The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1872-06-26


A REVOLVING REo1TAn.-The following
particulars Of q most shocking case OF
neglect and inhumanity which has ever
disgraced the American people, are
taken from the columns Of the New York
ASSald: y D
ing her name as Mary Butler, came to
Unionville, & village on the Midland
Railroad, about twelve miles from Mid
dletown. N. Y, looking for o situation
ss O. domestic. She said che was alone
in the world, and getting no employ
ment, she formed an acquaintance with
a man named Seeley, laborer. and
lived with him as his wife. although it is
not known that they were ever married
Notwithstanding great cruelty on the
part. OF the man toward the girl, che
chung to him with that singular affection
characteristic of women of her GLASS. A
few weeks ago lady living at Gardiner.
vile, near Unionville, was attacked with
smallpox, and no one being found to
take care Of her. liberal offers we're
made by her friends for some person to
act in the capacity of nurse.
Against the earnest wish and protest
OF the girl above mentioned, Seeley
compelled her to risk her life at the bed
side Of the smallpox victim, for the
sake of getting possession of the money
offered. The girl attended the lady
throughout her illness. and then re-
turned to Unionville, engaging as do
mestic in the family of Mr.. Asa Smith.
A short time thereafter symptoms of
small. pox appeared on Miss Butler, and
she was sent to Seeley's house. He re-
fused to have her there, and she was
then taken to lonely, ruined house on
the "drained lands" in the woods, and
left. The house had no floor; the win
dows were out, and not door to shut
out rain or shine.
The authorities sought for some one to
attend to the poor creature in her horri-
BILE sickness, but no one could be found
except Seeley, who was willing to accept
the position, and he only did 80 in CON
sideration Of 500 paid him by the town.
Receiving his money, he went 10 the
house, and no one heard or saw anything
of him again until Friday last, when he
came to the village and said the girl was
dead. His appearance in the town just
from the house of pestilence and death
>reated general consternasion, and he
was given new suit of clothes and dis.
infectants. and told to depart. He left.
and his whereabouts are unknown. The
body of the unfortunate girl laid in the
house. at the mercy OF oats, dogs and
rats. which had free ingress to the ruin.
until last night, when persons we're found
with humanity and courage sufficient to
proceed to the house and give the body
burial iu the wild srness.. This was ac.
complished with great difficulty. for OBJ
vious reasons. The body had been mu.
tilated by sons animal or animals, and
several cats were frightened off at the
approach of the burYing party, but
lurkea around and followed the remains
to the spot where they were buried.
This is one OF the most shocking cases
ever known here, aud it has excited
general comment and execration. No.
thing positive is. known about the unfor-
tunate Mary Butier's history. She was
bright and i. telligent and about twenty
years OF age.
The Dispatch also says:
Great apprehension exists that the
pestilence will be spread by the dogs and
cats throughout the neighborhood. and
the mind of the community is far from
being easy.
II the Community" is not decimated
by the smallpox it will not be because
they do not deserve it. Such inhumani.
ty and cruelty we have seldom heard Of.
SPIES AND INFoRMRRs. One of the
curses Inflicted by Radicalism upon our