Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1899-04-13
UNCANNY LAND.

AT the mouth OF trinity INl\el, w
two narrow passes, is an island known as
Dead Mans Island. 1t is a patch OF
ground hardly more than 10 acres in eX-
tent, low, and wampy and almost mac
cessible; but it contains more greWsome
stories and strange vegetation than any
| other piece of ground Of equal size in the
whole state OF Texas.
Dead Mans Island has always been
known as such as far back as the Oldest
inhabitant can remember. During MeNl-
can rule, and up to the time or the out
break Of the wal for Texan independence,
the island, and much of the land sur
rounding it, was owned by the Anahuac
+ tribe of Indians. Dead Mans Island is
said to have been the individual property
of the last chief of the tribe. He was
murdered there when the MeXicans were
driven from the old town of Anahuac, Tor
treasure he had in his possession, sup
posed to have been left in his care by
some of Lafitte's men.
From thai day to this the island seems
to have been a fatal place to all who haVe
settled upon it, Some hunter or fisherman
takes possession of it every year, thlnk-
ing to break the fatal spell, but none so
far has been known to escape with ms
life. Some die suddenly, without any ap-
parent cause; others disappear mysterl-
ously, and are never heard of again.
kSOllle l. Iluie w.
agencies, others take their own lives, or
lose them by flood or fire, or are destroy
ed by lightning and the sudden coming Oh
storms.
The boatmen passing the island at
night report many strange SlghtS ahu
sounds. The Indian maiden and spectral
canoe have been met by many, a mile or
more from shore, and at u times when
their stancher crafts had all they could
do to combat the storm and waves, anu
live. Often, in sailing through Wes'
Pass, piercing cries, as if caused by NOR
tai pain, reach their ears. At other Tunes
usually on calm, Starlit nights, the
sounds of mirth and revelry fill the air
! These things happen, and are heard ahc
seen. when it is known that there is nc
: living soul on the island.
All this is ascribed to the curse OF tine
old Indian chief. who was murdered fol
the supposed treasure in his possession
The scenes and sounds at night are GER
tainly uncanny enOug to come IRON
such a source. But if the nights arount
\ Dead Mans Island are uncanny the DAY:
j upon it are no less so.
On the north side of the island is
fringe of low thorny bushes, the leave:
- of which, toward autumn, turn cleaning
red, hang pendent, and resemble drlpplns
: drops of blood so closely as to startle tn
e beholder. The foliage is very Scant,W VIII
only two or three leaves to the tWig. "
l the topmost twigs hangs a large trult
which at a distance appears to be plue
but which upon closer Inspection prove
to be a deep purple in color, and in snap
resembles a human heart very closely
: When touched with the hand it seems U
shrink, and quiVers Vlslbly, ana leel
cold and clanlny. 1t is said that the ]ulc
. of this fruit, pressed out and prepare
y in a certain way, makes a very poWerfu
> intoxicant. The bushes, from the snap
of their fruit probably, are known amonI
Il the hunters and fishermen in the Viclnlt
as Indian heart, and grow noWher eX
cept on the island.
e Near the center of The island is a sma
pond, around which grows a plant tina
o resembles the banana in LEAKAGE. In tn
q late autumn it bears a peculiar fruit. Thi
fruit is shaped exactly like a huma
5 hand, except that it has only three finger
y and a thumb. The fingers and thum
= show the joints of the knuckles yer
} plainly, the tips are furnished with
5 hard substance for nails, and the pair
S shows the same lines that are seen in tn
. human hand. The part of the fruit rep
= resenting the hand and wrist is copper
in color, but the fingers are red, as
bloody with murder. Some fisherme
: claim to have eaten it, and say 1T taste
II like a half ripe plantain.
There is another shrub that grows o
q the island which is a strange mixture
No two leaves on it are alike in Shap
u size or color. 1t blooms prOfusely all tn
year round, but the flowers are of ever
variety imaginable, and no two of ther
smell the same, or bear the least resem
blance to each other.
The sights and sounds at night ma
perhaps be due to old stories and livel
. imaginations. But the fate that over
takes those that try to live on the islam
and the. strange plants that grow ther
are facts which no man who has bee
there can dispute.