Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-05-25
LOUISVILLE'S LEPER.
A Most Pitiful Object in the Pest
House Stunned on ALI Sides.
MEDICAL OPINIONS VARY MUCH.
The Victims Wife Says He Is Only Suffer-
ing From Erysipelas.
A HISTORY OF THE MANS MOVEMENTS

LOUISVILLE, May 24.-There was panic
at the Short Line depot to-day when it was
whispered around that man who had the
leprosy was in the gentlemen's waiting
room. Early this morning well-dressed
man. with the travelling equipments of a
well-to-do gentleman, was observed huddled
I'D on bench in dark corner The pas
sengers hurrying for the early trains paid
no heed to the solitary stranger until finally
he arose from his seat and came forward to
window. It was then seen that his face
and hands were absolutely raw, and the
nails dropping from the rotting fingers.
His eyelids were almost gone and the sunk
en- eyes almost sightless
The hideous spectacle Immediately caused
commotion. and when few minutes later
a report was started that the man had lep-
rosy, there was an immediate and hurried
exodus from the depot. The watchman tel
ephoned for two physicians, who. soon ar.
rived.
The Doctors Diagnose the Case.
The doctors refused to touch the loath-
some object, but after a brief examination,
by touching the quivering flesh with their
By this time the depot was depopulated,
and crowds of horror-stricken people stood
across the street waiting for the doctors
verdict. The wretched man, evidently al
most insane, stated that his name was Will
lam c. Piatt, and that his home was in Cow
ington, Nv. He muttered something about
having Just returned from the Sandwich
Islands, where he had been on business and
had fallen ILL
Piatt is dressed in fashionably cut suit
of light clothing and soft navy blue hat.
He has large tan-eolored valise and black
overcoat in his possession. 1t was gathered
from his rambling statement that he had
come to Louisville several weeks ago, and
had been aimlessly wandering about and
was trying to return to Covington.
The patrol wagon was called, and mean
while the afflicted wretch sat listlessly try
ing TO drive away the flies from his face and
talking aimlessly to an imaginary compan-
ion. When the wagon arrived he was taken
to the City Hall, and Chief of Police Tay-
lor ordered him Immediately removed to
the City Hospital.
The Victim Stunned Everywhere.
On arrival there, however, Superintend-
ent Barbour refused to admit him without
special order from the Mayor The wagon
then drove back to the depot and again
dumped him out in the waiting-room. The
railroad authorities set up a howl. Passen-
gers fed from the place, and even the rail
road employees were so panic stricken that
business was almost suspended. The rail-
road men claimed that they had not brought
the man here; that the city should at once
take charge of him, while the jailer, the
stationkeepers and hospital authorities re-
fused to admit him After a council of al
most the entire city government, Mayor
TYLER solved the problem by ordering him
sent to the pest house, beyond. the city
limits.
Nearly all the medical authorities who
saw the man to-day believe that he has
leprosy, but the disease is so rare here they
are guarded in their opinions Later inves-
LEGATIONS tonight reveal that there is con-
siderable doubt about Piatt having leprosy.
He is a resident of this city named William
C. Piatt, and has been travelling salesman
in the South for Tapp & Co.'S bagging man
ufactory. He has been in the extreme
Southern States for several years, rarely
visiting his wife in this city. He became
very ill at Greenville, Miss, and his wife
telegraphed the hotel people to send him
home.
Claimed to Be Erysipelas Only.
his Vile Claims that HlauI is SIMPLY sui
fering from erysipelas. The pest house is
several miles from the city, and no physi-
clans have yet visited the man. Some
claim that leprosy is not unknown in the
Southern States there being leper settle
ment in Louisiana, and that the man may
have contracted the terrible disease in the
Gulf Coast States. They scout the idea of
erysipelas producing the horrible condition
from which the man suffers. DIR. Barbour,
superintendent of the hospital said: 81
have never seen case of leprosy, but have
read considerable concerning the disease 1
hardly think the man is afflicted with the |
dread plague, but it is possible that he is |
in the secoyd stage of the disease. When |
he was brought here this morning L refused |
to receive him because l feared that he was |
with contagious disease, and that |
the lives of the other patients might be |
jeopardized He should by all means be |
sent to the Eruptive Hospital"
b The mystery is where the man has been |
since his arrival here, as his clothes and |
general condition show that he has been well |
cared for The police are trying to find out
where he has been harbored.