The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1908-09-05
Legend of Mount DiabaIO,


Der of the Atlantic Monthly. gives a
legend of Monte del Diablo, located in
Idaho county, in which he portrays
the manner of it's having received its
Satanic name, as well as a significant
vision concerning the exit of the pious
missionaries with their Spanish
retinue, an dthe appearance of another
race of men. The legend runs thus,
says the Idaho Scimitar.
A holy friar, named Jose Amino
Haro, having assembled the mount to
explore, encountered the old horn
headed, club-footed imp of darkness
on on the summit, who in the dusk
OF the evening famed away the fog
and bade 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 as they swept
down the plain they were joined by
like professions defiling from every
ravine and canyon of the mysterious
mountain. The cross of Santiago
glittered, and the banners of CASTLE
and Aragon waved over the moving
columns
The evil one at length broke the
reverie of the holy many in this wise:
You behold the fading footprints of
adventures Castile-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. In
stead of the dark eyed and raven
tressed sons of CASTLE, he beheld blue
eyes and flaxen hair of the Saxon race.
Instead of music, they emitted strange
cultural noises. Instead of decorous
tread and stately mein, they came
staggering. Giant trees fell before
them and the bowels of the earth were
torn and rent as with convulsion.
The father demanded of the mys-
ferrous stranger who had shown him
all this: who are these staggering,
busting Ishmalites, with neither cross
nor holy SYMBOL"
Step under the shadow of my
plume said the companion, and ye
shall see."
Father Jose stepped beside him and
they both sank into the earth. When
the father opened his eyes he found
himself in vaulted chamber span
gled with diamonds and a floor of pure
gold; lakes and streams of pure gold |
lay in caverns in all directions, some
liquid and some solid.
The Devil siGnitied that if the priest |
would desert the country, taking with |
him his bells and holy images and |
missions, he would crown his old age |
with pleasure, and that he should not |
want, at the same time, nodding sig |
niflcantly at the lake.
Incensed at the attempted bride, the |
Father brandished his crucifiX in the |
face of the arch fiend and babe him de- |
part, at the same time letting fall the |
crucifix by accident, when a tussle en- |
sued, both attempting to obtain it, In |
which the good monk was overpow-
cred and became insensible.
When he awoke to consciousness, he |
was being carried on litter by |
friends who had found him on the |
summit of Mount Diablo near where |
he had so miraculously disappeared |
into the earth. His faithful attend |
ants, coming to the spot just at the |
time of his being eXhumed, saw the |
monster leave him after he had reach |
ed the surface, but he had then as |
sumed the shape of a grizzly bear, and |
with his claws, either before of after |
the transformation he had lacerated |
the arms and body of the priest to an
alarming degree.
Since that day. sayes the legend, the |
mountain has been Stunned as place |
of evil spirits. The Rev. Father lived |
to witness the fulfillment of much Of |
his prophetic vision as shown him on
the mount, but it was reserved for his |
successors in the fullness Of time to |
realize the sequel.