Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1890-02-13
LIFE AMONG LEPERS.
A Resident of Molokai Sends Home an
Account of His Environments.

A Resident of Molokai Sends Home an
Account of Ills Environments.
A thick, comfortable letter that
looked as if it might be the bearer of
rood news and much loving gossip,
passed from hand to hand in the De-
troit post-ofiice, says the Free Press OF
that city, and at last found refuge in
the mailbag Of postman whose route
is on Jefferson avenue, and was duly
delivered to the address recorded on
the envelope. 1t would have startled
the post-ollice officials and the postman
who delivered it could they have known
that it was leper's letter, and that 1t
came from lepers island. 1t is, in
deed, doubtful if any one of those who
handled it noticed the postmark "Molo-
kai," or if they did would have known
any reason why they should throw it
aside and cry "Unclean! Unciean" Nor
could they Judge by the pleasing bulk
of the missive that it was the last fare
we'll of wretched leper to his former
friends and relatives in Michigan. 1t
has been permitted the Free Press to
make few extracts:
The writer states: ''The location of
this place is about fifty miles from Hon
olulu, on the island of Molokai, with
weekly communication by steamer. Ii
is q point of land of about 5000 acres,
thrown out of tho sea abreast of range
of mountains. Its height is 1000 feet.
1t is the bed of an extinct crater and is
a fine grazing land for cattle and horses,
and is as beautiful and romantic as any
thing that can be found in the new
world; tropical vegetation is perpetual,
The cattle feeding on the mountains are
wild, and in driving down herd ten or
dozen of them will fall, and when
found nothing will be left but the hides
and horns. This is one of the liveliest
places ever have seen. Lepers are full
of hilarity. Girls, boys, childron-some
very bad-all playing together as if
there was nothing wrong. They play
the guitar and flute constantly. When
first came here and had to go through
row of lepers with their hideous faces
and hands | wanted to die, but now
am used to them | don't mind them SO
much.
when first came up here | wanted
to commit suicide, but l am Gained
down now. l have built neat little
cottage some distance away from every
body, all inclosed with stone wall.
have horse and sullSy, plenty of news.
papers and magazines. My great trouble
now is my eyesight When can't read
any more then want to die. l would
sooner be here with this disease than in
any other part of the world, where
would be Stunned by every body.
my right hand is giving out I have
two fingers that do not have much feel
ing in them. Ny left foot is also af
fected. am breaking in horse. He
stepped on my foot l let him stand
there some time and had no pain. You
see, it is curious disease that appear:
to destroy without pain. There is ne
cure for it 1t is sure to kill and is only
aquestion of time
In postscript sheet he says: II have
now good nurse who will see me prop
erly buried, which | hope will be soon.
The letter abounds in horrible detail
of life among the lepers, and is gro
tesque at times in its hideousness, bu
these scenes and descriptions are better
left to the Imagination. Since its re
ceipt the news of the unfortunate man.
death by suicide at the leper hospita
in Honolulu, has been received. Hi
friends live at Plymouth in this State
and the leper's letter isgoing the rounds
among them as valuable mortuary testi
mony TO fantastic and dreaded diseas'
which the ancient Israelites beqneatheS
to Posterity-the plague of leprosy.