The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1896-05-19
BANISHED FOR LIFE.
THE oUTcAsT OF CHURCH ISLAND IN
GREAT SALT LAKE

Branded For Robbing ths Dad oy Order /
Of Governor Brigham Young.
In the center Of the Great Salt lake
In Utah Is = large body Of land known |
ms Church island. This land consists of
mountains and valleys. with trees and |
vegetation. and has always been used
as a herding ground for cattle belonging
60 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
ed to and from the land in boats. A dis
tAnce Of about i've 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 .
lonely old man. without clothing and
devoid Of language OF any Of the in
stincts Of humanity. He was banished
years ago by the Mormon church ON the
charge Of robbing the dead
Jean Baptists was Frenchman who
came to Salt Lake City n young man
nearly 20 years ago. Ho grew mp among
the saints, and, after marrying. was
made sexton Of the small cemetery. His
duties were light and his remuneration
correspondingly small he resided in \
little cabin en- tire mountain side over
looking the ci,y. and spent his time.
when not employed in the cemetery. in
collecting junk and trading and traffick-
ing with a few Jewish secondhand
clothes dealers vino had the hardihood
20 engage in business among the Nor
mons A regiment Of United States
troops was then camped rear the city.
and the gentiles engaged in business
were assured protection.
The little Frenchmsn was an avari-
cious man and was noticeable because
Of his picking up every cast away arti-
Gle and carrying il TO his homo 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 scaveDger and resembled the
modern saloon loafer. who is always
searching tire slums for barrels and box
es Of garb-Te and cast OF garments.
The actions OF the sexton created some
comment. and ret 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 snit OF bruadcloth.
A few days before a wealthy stranger
had died aud was buried in the ceme-
tery. 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 Rravcclothcs
Of over 200 persons were found in the
baskets and boxes slowed away in his
ghOulish cabin. Excitement ram high IN
Salt Lake City. The boxes uf clothing
were emptied and the contents taken 10
the city hall, where many a fond moth
er identified the burial robes Of her
ch d. Elegant silk dresses. ut that time
a Luxury even 20 the rich. were found n
the various bundles. The man was ar
rested and cast into Jail, pursued by
mob who sought his life.
Brigham Young. then governor and
general dictator in Utah, ordered the
man to be branded with n hot iron and
bani,bed to 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 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
il chains TO the island which in future
was to be his home. without clothing
or iOod he was landed upon the shore.
the boat returned TO the mainland, and
the ghOul remained a hopeless exile He
could not leave the island, because in
stant death would follow should he be
seen by any OF tire inhabitants Of the
Mormon land Of Zion. He was forced
to seek food and sheltec amid wild ami
mails, the birds and reptiles.
The island was Soon known as the
land of 5aaishmcat i'eOple Stunned its
shores as they wo1ld haunted house.
Many persons w7Te lost upon the lake
while rSwiag in canoes against heavy
winds. TIE gerera, supposit ion Of all
was thas those I'M stunates drifted to
the island and We're deyoured by the
wild man. 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 gras-. meadows The
sea gulls un1 other bird lind home un-
disturbed ON the deserted shores All
the natives, including Indians. warn
newcomers OF the fate Of scores 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 to keep away from the hidden
dangers.
In a dark care about half a mile
from the shC-e lives the wild man. His
hnma l. 81 I'm with the r,.raclr u