Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-12-21
THE POTTKR,S FIELD.
What the Matron Of the Smallpox Hos
pital Says Of II.

pital Says Of II.
SIZE Has sxxH rHH BoDY-sSArcHxns Axp TEE
NIeHr-bocrons ~ THEM woRK-ArRAID 10
LEAVE HxR COTTAGE AFTER DARx-Row r1H
srIrFs ARE TAKEN OUT.
On little knoll on the western bank Of the
Eastern branch stands cottage known - the
smallpox hospital The building is almost d.
rectly east Of the District Jail and is not many
feet from the edge Of the water. In front Of it
few hundred feet is potter's field, and in the
rear is Monroe's brick-yard. From the COM
mons, in front Of the Jail, is roadway leading
to the foot Of the hill below the hospital. This
road il almost impossible, as the heavy rains
have washed it nearly out of sight, and but few
tracks Of wheels and horses feet can be seen
imprinted in the clay roadbed and across
the grass which has grown where the
vehicles used to run. The hospital
is white-washed frame structure with long
red blinds. Around the front porch were half
dozen dogs when STAR reporter called
passed the dogs guarding the building, the re-
porter ventured to the door. The dogs fol-
lowed and so did fight. After keeping the
dogs on some minutes an old colored "aunty"
came to the door and
INVITED HIN INSIDE.
In the front room were several small
children around q red-hot stove enjoying them
selves by telling each other what -Kringle"
was going to bring them. Behind the stove
sat young colored woman warming her
hands. She was visitor. Then came a
young colored man who introduced himself as
Thomas Taylor, boarder, who enjoyed the
distinction OF being a protector for Mrs.
Bailey, the widow in charge Of the building.
Daniel Bailey, deceased, late husband Of
Widow Bailey, had charge of the hospital
numerous and when funerals were of very fire.
quent occurrence. Patient after patient was
sent there only to die and fill lonely grave
beside the watery deep. Friends and acquaint-
darkness of night they were laid few feet
below the green grass. "Body-snatchers" would
not trouble them, nor did the doctors want
them. In some instances headstones were
placed at the graves and some Of them still
remain. Others have sunk, and no traces Of
the mound once made are to be seen. Bailey
proved faithful nurse, and when he died two
years ago
HIS WIDOW MOVED IN
and took charge Of the building. There are
two large rooms in the building, which Mrs.
Bailey explained to the reporter were for the
male and female patients respectively. The
smaller rooms were for the doctors, nurses and
other help.
''Then,s said the widow, '.you know there
are some people called big bugs; they occupied
separate rooms"
The bedsteads and bed-clothing which were
used for the patients are still in the building.
The bedsteads are in position but the mat
tresses, pillows and clothing are packed away
in room ready for use, should the dreaded
disease ever again make its appearance in this
city. It has now been nearly ten years since
there was patient in the hospital.
The reporter noticed that the window facing
potter's field was closed and the shutters
tightly fastened.
Il SUPPOSE" remarked the reporter, "that
you often go to the city after dark?'
AFRAID OF THE NIaHT-DocToRs.
''No, indeed" said Mrs. Bailey, 81 don't 60
very often, because don't like to come home
when the 'night-doctors' are about"
What do they come about here for?" in
quired the reporter.
What for?" she repeated. "well, you Just
ought to come down here some night and watch
them. Then you would know what for"
She explained that almost every day some
one came down before dark to look over pot
ter's field. Then, as soon as it got dark, she
and drive down the rough road to the foot Of
the hill. Then they would walk across, get the
bodies and return.
How do you know that they get any bodies?"
why. man, could see them. On moon
light night you can hear them coming down
be heard. The dogs sometimes bark and howl
when they come. Then we go to the window,
AND WATCH THEM WORE.
They take a few shovels Of dirt of the head
Of the grave and then sound the coffin with a
stick to see if there is anybody in it. II it
sounds all right they break off the top Of the
coffin near the head and drag the body out
with their hook. Then they come around by
the house and put the body in the wagon and
drive of.
And they are awful bold, too" she con-
tinued. There's a man they call Bell who
comes sometimes and brings a colored man
with him. He's as saucy as you please. Why
if he rides through my yard on horseback and
the children speak to him, he will say: You
tend to your business and I'll tend to mine,
and he does tend to ii, tell you He thinks
young man, but he wears false whiskers and
looks like an old person."
"Then." she continued, ''theres man they
call 'night-doctor,' who comes after dark. He
amt doctor, but wouldn't let him catch me
out after dark
TAYLOR TELLS HIS STORY.
When the reporter started to leave the build
ing the young man Taylor came out to tell
more about the '.night-doctors" He pointed
out the rough road over which he said the
wagon was driven. From the top of the
hill the road looked impossible, but a
close inspection revealed the tracks made
by the wagon wheels, which looked as though
they might have been made yesterday, and
at the foot of the hill was seen where the wagon
had turned to go out. Taylor said that he sell
dom went out a night because of the might
doctors" and ''ghosts'' One night he said he
was returning from the city when he met the
wagon coming up the hill. He did not think
there was any danger so he started boldly past
it. When he got up to the wagon he said: ''The
Lord knows they made break at me and had
to run to get away. Since then l stay in the
house at night" Taylor said that he told a
policeman about the robbers one night, but he
thought from the way the officer acted that he
was Just as afraid of them as he (Taylor) was.
II tell you, he added, ''this is a mighty lone
some place at night"
Some one threw dynamite bomb into the
cupola Of the Litchfeld, ILL.,, car and machine
company's foundry yesterday morning. The
missile exploded, tearing the cupola to pieces.
and seriously injuring two Of the mDaoyes.
The San Francisco chamber of commerce yes
terday adopted a memorial to Congress de-
nouncing the aggressive action of the German
government in the Samoan islands, declaring
it destructive to American interests. Congress
is urged to adopt decided policy.
THE PLAIN TRurH
Is that Hoods sarsaparila has cured Thousands Of