Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1915-11-12

in IT, is proved oy the ruined church ar burial
ground one secb couple of n4ies 70 tho north
of San Nigel. the principal town Close by the
church ruins Is the site ar ancient village.
traceable only by its stone foundations
Whatever the cause may have been. II came
about In the course or time that the island Of
Cozumel was abandoned as place of residence.
II must have remained unoccupied for several
generations. for when Stevens touched there with
the object OF exploring It's ruined temples. Of
which many are known to exist the entire sur.
face with the exception OF two cearinRs was
covered with dense growth OF dwarf but thick
timber. Stevens satisfied himself that this forest
covered the whole
One of the open spaces referred to above WAS
clearing made by a man named Molas q
toriouB character half political refugee. half
pirate who had been exied from Yucatan. Molas
lived for many years In Cozume and doubtless
would have died in bis bed"-the end most de-
sired by all freebooters. toid-had he
never returned TO the mainland. for his enemies
we're afraid to attack him In his stronghold. Ono
fatal day. however he sailed his schooner across
the channel and landed near TO whore the Valla-
dod trail comes down TO tht beach. Molaa'
two sons-who had voluntarily shared their f.
theirs exiie-accompaned him on this trip. hav-
ing in vain tried to dissuade him from making
II. Molas insisted that his sons should remain
aboard the schooner until he gave the signal
that all clear. The signal never came. Walt
ing so long for It that they felt sure all not
WELL the lads went ashore at last TO investigate.
The ever-vigllant foe had seen Molas' 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 70 remove
their personal belongings and what they could
carry away of the family effects, and then went
to live in remote part OF Yucatan, as far 70
moved from Cozumei and fs sad associations
as they could get. Thus Il came about that the
"IaIa of Swallows" AGAIN without haman In
habitants
The other clearing mentioned was the deserted
ranch OF a certain Don Albino." a. Stevens calls
him without revealing his surname. Stevens met
Don Albino In Valladod. and heard from tbs
ranchmans own lips Why be left CoZumeL In
Valladolid q cotton miIl-famous In the annals
OF the town the Hrst to be erected in Mexico
had started operations. and the owner. an enter
prising SDaniaTd. was paying high prices for the
raw material and offering enticing premiums 70
encourage more extensive cultivation Of the plant
Now Don Albino possessed no land nor had he
the means whereWith to buy some; nevertheless
be 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 a. q sort
OF mo Mans Land TO raise cotton He could
easily convey the lint across the channel 10 ca
noes and although from the coast TO the mill
was a journey OF several days for pack mules
there would be sufficient margin In the price 20
Justify the expense of transportation. Fun Of
enthusiasm, DON Albino gathered around him
many OF the more destitute natives as he could
induce by the lavish Of glowing promises 20
accompany him and set sail for Cozumei
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. filling the land only 70 the
extent OF being Of their staple food. maize
and +friJoles" (beansl. Sallen under the eraY-
ings for the comparative excitement obtainabie
In their native pueblos, they before long picked
Q quarrel With their patron and. sezing the
only canoe returned to Yucatan