The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1851-06-28
Peru and the Cholera and Small PoI Gus
scs-..H. y. Woodwork.

As both the P.ru papers have denied the truth
Of ou. statement, or rather given another
version in reference to the resistance made at Pc
ru several weeks ago to the landing there OF a
case OF cholera and "a case of the small pcx, and
as We have no wish 10 do injustice to a sister
town, it IS but fair that We should give their yer.
sion Of the matter, promising that We made our
statement on what We regarded Us the bcs: nu.
thouty. The Ia Sole County Democrat gives
the facts a. follows
The Lucy Bcrtram on her arrival from St
Louis on the 18th INST, touched At the wharf at
Peru, aud Immediately proceeded To Lasalle
where She landed her passengers. After few
hours bad elapsed, she returned, when the captain
stated he had sick man on board whom he
wished to leave at Peru. The overseer at the
poor for this township was sent for, who IN con.
yersatlOn with the captain declined having any.
thing To do with the case, unless the boat would
be responsible for the necessary expenses, giving
~ his reason. that il was the duty uf the captain
To have landed the man at Lasalle with the rest
of his passengers instead If proceeding to that
place, dschargmg the passengers. and then RI.
TURNING to Peru, to burthcn its citizens with the
support OF u sick man This view was taken by
the Oyetseer "a "a necessary pTecautOn against
continual imposition. Here the matter ended so
far rs Peru was concerned, there was no con.
cOutse Of people, 10 mob, and consequently no
general expression OF opinion on the subject, in
deed. We are satisfied that not half dozen Of
our citizens were aware of the application. II
the boat had stopped here, discharged her freight
aud then landed the sick person spoken Of he
would PROFESSIONALLY have been taken care Of
and properly treated.
In regard TO the small pox case referred to-
the captain Of canal boat called upon the over
seer Of the poor in Peru and stated there was a
case Of small pox on his boat, requesting him to
take charge of the sick man Upon enquiry, it
Wa, ascertainei that the boat was lying in the
basin at Lasae, when the person making the
application was Informed. that the Jurisdiction OF
the overseer did not extend over the uelghboIin;
township.
The alleged inhuman treatment received by H.
F. Woodwork, from the officers and men of the
steamer Gladiator, copied by us from the Laron
Gazette aud commented upon in connection with
the above, appears also to have been greatly over
drawn. The editor Of the Peru Democrat has
since investigated the matter, and gives the fol-
lowing facts, which he says Capt Sweeny, OF Pc
ora, Nr. Lloyd Of Hennepu, and many others,
passengers upon the boat at the time, stand ready
to corroborate;
That Mr.. Woodwork came on board the Glad
iator at Beaardstowu; that he partook Of his
dinner between Henry and Lacon, none Of the
officers Of the boat knowing he was unwell. until
the boat left Halls Landing that understanding
passenger was sick. Capt. De Witt went to see
him, when he found the head engineer and porter
rubbing Mr.. VS. hands and feet with stimulants :
that medicine was Immediately administered to
him, both by hmselfand Capt Cheneworth, which
the sick man yomited up; that Mr Wordsworth
himself expressed n wish for medical advice. and
desired to be landed at Hennepin that he might
be enabled to obtain the services of physician =.
and upon the boats reaching the landing ut
Hennepn he had SO far revived from the restora-
tyes used, that he walked to the shore without
seeming To need assistance. Captain De Witt
also states that he is acting captain Of the boat,
and as such, responsible to the public for the treat.
ment Of passengers; and that sickness in his own
family has hitherto prevented him from meeting
the charges preferred against himself and the OF
fcers vi the boat.