The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1915-11-05
4 cOcO/rI| GRONE an H1E' ISLAND

in it, is proved by the ruined church an burial
ground one sees couple OF miles to the north
OF San Migrel the principal town. Close by the
church ruins is the site OF ancient village,
traceable only by its stone foundations.
Whatever the may have been. It came
about in the Of time that the island OF
Cozumel was abandoned a place Of residence.
1t must have remained unoccupied for several
generations, for when Stevens touched there with
the object OF exploring its ruined temples of
which many are known to exist, the entire
face, with the exception of two clearings,
covered with dense growth of dwarf but thick
timber Stevens satisfied himself that this forest
covered the whole area
One of the open spaces referred to above was
clearing made by n man named Moas, no
torious character half political refugee, half
pirate who had been exied from Yucatan. Moas
lived for many years in Cozumel and doubtless
would have died in his 5ed"-the end most de-
sired by all freebooters, are told-had he
never returned to the mainland, for his enemies
were afraid to attack him in his stronghold. One
fatal day. however, he sailed his schooner across
the channel and landed near to where the Valla-
doid trail comes down to tho beach. Molas
two sons-who had voluntarily shared their IA
theirs exe-accompanied him on this trip, hav-
ing In vain tried to dssuade him from making
1t. Molas insisted that his sons should remain
aboard the schooner until he gave the signal
that all clear. The signal never came. Wait
ing long for It that they felt sure all was not
we'll, the lads went ashore at last to investigate.
The ever-vigilant foe had seen Moas' boat max
ing for the mainland. short distance from the
beach, yet hidden by the jungle. they found their
fathers mutilated body.
The boys returned to the island only to remove
their personal belongings and what they could
carry away of the family effects, and then went
to live In a remote part OF Yucatan as far re-
moved from Cozumel and its sad associations
as they could get. Thus IL came about that the
Isle OF Swallows" again without human In
habitants.
The other clearing mentioned was the deserted
ranch of a certain Don Abno." Stevens calls
him without revealing his surname. Stevens met
Don Albino in Valladolid and heard from the
ranchman's own lips why he left Cozumel. In
Valladolid cotton ml-famous in the annals
OF the town the first TO be erected In Mexico
had started operations. and the owner, an enter
prisng Spaniard, paying high prices for the
raw material and Offering enticing premiums to
encourage more extensive cultivation OF the plant
Now Don Albino possessed no land. nor had he
the means wherewith to buy some; nevertheless
he yearned to profit by the mill owners bounty.
SO he conceived the idea of going over to Cozu-
mel, which by that time was regarded as sort
of mo Mans Land" to raise cotton. He could
easily convey the lint across the channel In ca
noes and although from the coast to the mill
was a Journey OF several days for pack mules
there would be sufficient margin I'm the price to
Justify the expense OF transportation Full or
enthusiasm. Don Albino gathered around him as
many of the more destitute natives as he could
induce by the lavish use Of glowing promises to
accompany him and set sail for CozumeL
But the motley band soon tired of the monoto-
nous life on the lonely island They were restless
spirits, who had lived by what was really little
short Of brigandage. tilling the land only to the
extent Of being sure of their staple food maize
and "frijoes" tbeans). Sullen under the crav-
ings for the comparative excitement obtainable
in their native pueblos. they before long picked
q quarrel with their patron" and. sezing the
only canoe returned to Yucatan-