The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1883-02-24
, NUMBER SO.
A Leper Steps Ashore at Lewes. Del,

A Leper Steps Ashore at Lewes, Del.
PHILADELPHIA, February IA
few days ago a stranger came ashoreF
at Lewes, DEL, from foreign vessel
which had during the night dropped
anchor within the breakwater. He
was well dressed and in his manaer
courteous. Save slight limp in his
gait and an unnatural tinge to his
countenance there was nothing out
Wardly to indicate the presence of a
peculiar malady. Upon reaching the
shore he sought out private AMI
rather secluded boarding place and
there he remained. keeping aIoof en-
tlrely from the people around him.
From significant hints dropped by
several of the crew who brought him
ashore, it became whispered about
That the stranger was leper, who,
for III the sa56tgee Ais.ssssera & u !.
board, had been put ashore to shift
Tor himself The stranger made no
attehhpt at denial, but on the con-
trary seemed as anxious to avoid the
approach of his neighbors as they
were to avoid them. The extraya-
giant stories that went rapidly from
mouth TO mouth created such agita-
tloh that special meeting of the
town council was decided upon to
consider ways and means to rid the
community of the dangerous patient.
To-day he was found and questioned
oy reporter. He admitted that the
suspicious of the people were we'll
founded. He was, he frankly but
SorroWfully admitted, a leper. He
gave his name as James AtNald. He
was an Englishman by birth, but up
| till last summer had been for ten
years resident of Havana, Cuba,
where the disease. the germs of which
were latent in his system, developed
themselves. His impression was that
he contracted the infirmity while at
Madagascar, where he and others of
the crew with whom he was ass0cia-
ted were forced to work side by side
with gang of natives, a number of
whom were known to be diseased.
Sometimes the coIors his skin had as
sumed would blend until his flesh
actually appeared to him almost as
Varlegated as garden in June. The
horror of his position became at the
time almost unbearable. He contem-
plated suicide as a means to escape
his awful fate. He studied his case,
and having learned that exposure TO
cold weather was the only means by
winch It's ravages could be mitigated
he determined to go to Canada and
enter hospital in Toronto. 1t was
with this object in view that he OBJ
tanned berth in the English ship
FormOsa. The captain, however, had
surmised the nature of his ailment,
and being terror-stricken, he told him
he must leave the ship at Whining
ton, N. G. AT his request, however,
the captain permitted him to land at
LeWes instead. from which point he
intended to go straight to Canada.
Mr.. Atwald, during the interview.
displayed to the reporter the pecu-
| liarities of the disease as developed i'm
his case. The mere rubbing of his
hand created a fine bran like dust.
Across the palm the lines were streak
ed brightly, so that in the rays of the
sun they shone like webwork of
silver. This popularity in. his flesh
had communicated to the crowfeet
lines on his temples and they, like
the palm of his hand, perceptibly
glistened. He left Lewes in obedi-
ence to the demand of the town coun-
ell.