The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-12-28
The HeraId's "HOrrOr."
A CARD PROM DIR. PARKER UPON THE RICH
MoNp CORRESPONDENT RICHMOND SMALL
POX SENSATION.

MOND CORRESPONDENTS RICHMOND SMALL
POx SENSATION.
RICHMOND, December 26, 1881.
Dear Dispatch; On the Dist instant,
when YOU copied part OF the "Pollard Hor-
ror" from the New York Herald, | wrote
a correction OF most Of the statement Tor
the Dispatch, but it was suggested that i
had better send my letter to the Herald, so
that the corrections might be coeXtensiye
with the first account in that almost world
wide journal. This paper was given the
correspondent OF the New York Herald,
and he informed me he would forward il
las supposed for publication. But in the
Dispatch OF this date find that the correc-
tions are not made, but, worse than that.
the fact that | ever saw the woman Pollard
is denied. But rs | know your columns are
crowded | will, ms far as | can, epltOmiZe
what / said in my letter to the Herald.
LIST. showed that the "house" WIS no
"miserable shanty," as reported, but a
good, two-story house owened by her; that
it had not been pulled TO pieces by the I'M
fortunate occupants for fuel, hut that last
tointer she had dismantled the outdoor
kitchen for this purpose.
I'd. That the charge that the physicians
Of Richmond. like the rest Of the inhabi-
tants, were devoid OF common humanity,
isnottrue; because the very day Doctor -
visited and yaccinated the family | was
sent for 10 yaccinate William JOhnsOn's "a
colored NAM family, who occupied the adj
iacent tenement and that after performing
this service, and learning that DR. -
would not attend further the Pollard fam
lily, i went and knocked Mt her door and
was admitted, saw and talked with the
woman, offered my services to attend her
child, was thanked by her, but my services
declined for the present, rs her daughter
was doing well. From the statement
copied from the Herald in to-day's Dispatch
il is inferred that i talked tmidiy through
the key-hole TO this poor woman. This is
however, q practice | never engage in on
any occasion.
81. The "infant lay unburied for an in
definite time" says the Herald. 1t was
Only i'll three days, died Sunday night
and was buried by The Henrico authorities
Tuesday at 10 4. NJ.
4th. That no neighbor came TO the relief
OF the poor woman, and that little five
year boy had 10 extend his hands im-
ploringly TO the pasSers-by for help,
There Is little truth in this statement.
Johnson's wife, who once nuIsed in
ny EIlultl ana II itii1Dit, iulOT4ntU NC
that she was in daily communication with
the woman, there being only 4 closed door
in the partition-wall between them, and that
she sent her what She needed. johnson
himself was employed near my office. and
could have got message TO me II desired.
When Pollard herself was taken sick on
Saturday the 18th the ncighbors sent every
thing needed in abundance. Or. Charles f..
Anderson, who was then also employed by
the county 10 attend her, informed me
himself that Pollard told him she had
everything she needed. Indeed, up to this
time there was no absolute need OF any ac-
tive help. The girl thirteen years OLD was
taken sick On the 18th OF November, the
eruption came out on the lst OF December,
and was pronounced on that day smallpox
by DIR. -. The mother, then IN good
health, was the best and proper nurse OF
the girl. Before the infant died the girl
had passed the crisis OF the disease, and
MS not OF much anxiety 10 the mother.
so that, ~ stated before, IL was only when
~ head o. the family was stricken down
t,at active help was absolutely necessary,
ead then 10 came freely and chceriulk. Tut
Il must be remembered that this was