The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-01-24
CHIEF OF THE LEPERS.

REMARKABLE HIsToRY-DEATH OF THE Gov
ERNoR OF THE TABooED SETTLEMENT OF
MoLoKAI. HAwAI-voLUNTARY ISOLATION
STRANGE ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS IMMu-
NIFTY FROM CONTRACTION.
The San Francisco Chyoatcfe. January Is, contained
an interesting account OF the late William r. Rags
dale, Governor OF the eper settlement Hawaiian
island Of Molokai. He was a noted and remarkable
man. He was commonly known as "Bil Ragsdale. I"
Ho was a Hawaiian by BIRTH OF has parents hav-
Ing been native and the other an American. He
spoke both the Hawaiian and the English tongues
with nuency and eloquence. His position In the
Kingdom was very high, but he resigned IL voun-
tary when he realized the terrible blow which
had dealt him.
FEARFUL DISCOVERY.
The manner which he discov cred that he was one
of the "unclean," described by himself is most in
teresting In scientific sense. lie resided Tor a num-
Der OF years the island OF Hawaii aud an Office
at Hilo the capital ono night he was studying in
tently when the glass chimney OF his lamp Tell tho
table. Says the CAroaicie:-
Although tho chimney hot "Bl" in his ex-
element picked II up and set It in It's place without
experiencing the least such would
naturally result 10 really sound person handing
red hot lamp chimney. he reflected for moment,
looked at ms hand, but could discover the least
sign that II had been burned He then took OF and
put on the chimney repeatedly and with the same
among the afflicted, he lost limo communi-
eating with the authorities.
MADE GOVERNOR OF THE LEpEss.
An examination and medical authority
declared that he afflicted with leprosy DR..
rousseau hr. for years physician a. Honolulu,
made the'principal examination. Up to this time no
person on the Islands dreamed that Bin Rags
dale had the eprosy, and some doubted after
examination II he was SO afflicted Bill, however,
was personally convinced that he was ail lcted.
The police do not arrest HIM, however, owing to his
pected OF beng cpers, SO no voluntarily delivered
himself up victim of tho terrible disease.
He was then sent to Molokai and installed
as Governor OF tho lepcr settlement, which
position he held Tor a number of wears IN To the ln,o
oil his death last MONTH Soon after his isolation
IRON the world and his friends the disease made iLso
more apparent ana tnero were mono so ,ncrodulous
as TO believe that he forever afflicted with the
lcprosy During MS administration OF affairs he was
as successful 40 nc was popular There woro and
about eight hundred lepers the settlement but by
his tact and kindheartedncss Ragsdale made the
extraordinary and saddest community the face Of
the earth as cheerful and happy the unortunatcs
could be. BY his advice the government made many
reforms and The iepers recognized him as u iather.
A ROMANCE
One OF the most peculiar and startling phases con-
noCted with this episode Is tho TACT that Mr.
who was a married man with a family. took up with
Il young native woman on the settlement oil Moloxai
iell IN love with him. She was remar kabiv
handsome, OF splendid physique and had alreaay
buried Two husbands or lovers, Tor both terms
are substantially the same with the Hawanans
free from missionary influence. Both her nus.
bands, as We will call them, died OF lep-
rosy, yet the wife, she must be termed,
never afflicted with IT, She Tell IN love with
Ragsdae and they continued TO 1.-Two In the per-
feet harmony, tho wife not having tho least fear
being subject TO the irghttul a1cLon OF her husband
She SUI survives him and Is 10 perfect health,
least so not long ago. 1t may here be remarked
that there are some seventy live individuals the
leper settlement who not afflicted with lcprosy
These have voluntarily exied themselves account
Of the deep love and affection they have Tor their
iricnGs who are lepers, They minglo freely among
the sorrow stricken, eating out of caaoash
oil poi, drinking from the cup, chatting and talk
ing together on tho same mat, anu even sleeping
goher. sui with this prOmiscuous intercourse
OF The healthy persona indeed tho majority OF them,
never catch the leprosy. In word they fear
At all OF H.
HAWAIIAN HUMANITY
Who the successor OF tho deceased lcper Governor
will be is not known. IL was believed at ono time
that Peter kao, cousin or uncle to Queen Emma,
would be Governor but by influence this leprous chiei
has been allowed 10 leave the settlement and IS
a resident OF Honolulu. Peter had nice cottage at
MoiOxai, and, becoming his rank, had servants TO
wait upon nm. DuriDg MS soJourn there he enjoyed
lie as well as could DO expected aud had the good Will
OF tho lepers at large. Now that he Is Tree, and
kagsdale dead, IT Will be difficult 10 1nd the proper
man 70 iuln 50 delicate u duty. The Hawaiian
authorities have many faults and shortcom-
ings, but the humanity they exhibit toward the
epers in providing and caring Tor them, Is greatly
TO their credit The settlement is under the taboo;
that 49, no human being Is permitted 10 enter tho
dreadful locaIiy without special permit from tho
Board OF Health at honolulu IL Is very difficult to
get this permit SO that not one foreigner thousand
ever cab Visit the leper world Of MoiokaL