Charlevoix county herald. (East Jordan, Mich.) 189?-1953, 1912-08-10
Treasure on
Holy Island.
REMAINS WHERE HIDDEN
BY KING STRANG.
Place of Retreat of Mormons
Being Transformed Into Resort
of Exceptional Attra ctions.

One OF the interesting reports of re-
sort development in The Pine Lake
region is the purchase and improve
ment OF Holy Island, the only island
ia Pine Lake aud the last beauty spot
still left in its original prlmeval
grandeur.
Situated as it is. commanding the
ENTRANCE 10 the South Arm of the lake
within easy distance OF CharleVoix
and all the lake resorts, IL seems "a
have been designed for the very pur-
pose for which it is destined TO be-
come, 1.-THE resort par excellence"
The name was conferred upon it by
King Strane, the famous Mormon
leader Of Beaver Island. His roman
Lie career and tragic end is still fresh
in the minds OF the older inhabitants
who lived in Charlevoix when that
trading post aud Indian missiqn on
the shores OF Pine river, which at
that time was a wide shallow outlet
to Pine Lake. Stories Of the naming
Uf Holy Island by King Strang and Of
bis treasure buried there are often
told by the first settlers and as near
as can he learned are az follows:
AFTER the Mormons were driven
out of Navoo, Illinois, they, under
the leadership Of James king Strang
came up Lake Michigan in boats and
settled on Big Beaver Island where
the village of st. James now stands,
Here they remained for years making
a pretense at farming but being in
reality pirates. They spent the
greater part OF their time in pillage
and robbery along the shores OF the
northern part Of Lake Michigan.
Nets were lifted and fish stolen, boats
aud traps we're appropriated, false
lights put up and vessels wrecked
aud their crews never heard OF again.
Settlers homes were also pill laged
and stock removed to the island
homes Of the rovers.
The government was notified and
war vessel was dispatched 10 St.
James TO investigate, but the crafty
Strang was notified in some way Of
her coming and moved all Of the val
liable goods that could be identified
up into Pine Lake and buried them
ON Holy Island. Vessels could not
enter Pine Lake at that time for the
dredging OF the chaunel at Charlevoix
did not take place qutil long after
ward.
Strang was eyonerated by the gov
erument on account Of the lack of
evidence and he soon became bolder
than before. 1t is said he planned TO
pillage the villages OF Charlevoix and
Petoskey and il successful TO abandon
ST. James and JOIN Brigham Young
at Salt Lake City. Utah. His last
adventure was unsuccessful, as he
was repglsed by the citizens Of Charl-
evoix in what was called the battle OF
Pine River, and driven To his home at
st. James. This did not save him
Tor the angered settlers followed him
that night TO his stronghold and as
he rushed from his residence t0
sJund the alarm of the coming Of his
pursuers, he fell with musket ball
through his heart. With the death
OF Strang his band scattered going
across the lake to Wisconsin and
thence 70 Utah TO join the other
Mormons.
The treasure buried on Holy Island
remains a sealed book. ali attempts
TO locate IT being fruitless, but the
old arches used for cooking by the
Mormons and part of their stone fort
still remain. In the recent cutting
and grading of bouleyards, traces Of
the old excavation are TO be seen and
Mr.. Mclean, owner, has fine col
lection OF stone arrow heads aud other
flint relics found by the workmen,
but the buried treasure has failed TO
II, l,.1 II.