The Idaho scimitar. [volume] (Boise, Idaho) 1907-1908, 1908-08-29
Historical Notes
! ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Le6end of Mount DIabdIO.

A writer in the October 1868, number of the At
lantic Monthly, gives a legend Of Monte del Diab1o
located in Idaho county, in which he portrays the
manner of its having received its Satanic NAME
as we'll as significant vision concerning the exit OF
the pious missionaries with their Spanish retnue
and the appearance of another of men. The
legend thus:
A holy friar, named Jose Antonio Haro, having
assembled the mount to explore encountered the old
horn-headed c1ub-footed imp of darkness the
summit, who in the dusk of the evening famed away
the fog and babe the good priest look to the west
He did so and beheld long cavalcade OF gallant
cavaliers all in deep mourning. Martial music
reached his ears and they swept down the plain
they were joined by like professions deflng from
every ravine and canyon of the mysterious mountain.
The cross of Santiago glttered, and the banners of
CASTLE and Aragon waved over the moving column.
The evil one at length broke the rreverie Of the
footprints of adventures Caste-the declining glory
of old Spain. The soil she has acquired is lost to
her irrevocably. Look to the east"
Father Jose looked as directed, and saw strange
and motley crew Instead of the dark-eyed and
raven-tressed of CASTLE, he beheld blue eyes
and flaxen hair of Saxon Instead of music
they emitted strange cultural noises Instead of dec
orous tread and stately mien, they swag-
gerng Giant trees fell before them and the bowels
of the earth were torn and rent as with a convul-
sion
The Father demanded of the mysterious stranger
who had shown him all this: "Who these swag-
gerng, bustng Ishmaelites, with neither cross nor
holy symbol"
"Step under the shadow of my plume" said his
companion "and We shall see"
Father Jose stepped beside him and they both sank
into the earth When the Father opened his eyes, he
found himself in a vauted chamber spangled with
diamonds and a floor of pure gold lakes and
streams of pure gold lay in in all directions,
some liquid and some solid.
The Devil sgnihed that if the priest would de-
sert the country taking with him his bells and holy
images and MISSIONS he would his old age
with pleasure, and that he should not want at the
time nodding significantly at the lake
Incensed at the attempted bribe the Father brand
shed his crucix in the face of the arch fend and
babe him depart, at the time letting fall the
cruc6x by accident, when tussle ensued, both
attempting to obtain it, in which the good monk
overpowered to become lnsens1ble.
When he awoke to consciousness, he being
carried on a litter by friends who had found him
the summit of Mount Dablo where he had
disappeared into the earth. His faith
full attendants coming to the spot just at the time of
his being exhuned saw the monster leave him after
he had reached the surface, but he had then
sumed the shape of grizzly bear, and with his
claws, either before after the transformation he
had lacerated the and body of the priest to an
alarming degree.
Since that day, says the legend the mountain has
been stunned as place of evil spirits The Rev
Father lived to witness the fu6llment of much of his
prophetic vision shown him the mount, but 1t
was reserved for his successors in the fulness of
time to realize the sequel