Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1878-01-25
A(efan0ria 6az&tte
FRIDAY EVENING, JANUARY 25.
Chief OF the IeperS.

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Chief Of the Lepers.
The San Francisco Chronicle, January Is,
contained an interesting account OF the late
William P. Ragsdale, Governor of the leper
| settlement on the Hawaiian island Of Mo'oksi.
He Was noted and remarkable man. He was
commonly known as "Bil Ragsdalc." He was
Hawaiian by BIRTH one of his parents having
been native and the other an American. H.
spoke both the Hawaiian aud the English
tongues With fuency and elcquenoe. Ills posi-
ton in the Kingdom was very high, but ne re-
signed it voluntarily when he realized tho ter.
rible blow which nature had dealt him.
The manner in which he discovered that he
was one Of tho ''unceau,' as described by him
self, is most interesting in scientific sense:
of Hawaii, and had an Office at Ililo, the CAPT
tai. Ooe night ho was studying intently when
the glass chimney of his lamp fell 90 the table.
Says the Chronicle:
Although the chimney Was hot, "Bill, IN
his excitement picked it up aud set it 10 its
place without experiencing the least inconve-
nience, such as would naturally result to
really sound person handling red hot lamp
chimney. He reflected for moment, looked
at his hand, but could not discover the least
sign that it had been burned. lie then took
off and put on the chimney repeatedly and with
the same result. This experience conv nced
him that he was among the afflicted and he
lost no time in communicating with the au>
thorities. An examination was made and med
ical authority declared that he was oflicted with
leprosy. DR.. Trousseau. for years physician
at Honolulu, but now a resident OF the island
of Hawaii, made the principal examination. Up
to this time 10 person on the islands ever
dreamed that Bill Ragsdale had the leprosy,
and some doubted even after the examination
if he was 80 afflicted. Bill, however, was per-
sonally convinced that he was so at1 cted. The
police did not arrest him, however, owing to
bis exalted position, as was common with those
susl eoted of being lepars. so be voluntarily dc.
livered himself up as victim OF the terrible d.
sease. He was then sent to Mookai and install
ed as Governor of the leper settlement, which
position he held for number of years up to
the time of his death last mouth. Soon after
his isolation from the world and his friends the
disease made itself more apparent, and there
were none 50 incredulous as to believe that he
was not forever afflicted with the leprosy. Dur
ing bis administration of affairs he was as sue.
oessful as he was popular. There we're and arc
about eight hundred lepers on the settlement
but by bis tact and kindhearteduess Ragsdale
made the most extraordinary and saddest com.
munity on the face of the earth as cheerful and
happy as the unfortunates could be-. by hla
advice the government made maoy reforms and
the lepers recognized him as father. Oac Of
the most peculiar and startllog phases connect.
ed With this episode is the fact that MIR. Rags.
dale, who was married man with family,
took up with young native woman on the set
Element of Molokai who fell in love With him.
She was remarkably 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 subject to tho
frightfu afflictiou of her husband. She still
survives him and is 10 perfect health, or at least
was so not long ago. 1t may here be remarked
that there arc some seventy five Individuals
on the leper settlement who arc not afflicted
with leprosy. . -. .
These have voluntarily oxiled themselves
on account of the deep love and aE ,ctlOu they
have for their friends who are lepers. They
minglo freely among the sorrow stricken, eating
out of the same calabash Of poi, drinking from
the same cup, chatting and talking together Oh
the same mat, and even sleeping together.
Still with this promiscuous intercourse some OF
the healthy persons, indeed the majority Of
them, never catch the leprosy, 10 word, they
have no fear at all OF It.
Who the successor Of the deceased leper Gov.
ernor will bc is not known. 1t was believed at
one time that Peter kao, cousin or uncle to
Queen Emma, would be Governor, but by in-
fuence this leprous chief has boon allowed to
leave the settlement and is now resident of J
Honolulu. Peter had nics cottage at Molo
kai, and as becoming his rank, had servants to
wait upon him. During his sojourn there no
enjoyed life as we'll as could be expected and
had the good will of the lepers at large. Now
that he is free, and Ragsdalc dead, it will DO
difficult to fnd the proper man to fulfill so del.
cate duty. The Hawaiian authorities have
many faults and shortcomings, but the human
ity they exhibit toward tho lepors, 10 providing
and caring for them, is greatly to their credit
The settlement is under the taboo; that is. 10
human being is permitted to enter the dreadful
locality without special permit from the
Board Of Health at Honolulu. 1t is very difh.
cult to get this permit, 80 that not one foreigner
10 thousand ever can visit the leper world OF
Molokai.