The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1878-03-16
DEATH OF A VERY BILE
MAN,

Island of Molokai, Sandwich Islands. The
decease of SO noted and remarkable man,
in the prime of life, deserves a more ex-
tended obituary. ''Biliy Ragsdale," as he
was popularity known, was Hawaiian by
birth, his mother having been a native and
his father an American. By profession he
was lawyer, speaking English as fuently
as Hawaiian, and the most noted orator of
the Hawaiian Kingdom, whites and natives
included, and among the latter there
are many conspicuous orators. The man.
ner in which Ragsdale discovered that he
had the leprosy as told by himself, is most
interesting and especially from scientific
point of view.
The deceased resided for a number of
years on the island of Hawaii, and had an
Office at Hilo, the capital of the island.
One night he was studying up law case in
which he was deeply interested, when the
chimney from the lamp fell on the table.
Although the chimney was hot as fire,
"Bill," in his excitement, picked it up and
Bet it in its place without experiencing the
least inconvenience, such as would natur-
ally result to really sound person hand
ling red-hot lamp chimney. He reflected
for moment, looked at his hand, but
could not discover the least sign that it
had been burned. He then took off and
put on the chimney repeatedly, and with
the same result. This experience con-
vinced him that he was among the afflicted,
and he lost no time in communicating with
the authorities. An examination was
made, and medical authority declared that
he was afflicted with leprosy. Dr. Tosseau,
for years physician at Honolulu, but now
resident of the Island of Hawaii, made
the principal examination.
Up to this time no person on the Islands
ever dreamed that Bill Ragsdale had the
leprosy, and some doubted even after the
examination if he were 80 afflicted. Bill,
however, was personally convinced that he
was SO afflicted. The police did not arrest
him, however, owing TO his exalted posi-
ton, as was common with those suspected
of being lepers, so he voluntarily delivered
himself up as a victim of this terrible
disease. He was then sent to Mololsai
and installed Governor of the leper settle
ment which position he held for number
of years up to the time of his death.
Soon after his isolation from the world
and his friends the disease made itself
more apparent, and there were none
so incredulous as to believe that he
was not forever afflicted with the lep-
rosy.
During his administration of affairs he
was as successful as he was popular.
There were and are about 800 lepers on the
settlement but by his tact and kindhearted-
ness Ragsdale made the most extraordi-
nary and saddest community on the face
of the earth as cheerful and happy as the
unfortunates could be. By his advice the
Government made many reforms, and the
lepers recognized him as father. One
of the most peculiar and startling phrases
connected with this episode is the fact
that Mr.. Ragsdale, who was q married man
with family, took up with young ma
tive woman on the settlement of Molokai
who fell in love with him. She was re-
markably handsome, of splendid physique,
and had already buried two husbands or
lovers-for both terms are substantially
the same with the Hawaiians free from
missionary influence. Both her husbands,
as we will call them, died of leprosy, yet
the wife, as she must be termed, was never
afflicted with it. She fell in love with
Ragsdale, and they continued to live in the
most perfect harmony, the wife not having
the least fear of being subjected to the
frightful affection of her husband. She
still survives him, and is in perfect health,
OF least was SO not long ago.
It may be here remarked that there are
some seventy-fve individuals on the leper
settlement who are not afflicted with lep-
rosy. These have voluntarily exilsd
themselves on account of the deep love
and affection they have for their friends
who are lepers. They mingle freely among
the stricken, eating out of the same
calabash of poi, and drinking from the
same cup, chatting and talking to-
gether on the same mat, and even sleeping
together. Still some of the healthy per-
sons, indeed the majority of them, never
catch the leprosy. In word, they have
no fear at all of it, The
Hawaiian authorities have many faults and
shortcomings, but the humanity they ex-
hibit toward the lepers, in providing and
caring for them, is greatly to their credit.
This settlement is under the taboo; that is,
no human Being is permitted to enter the
dreadful locality without q special permit
from the Board Of Health at Honolulu.
| II is yery difficult to oct this permit SO that