The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1869-12-02
Observation-Disclosures Terrible Case in
US Central Kentucky.

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Our city on Thursday says the Lexington
Observer and Reporter, of November goth,
was the scene Of one of those heart rendine
occurrences, a death by hydrophobia. The
victim of the fearful malady was young man
by thename of John Alexander, son Of Mr..
j. W. Alexander, who formerly kept con-
fectionery onLimestone strces, between Main
and Short. The particulars of the sad case
are most distressing.
The young man had been bitten by rabd
dog as long ago as the night Of the 10Th of
last August. While walking along Third
street dog ran out of an alley, aud, without
even premonitory bark, silently but Gcrcsly
seized him by the calf Of the leg, biting clear
through the boot Mr.. Alexander succeeded
in kicking him off, buth came at him again,
and bit his hand. the teeth meeting through
it. He did not know at sthc time that the
dog was mad. He sought professional advice,
but was assured by the physician that he was
in no danger. aA1
The scratches and wounds healed quickly,
and he thought no more about the matter
until last Thursday night, when, after being
initiated member of the Ashland Lodge of
Good Templars, he experienced on taking
drink of water most singular and uppleas-
ant feeling in his throat, but he soon Cos over
it. He was troubled with nothing more un,
pleasant until Wednesday afternoon at about
5 o'clock, when, on again attempting to take
aglass Of water, he found that he could not
drink. He then Immediately suspected the
cause Of his sickness, and determined to fully
test it. He tried to force water into his
mouth with spoon, but his arm gave spas
modic jerk, sending the spoon flying through
the air, and he fell back unnerved and wild
and SICK both from the effects Of the msIady
and the horrible certainty of his rapidly APP
preaching fate -
He was confined to his bed all Wednesday
night. On Thursday morning he got rapidly
worse, and continued to suffer most terribly
till the time of his death. The agony he en-.
dured no words can describe; and tine physi-
clans attending him said his were the most
fearful sufferings they had ever Witnessed
He howled, and snarled, and barked, like y
dog. He scratched and clawed at the bed.
clothing until it was almost torn to shreds.-
Spasms and commissions succeeded each other,
racking his tortured body and causing him to
foam at the mouth like wild and rabid AMI
NAL; and in his frenzy the veins would swell
like they would burst, and he would barkiand
cough as though his lungs would be forced up,
and blood would ,gush in streams from, his
mouth and nostrils The bed on which he
was held down by strong men was saturated
through and through with the crimson stream.
Strange to say he was conscious nearly the
entire time, and, devoted and selfsacrifcing,
he firmly insisted that none of his agonized
and weeping relatives should be allowed to
come near him, as he was afraid he might
injure them. His father, who had been ab.
sent, arrived a little before his death, but on
being told that he had come, he exclaimed
Don't let him see me-" 5fssI
At about o'clock his suffering became
even more intensified, and he screamed aud
Water water! force it down me I!
Oh Death hurry, hurry" His attendant
who had done all in their power
to alleviate his sHferings again administered
chloroform most copiously, and its soothing
and pain deadening effects came with thrice
blessed power, breaking the force of the last
fearful moments of suffering, and the upfor-
tunate victim of that most horrible of all
maladies, hydrophobia, escaped from hisitor.
lures at quarter past 2 O'Clock Thursday
afternoon.
Mr.. Alexander was nineteen years old, had
lately Joined the Baptist Church, and was
known as most excellent and industrious
young man. He frequently pointed his finger
heayenward just before he died, and declared
bis desire to be at rest. His invalid mother
and ak his stricken family have the lively
sympathies of the whole community @