity was
aroused among people who had occasion
to visit his residence ON the mountain
size, over the city.
One day Jean appeared on the streets
dressed in an elegant suit Of broadcloth.
A few days before a wealthy stranger
had died and was buried in the ceme-
terry. 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 of its clothing A committee wait
ed upon the sexton and made most
startling discovery. The graveclothes
Of over 200 persons were found in the
baskets and boxes slowed away in his
ghoulish cabin. Excitement ran high in
Salt Lake City. The boxes of clothing
were emptied and the contents taken to
the city hall, where many fond moth
er identified the burial robes Of her
child Elegant silk dresses, at that time
a luxury even to the rich, were found in
the various bundles. The man was ar
rested and cast into Jail, pursued by a
mob who sought his life.
Brigham Young, then governor and
general dictator in Utah, ordered the
man to be branded with hot iron and
banished to Church island. During the
quiet hour of midnight Jean Baptiste
was taken from the Jail, and his whole
forehead was scared with the followil 6
inscription: Branded For Robbing the
Dead. " Two men escorted the culver
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 be his home Without clothing
or food he was landed upon the shore,
the boat returned to the mainland, and
the ghonI remained a hopeless exile. He
could not leave the island, because in
slant death would follow should he be
seen by any Of the inhabitants Of 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 Of Punishment 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 supposition Of all
was that those unfOrtunates drifted to !
the island and were devoured by the |
wild maa Even the fearless cowboy |
has ever refused TO intrude upon the |
home land Of the exile Wild horses
roam over its acres Of broken canyons,
rugged cliffs and grassy meadows. The
sea gulls and other birds find home I'M
disturbed on the deserted shores. All
the natives, ipoludipg Indians, warn
Of the fate Of scores of
seekers who have been driftea
upon the shoresof the fated island. The
crags, bluffs, dark caverns and lonely
canyons warn every boatman nearing
the shore to keep away from the hidden
dangers.
In dark cave about half q mile
from the shore lives the wild man. His
home is strewn with the wrecks of
boats, bones Of victims and other can
indications. Away back in
the deep darkness of the cavern is his
place. made Of clothing strip
ped from unfortunate victims ship
wrecked on the fatal shore A collection
NIan
trees of the island forms the foundation
for the bed, in which this human mon
ster spends most Of his time. Several
hunters and explorers have recently
viewed the man. He is described as old,
destitute Of clothing, incapa-
BILE of speech and covered with long
hair. Upon the appearance Of man he
ntters a wild, weird shrek and rushes
10 the cavern, from which he cannot be
induced or forced to return. San Fran
DISCO Examiner.
Not a Fairyland.
Robert Perry, a Chicago contractor who
las been spending two months in johann
lesburg, South Africa says:
~ want to warn Americans to keep
way from that part Of the world. There
S nothing TO go there for. The climate is
living is exorbitantly high,
nd the people who are there are almost
n a starving condition.
Negroes do all the work in the mines,
which are all owned by Barnato and
Rhodes The place is desert where I
carcely anything grows, and there is o
water famine most Of the time. Every ,
Imaginable thing is taxed heavily Even Z
own paper has printed a warn
ng TO the world to keep away from the
lace. The people who have lived there 10
r 10 years are away behind the times {
Then / told them about the motorcycle and
be kinctosoope they thought ] was tell 9
lg fairy tales and would not believe me" !
The Very Latest.
eHow did Miss Jones become a literary