The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1884-09-04

Thirty-twO Negroes, Having Partaken of
the Flesh of Hogs that ID ell from the Bit.s
of a Rabid Dog, Seized with HydrophObia
-TAe Malady Among the Mules-A Race
for Life from a mad NIuIe-A scared Com.
munity.
| EUFALA, Ala, Angus -
This neighborhood Is in state of
tremendous excitement over the whole
sale spread of hydrophobia on the panta-
ton of Punch Doughtie. DIR. E. b.
Johnson has just returned from Mr..
| Doughtie'S pla- tation, where he had been
summoned. He found thirty-two per-
sons suffering with disease which he at
once pronounced hydrophObia in a mild
form. All the sufferers are negroes.
Three of them are desperately sick, one
being iE the throes of delirium and so low
that the doctor says he is liable to die
at any moment. More than three
weeks ago hog bitten by dog died on
Mr.. DOughtie'S plantation, and the car
cass was given to the negroes to be con-
verified into soap grease. Instead of util-
izing it for this purpose, thirty-tw me-
groes on the place and in the neighbor-
hood ate the flesh of the hog. Mr..
Doughtie says that on July ., one of his
dogs went mad and bit mule and sew
eral hogs. On August Is the first hog
died, and was eaten by the negroes. Two
more died on August Is, one on Augu-t
% and one on August -, and ali were
eaten except the last, when the par
takers of the poisoned flesh be-
came sick. The mule exhibited signs
of madness on the nineteenth day after
being bitten. Eleven days after the first
hog was eaten ten of the negroes were
taken. Two DAYS ago another dog was
discovered to be mad, and was killed at
ter having bitten a niue. Another dog
on the lot is now housed, and will be
experimental with for cure. The dog
that bit the niue and hogs disappeared,
and the whole neighborhoOd is ia terror
lest he went am ng cattle and hogs
throughout the place before dying. A
dozen out of the thirty-twO eat
ers of the affected hogs are
seriously sick, and the Developments
among the others are awaited with the
greatest interest. DIR. Johnston, an able
physician, says it Is Il terrible case and
that he fears the worst. He says that it
would not surprise him if the greater
number of tn thirty two persons should
die. A few days ago MIR. DOughtie rode
out, at the request of field hand, TO in
spect the condition OF one of
his mules, which was acting
strangely. On reaching the pas
ture where a dozen mules were, the
animal which Mr.. Doughtie was riding
nefghed, which attracted the attention of
the other animals, and the sick e par
- .falt,
the mule and rider, and seized the saddle
of the animal with his teeth. Mr..
Douehtie dismounted and succc eded in
iooSening the mad mules hold; but no
sooner was this done than. the Infatuated
beast turned upon his owner, who
fled for his life, pursued by the
mule. There was a desperate race
OF quarter of mi c through
asd Mr. Doughtie only
saved himself by lodging around sap
lings. small stretch o. earring inter-
yened between the woods and lhr house,
and the terrified man t,ok Lie and
death chance on making it. Before leav-
ing the woods the mule had bitten out
piece of MIR. ID, ughtie'S coat, and while
maj covering around the tree the animal
bit himself Savagely in several places,
tearing out Il mouthfuI of flesh each
time. Tine race for the h use was
D close one, and Just as
Mr.. Doughtie reached the top of the
fence, the niue overlook him, but in
stead of reaching his victim, struck his
head against fence ost in the wild rush
aud was knocked sense!ess. The mu g
was afterwards killed by Mr.. DOughtie.
II is now reported that the whole herd oil
mules are affected. Many of them have
capped the fe ices and will doubtless
- read the disease among other animals
n the neighbOrhood. The community is
Il loss hpw to arrest he disease.