The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1886-07-01
THE PICKENS HORROR.
CAUSE OF SIX DEATHS IN FAMILY
OF JOSEPH HARDIN.

nation as Il Member of the State Board
of Healtl,-.1 .sickening Story OF Filth
and Neglect-The Seighbors Shun the
Hartlins. Fearing They Had Cholera.
DIR. 2. a Wilhite, who is member Of
the State Board of Health. received
notice last Thursday from the Executive
Committee of the Board, requesting him
to 60 to Pickens County and investigate
the cause of the sickness and mortality
in the family of Mr.. Joseph Hardin, a
brief account of which appeard in the
Intclll9encer last week. copied from the
Columbia Register and Grcenville News.
DR.. Wilhte left the city Friday after
noon and returned on Monday. Sever
al rumors in reference to the cause
of the deaths had been published. and
with view Of getting the truth of the
matter we sought DR.. Wilhte on Tues
day and asked him to tell us about the
family and tine cause Of the deaths. The
following arc the main facts of what he
related to us:
"When l reached Pickens Z. H. /
procured the services oftwo citizens and
two physicians. one Of whom was and
had been attending the family. and inn
mediatcly proceeded to the house of Mr..
Hardin. who resides about four miles
North of the town. When we reached
the house we found a most deplorable
state or affairs. Mr.. Hardin lay on
bed in one corner of the room, a son
about twelve years Of age on another
bed, Mrs. Hardin on quilt on the floor.
and in two feet Of her lay the corpse Of
daughter. This was the sixth death
that had occurred in the family in few
days. time. The atmosphere Of the
room was almost intolcrable. The
bed clothing had been soilcd to that de-
gree that a good portion of it had been
thrown out into the yard.
Having heard the rumors about the
well bcingpoisoned, and that snakes and
dead dogs had been found in it. at once
proceeded TO examine it. After no little
trouble. succeeded in hiring man to 60
down into the we'll and carefully cxam-
Inc it. There was nothing in tie well
but pure, clear water, and Of course this
was not the cause Of the sickness.
Mr.. Hardin attended the United
States Court at Charleston this Spring
rs q witness. T.: left that city on the
day of the washouts on the railroads and
was delayed ut Alston for day or two.
While at Aston he was attacked with.
the dyscntcry. and when he reached
home he was prostrated with the disease.
Soon after reaching home his Children,
eight III number, who were ,Jtlsu recover
ING from the measles, were, one after
another, stricken with the disentery un-
til all were down. one not being able to
minister to the wants or comforts Of the
other. Mrs. Hardin was also prostra-
ted with the same disease. In this con-
dition all Of them lay III one room, which
was about 1Sx20 feet square. There
were only two beds in the room, and of
course some OF the family had to lie OH
the floor. Three of the children died i'll
a short time, and this alarmed the neigh
Dors, who refused to go near the house
or assist in relieving the afflicted house
hold. as it had been reported through
the ncighborhood tbat Mr.. Hardin had
returned from Charleston afflicted with
cholera or some other terrible disease.
AS soon as the condition Of the family
reached the ears of the citizens of Pick
ems c. H.. Mr.. Boggs, editor Of the
Sentinel. and a few others visited the
house, and, after doing all they posi-
bly, could do for the sufferers, made an
effort to hire some one to stay with the
family and wait on them, but their et
forts were in vain.
MIR. Hardin is poor. Woodworking
man, but is honest, upright and respect
able. Before 1 left there, 1 had the
family moved into an old vacant house
which stood near by. The stencil where
the sick lay was intolerable, and l knew
that if they remained there not one
would survive. All Of them were atllic-
ted with malignant case Of dysentcry,
and, coming on them Immediately after
the measles, made it tcnfold worse.
My opinion is that the deaths were
casucd from neglect or the want ofprOp-
cr attention, though, II is possible. that
the disease wonld have proved fatal even
under the best treatment"
Had the family had any attention
from physician, doctor:"
"Oh, yes; DR.. Bramlctt. ayoung ply
sician residing in that section hadatlcnd-
cd the family, and had used every effort
to relieve the sufferers. but could lo
nothing under the circumstances.
"IIavc the citizens done nothing to
relieve the iamlly:"
Yes, the citizens Of Plckcns Court
House have gone to work TO relieve the
suflrrings Of the family. and will no
doubt do everything possible for them"
DR.. Wilhitc is one Of onr oldest and
most prominent physicians. and has
been practiclng medicine for years. lie
SAYS he has never seen or heard of q
family so badly afflicted. From the
Anderson Intrlli9cnccr. June 81.
starvation in Louisiana.
An Alexandria. H.. Special SAWS