A ninetenth-century Italian-born monk and hermit became a famous resident of New Mexico, dwelling on a mountain that would be one day named Hermit’s Peak. Giovanni Maria de Agostini (1801-1869) had been banished from Brazil to Mexico for provoking masses of curious to follow. Agostini went to Mexico but found the same official ire, then going to Cuba, then to New York City, then to Quebec, everywhere resentd for his austerity, simplicity, and religiosity. Leaving Canada he traveled (always by foot) to New Mexico, where he finally settled, still drawing crowds of pious and curious. He died at the hands of unknown assailants.
URL: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/inspiring-monk-lived-new-mexico-cave-180973501/; Wikipedia entry: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jo%C3%A3o_Maria_D%27Agostini
PRINT: Giovanni Maria de Agostini, Wonder of the Century: The Astonishing World Traveler Who Was A Hermit, by David G. Thomas. Doc45 Publishing, 2014.