The daily gazette., 1883-02-14
rnE LEW LEpEn.
a Philadelphia Newspaper Man Inter
views tho Unfortunate stranger.


A reporter Of the Philadelphia Press
visited Lewes, Del, yesterday and to-day
gives the following sketch of an interview
with the strange man put ashore at that
place by passing ship, an account of which
was published In the Wilmington Star on
Sunday:
He (ths leper) admitted that the
suspicious of the people were we'll founded.
He was, he frankly but sorrowfully ad-
mltted, leper; but his case, he claimed,
was not dangerous to those with
whom he came In contact, as his
symptoms were but primary. Under
close inspection the skin, which to the
casual observer appeared sallow, now
seemed discolored and in several places
blotched. The Jumps that were plainly ap-
parent were painless, and caused him no in
convenience. So far as his general health
was concerned it was all that could be de-
sired. His appetite was good, In fact raven
GUS, and in no wise affected by the mental
depression which many enormously suppose
to be necessary symptom of the disease.
These explanations the stranger made un-
reservedly. He gave his name as James
Atwald. He was an Englishman by birth,
but up till last summer had been for ten
years a resident of Havana, Cuba, where
the disease, the germs of which were latent
impression was that he contracted the in
trinity while at Madagascar, where be and
others of the crew with whom he was asso-
ciated were forced to work side by side with
gang of natives, a. number of whom were
known TO be diseased. The chief Fremont
tory symptoms which accompanied his first
attack were an unaccountable lassitude and
mental depression, pains in the limbs and
joints, high fever, loss of appetite and
nausea. The only symptom that appeared
to him as being peculiar was the discolora-
tion of his skin, which first assumed a yell
low tinge, then red and finally brown.
Sometimes the three colors would blend
until his flesh actually appeared to him
almost as variegated as a garden in
June. While the changes were not
as rapid as those of kaleidoscope, they
were to him as unaecountable as they were
astonishing. When the attack was over he
became prostrated. The horror of his posi-
ton became at the time almost unbearable,
and he contemplated suicide as u means to
escape his awful fate. With returning
strength came resignation. He studied his
case, and, having learned that exposure
to cold weather was the only
means by which its rawlings could
be mitigated, he determined to
20 to Canada and enter a hospital in To-
| ronto. 1t was with this object in view that
he obtained berth on the English ship For
mosa. The eaptain however had surmised
the nature of his ailment and told him he
must leave the ship at Wilmington, N. G,
At his request, however, the captain per
| mitted him to laad at Lewes instead, from
which point ne intended to 90 straight
to Canada. Mr.. Atwald, during the
| interview, displayed to the reporter the Pc
| culiarities of the disease. The mere rubbing
of his hand created fine, bran-like dust.
| Across his palm the lines were streaked
brightly, so that In the rays Of the sun they
| shone like web-work of silver. This pecu.
liarity in his flesh had communicated to the
| crow feet lines on his temples, and they
| like the palm of his hand, perceptibly glis-
tened. lie left Lewes In obedience to thu
| town council.