The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1891-10-10
SAM Sing, 9HH LEPER.
Intercepted While TRYING
to Leave Snake Hill.
LONGS TO GO TO HIS HOME
Denies That He Is Afflicted With
the Dread scourgc--Dr.
King Tries a prac-
tical TEST.
LONGS TO GO TO HIS HOME

f,stiu ioiuSs tue. CulucSe lduuuTy iuau
confined in the pest-house at Snake Hill
with well developed symptoms of leprosy,
attempted TO escape from thar institution
yesterday, and but for the timely arrival
of DIR. King, who has charge of the case,
it is possible that he might have got away
and mingled with the world once more.
Sam was making straight for the railroad
which crosses the meadows at the north
ern extremity of the hill, and was within
few hundred yards of the track when
he was overhauled by DIR. King and a
NEWS reporter who had called to see the
doctor. He expressed great regret at
being discovered, but at once returned to
the smallpox hospital, where in future he
will be more carefully guarded, and not
given another chance to escape.
There is no doubt now that Sing has
leprosy in the most frightful form, and it
is simply question of how long he will
live. although the Chinaman stoutly
maintains that he is not suffering from
malady. and is merely troubled with a
severe cold. There arethree forms of the
disease. known as lepra tuberosa, lepra
anasthesia and lepra maculosa, and Hud-
son counJy's patient displays marked
symptoms of all three. In the first, Or
lutnpy form. Sans face; hands, arms and
legs exnibita a mass Of corrugated sores
that render him frightful object to look
upon, while in the last, or discolored
stage, the blotches all over his body show
beyond a doubt that he Is q victim Of the
Oriental disease. The anasthetic form is
marked by loss of feeling. That Sam has
lost the sense of feeling was amply DEM
onstrated.
do you see that tree. Sanso said DR..
King, as he was returning the Chinaman
TO the pesthouse, pointingto to an oak off
at one side. ~ss
DIDN'T FEEL THE PIN.
Sam turned his head and AS he did SO,
the doctor thrust pin into. his cheek.
man, noddina, "Why?"
DO you feel anything" continued
the doctor.
Feel anythingi No. Why feel any
thing?" and Sam looked suspiciously at
the doctor and then gazed fxedly at the
Sans cheek and showed it to him. and
the Chinaman put his hand MP to his
face, but not within two inches of whore
the pin had been sticking.
Sing is an intelligent Chinaman, and
talked readily with the reporter on his
eight years old, and has wife and one
son in China, whom he has great hopes
OF being allowed to go and see, and with
whom he expects to pass his remaining
days. He says that his brother. John
Sing. who conducts alaundry in Newark,
and his friends, will raise a subscription
10 enable him to reach China Ii he is only
allowed to 60. and he expressed the hope
that the reporter would take him to his
friends, SO that he might leave this coun-
try as soon as possible.
Ibid you ever see case of leprosy,
SamP' he was asked.
eyes. see lepla." returned Sam. "He
big finger" pointing 90 his hand and in
were swollen. me not lepla. Cold.
Bad sick. Cauchee him fom undeltakel
in Hallison. Hot night and sleep outside
next undeltakel shop. Lat make me sick
but not lepla."
SLIGHTLY PERIPATETIc.
Sam has been 10 China twice since he
first landed in America. On his first visit
he remained three years in Stockton, Cal
Then he went home, but returned after
short time to San Francisco, leaving there
three years ago for Newark, where he
One symptom of the disease which is rap
idly developing in Sans case is carries OF
the nasal bone and the gradual disappear
ance of that organ. His nose looks as
though i5 had been broken in two,
the upper part having almost entirely
lower part is little lump of flesh pune
tured by the nostrils. One ear is swollen
so that it looks like an overripe tomato
ready to burst, and his whole face Is
marked by the same swelling. The dis
ease is making rapid progress. but in no
way interferes with his appetite, which
continues good, Sam easily disposng of
a substantial dinner while the reporter
was with him. But for the isolation and
the fact that he is earning no money Sam
would be content to remain where he is
for the winter, as he has pleasant room
and all the luxuries of the season. He is
quartered in the extreme southern end OF
the Smallpox Hospital in steam
heated room,. with piazza running
around two sides and window aud door
leading to the outside. He has hereto
fore been given considerable liberty,
having been allowed to go In and out at
pleasure, and not until yesterday had he
even intended to leave the place.
HE ISN'T WANTED.
sit is a pity" said DR.. King, "that he
couldn't get away somewhere. as we
don't want him around, but he is here,
and shere seems nothing TO do but to
keep him. If we could only have got
him off to Vancouver with the two New
York lepers it would have been good
thing for the country, and | have no
doubt the authorities would willingly
pay his way to China if the railroad and
steamship companies would only trans
port him. don't know what we are to
do If smallpox breaks out lin this county.
We are cramped for room as it Is.
in this building and the space he Occu
pies would accommodate half u dozen
patients. The keeper will have nothing
to do with Sam beyond passing his meals
to him. He has to make his own bed and
generally look out for himself"
"How long will ne probably live ?" the
doctor was asked.
THAT we cannot tell. The disease gen.
orally runs from one to three years, with
about nine years as the extpeme limit If
we have to keep Sam for the next five or
xyears it will be quite an expense to
the county as well as a agreat annoyance.
Something should be done with him as
soon as possible"
Sam declares that he will not remain in
the institution. aud as he can easily
break out Of the hospital, it will sur
prise no one to hear of his getting away
soon.
Why Not Hold Both?
Mr.. James Herbert an elderly man who
lives at No. S57 Railroad avenue, has for
eOn,a tiv,a haan annova1 hv q lot of hox,s