The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1896-05-27
BANIsHED ToR LIFE.
TIE oUTcAsT or cHuGca ISLAND M
GREAT SALT Lk.,E.

branded Tor KohhinE t:lo Dead by order
Of GovsrnSr brigham Young.
In the center of the Great Salt lake
IN Utah is large body Of land known
a. Church island. This land consists Of
mountains and valleys. with trees and
vegetation. and has always been used
rs a herding ground for cattle belonging
10 the Mormon church. Several years
ago the water on the east eide Of tho is
land was shallow and cattle could be
driven across easily, but now the water
is deep and everything must DO convey
ed to and from the land in boars. 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 n
lonely old man. without clothing and
devoid Of language or any Of the in
stincts Of humanity. He was bunished
years ago by the Mormon church on the
charge Of robbing 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. ana, after marrying. was
made sexton Of the small cemetery. Hi-
duties were light and his remuneration
correspondingly small He resided in n
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 traflick-
ing with a 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 FreEchman was an avari-
cious man and was noticeable because
Of his picking mp 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 rho
soldiers were especially we'll cared for
by Jean Baptiste, the sexton. Ho dress
ed as a scayenger and rcscmbled the
modern saloon lCafer, who Is always
searching the slums for barrels and box
es Of 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 tho mountain
side. over the city.
One day Jean appeared ON the streets
dressed in an elegant suit Uf bruadcluth.
A few days before a wealthy stranger
had died and was buried in the crme-
terry. The suit in which the body was
dressed resembled that worn by the sex
tom. An examination was ordered. and
the corpse was found 20 have been rob
bed Of Its clothing. y committee wait
ed upon the sextCn and made a most
startling discovery. The gravcclothes
OF over 200 persons were found IL tho
baskets and boxes slowed away IN his
ghJuliSh cabin. Excitement ran high in
salt Lake City. Tho boxes Il clothing
were emptiCd and the contents taken 10
the city hall. where many q fond moth
er identified the burial robes Uf her
child. Elegant silk dresses. al that time
a luxury even 40 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 Baptisto
WAS taken from the Jail, and his whole
forehead was scared with the following
inscription: branded For Rubbiug the
Dead. - Two men escorted the quiver-
ing, naked form from the city uf 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 be his home. Without clothing
or food he was landed upon the shore
the boat returned 10 the mainland. and
the ghOul 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 haunted house.
Many persons were lost upon the lake
while rowing IN canoes against heavy
winds The general suppoSitiun If all
was that those unfortunatcs drifted 10
the island and We're devuured by the
wild man. Even the fearless COW buy
has ever refused TO i-:rude 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 un-
| disturbed ON the deserted shores. All
/ the natives, including Indians. warn
newcomers of the fate Of scores Of
I 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 keeT away from the hidden
/ dangers.
! In a dark cave nbOut half n mile
3 fvo,,, tIa shora lives tba Wild man His