Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1884-02-29
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When a l-per is reported so the police
OF any district, says correspondent OF
Philadelphia paper, an officer - sent
10 bring him or her to Honolulu, where
tbsre - detention hospital on the cut
skirts of the city and on the bank of the
beautiful bay. The patient Is examined
10y the doctor, who decides whether il Is
cs.-e of leprosy or not
Once declared a leper. the person q
ciyIi!y dead, and Is incapable of suing
In the courts or being sued. AZ the hos
pital thsTe are accommodations for
about In. II - filed every two months
In this place the leper must give up ali
hope. Before his admission here he had,
II least, the expectation of dying among
frisnds-friedds SO loyal that they hide
their afflicted relatives in the mount
aims and bring them poi and water IN
ealabashes.
Bat now comes the harsh discipline of
a Government institution. No wander
ing IN the cool Algeroba fsrest, or bath
ing in the loved surf, bat simply Pc
rod of suffering and waiting for death
BY necessary tif cruel Law, and from
whose horrible provisions there Is no
escape.
The hospital full, steamer comes to
take TO the Islasd of Aolokai those
whose condition Is most advanced, there
TO remain until death. Ii was With such
n party that | travelled finally TO Molo-
kaI. Ii has been my lot 10 witness many
sad scenes. bat none of them approached
la any way the separation of families
as the handful of lepers sailed away TO
their exile. Daughters reached out their
arms 10 mothers whom they might not
embrace; wives beld up their mouths
for kisses which their husbands could
not give; babes, held in the arms of
strangers, laughed and cooed to their
mothers, to whose now breaking hearts
they might not be held III one last, low
ing clasp.
And sobs-such sobs, alas, that came
from the depths of hearts wrung with
the misery of a hopeless condition.
Presently the lines were cast off, and
the little steamer turned away her
head and steamed out slowly toward
the bar.
1 went into the little cabin set apart
for the captain and closed the door, de-
termined to hear no more and see no
more of such grief. The little port was
open, when suddenly it was darkened,
and. looking up, saw the dark and
beautiful face Of woman whose young
husband was on his way to MOlokal.
She swan out to intercept the steamer,
and being-as, indeed, are all her race
as much at home in water as on land,
she had no difficulty in accomplishing
her purpose.
An she said, "you're not doc
tor nor constable. Tell my husband to
| look over the side to me, and God will
bless you"
| | went on deck. We were steamine
slowly, waiting for the Government In
spector to complete his task before TAX
ing his own boat for shore. The lepers
had become quiet, or comparatively SO
except for pain.
| A few women were rocking and moan
ing, a young half white girl had flung
herself on the deck in q wild abandon
ment of grief, and behind the smoke
stack found the husband kneeling in
prayer. His face. serrated by the lep
rous sores. was held toward the sun, the
tears were streaming down his cheeks
and disease cut features. softening then
by their agony of duplication.
William" l said, your wife il
alongside. Go quickly to the place
shall point out 10 you, and yap vii
see her"
| The man sprang up, and for momen
was perfectly beautiful, such a JOY cam
into his face. Then he turned and raj
to the place indicated. Half an hou
later / saw him alone. We we're thel
under full head Of steam, passing Dia
mond Head.
"Where is sheT'' asked. He point
ed astern, and there, not an eighth of
mile away, We saw her swimming tOwar'
some fishing boats, her soft black hal
floating ont behind her, and her arm
every now and then waving to Us
good by.