The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1886-08-18
pRIFrING AND DYING.
A HORRIBLE Narrative of. Disease and Desti-
tlOn from Indiana,

A Horrible Narrative Of. Disease and DestI
ton from Indiana,
ErauWilge, nd, DlIpGseh,
About noon to-day Township Trustee
spregel was notified that his services were
wanted at the river, He was directed e
small family boat lying near the water
works. The craft was q uondescript yes,
sci, and bore evidence Of hard usage, 1T
bow was STAYED in and nearly the entire
roof blown oil; but, II the outside was uu,
inviting, the inside was even more so
The cabin Of the boat wac about ten feel
long and twelve wide, and in this missr
able, cooped-up box were twelve per
sons, whose very appearance was an
evidence OF pinChing and gaunt poY'
erty, Hollow'eyed, emscisted and
with scarcely q rag OF covering, they
lay upon the bare, dark floor Of the boat
huddled together, and all contending with
that dread disease, malarial fever. 10 the
midst OF them lay the dead body OF an
aged woman partially decomposed.
Over this piece Of rag carpet had been
thrown, the living occupants being too i'll
to remove the body. Trustee Spregel al
once sent for patrol wagons and removed
the sufferers TO the hospital, and then an
inquest was held, q verdict OF death from
malarlal fever being rendered. Mr.. Geo.
Bush, one OF the occupants OF the boat,
was seen at the hospital tonight. He
was very Ill, but able to give clear nara.
tive OF the terrible and sickenIng expert.
eucs to which they had been sub
The story Is beyond parallel, and was as
follows: Until three weeks ago George
and John Bush, brothers, were farmers
in Meade county, Kentucky, about
twelve miles from the mouth oil
the Salt river. Their land was poor,
aud it YVES with difficulty that they oh.
tanned sufficient food to keep the vol
from the door. They finally became dis.
heartened and determined to try and bet.
ter their condition further west. To this
end they constructed small boat, and on
Sunday, July %, both families, consisting
OF the brothers, their wives, and nine
children-thirteen in all-togsther with
their little belongings, embarked in the
boat, and started on their terrible trip
down the river. They reached the mouth
Of Salt river last Sunday night, and when
MondGy morning broke were in the Ohio.
Two weekH ago to-day Nancy Bush, aged
81, Georges wife, was taken i'll with
malaria and, not being able TO procure
necessary medicine, II soon developed
into typhoid malaria. The other men,
bers were stricken down one by one, until
finally all were helpless. In this condl-
ton they were overtaken on Thursday
night by heavy storm, which tossed
their craft about like an egg.shell, throw.
ing them from one end OF the boat to
the other.
Their possessions were all swept away
by the waves aud tho roof taken OF. Dur.
ing this fearful night Mrs. Bush suddenly
grew worse and began pleading feebly fjr
water, which no one could give her, and
Just as dawn broke she died in intense
suffering and sgouy. All day long yestsr.
day they drlfted with the current, the hot
sun beating cruelty down upon the little
group Of sufferers. The approach OF dark.
tnefs gave them some relief, but the over.
powering thirst and hunger nearly de.
priyed them OF all reason. This morning
they had drifted nearly opposite the city,
when some fishermen who were out
| jigging saw the apparently tenantless
boat and boarded 1t, discovering the con.
dition OF It's occupants. They secured
their lines and ran the boat ashore, after
which the authorities were Motif ID. All
the sick people were being tenderly cared
for tonight, but hopes are only enter.
tanned for six OF them, the fatal and fstid
atmosphere tainted with the corpse hay
ing bad Its effect upon the remainder.
Mrs. Bush was buried this evening and
the boat burned.