Democratic Sentinel, Volume 9, Number 12, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 April 1885 — Curious Facts About Kelly’s Island. [ARTICLE]

Curious Facts About Kelly’s Island.

Adam Schardt lives on Kelly’s Island. He is a rare old German with a sweet accent. He gives the following history of the early settlers of Kelly’s Island: In the first place, the island was literally covered with snakes and reptiles, and no human being, not even the noble red man, had the courage to dispute their right and title to the island. During a heavy storm, many years ago, a schooner was wrecked off Me Godgam’s point. The boat carried a cargo of live hogs. AH hands were lost, but the hogs swam ashore, and, as they found little else to feed upon, they made a diet of snakes. In the course of time they succeeded in devouring all the snakes on tho island. Then the Kelly family .put in an appearance and began devouring the hogs, a feat which was accomplished easily and quickly. Nothing has since succeeded in exterminating the Kelly family.— Cleveland letter. Heretofore at their demise members of the British royal family have been buried in coffins covered with crimson velvet, with massive silver ornaments; but a few years ago, when the Queen paid her first visit to the sepulcher, she observed that the coverings had become ragged and faded, and orders were given that all the coffins should at once be placed in new oak cases, on the top of which are the plates and coronets on crimson cushions. The late Duke of Albany lies on a stone table in the center of St. George Chapel vault, with King George of Hanover, George 111., and the Duke of Kent. The other coffins are on shelves on eaoh side of the vault. The Prince Con-* sort’s coffin was never placed in the royal vanity the Queen objecting to lier husband being buried, even temporally, in the same place with George IV.