The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-03-20
DIDN'T DIG A GRAVE.
Snohomish Mother Superior De-
MES Smallpox Accusations.
SAYS SHE WASN'T A FUGITIVE.
The Sisters Side OF tho Cass-They Are
Positive They Violated
No Law.

Elizabeth McCuns, the mother superior
Of the Catholic convent at Spohomish, who
is now under arrest in this city on .
charge Of concealing smallpox cases, was
last evening interviewed by Posr-INrEL-
LIeENcER reporter and denied all of the
charges made against her by the authori-
ties OF Snohomish except the one that she
concealed the presence of smallpox in the
convent. Her account of the affair is as
follows:
acknowledge having concealed the exist
ence of the cases, for did not know that the
Law required me to report them to the health
officer. I acknowledged that in . statement
which was published in the papers last August,
in which told all the facts of the case. All the
rest of the statements in regard to the matter
are calumny. Maggie White and Rosa Birn-
baum were both girls working in the house, and
when they were attacked with smallpox took
care that the contagion should not spread to
any other person. but did not lock them up or
confre them. ] nursed them myself, for had
charge Of the smallpox patients at the Mercy
hospital at Pittsburg for three years.
and at St Paurs orphan asylum there,
so that knew what to do for them, and did not
need the assistance OF q physician. At the
orphan asylum no physician ever saw the pa
tients. and at neither place did have q death;
in fact, physician 10 not needed for smallpox
cases: . nurse ID all that is needed.
The two girls had both recovered and left the
building before it was Guaranteed Rosa was
on the street aud had been to church two days
before DR.. McCready came. had all their bed
ding and clothes and everything that was in.
fected burned a. soon - they were quite well,
and had fumigated the house. offered to
show the doctor all over the house as
soon a. he came, before / could have
had any opportunity to make any preparations
for him and showed that there was no smallpox
there and no danger Of contagion. Still he put
the house under quarantine. Then sent for
the city attorney and the city marshal, but
neither of them answered my messages: per-
haps they did not receive them. As for my
helping the girls to escape. they went away
openly to get work. Rosa changed her mind
about going and did not know whether she
was going or not until one morning before I was
up she knocked at my door and said: 'Good-
bye, mother" The fact 10 they were both we'll
weeks before they left.
deny that had a grave dug or a coffin
placed beside it had an opening made in the
front OF the lot, but it was for another purpose,
and told the man that was the wrong place
and told him to dig another in another place.
did not have the first filed UP ut once. "a
thought 1t would be useful to burn the infected
clothing. If Lad intended to bury . body
there secretly, should not have been crazy
enough to leave it open in full public view for
four weeks after.
was not . fugitive, for had informed the
county commissioners that was going East on
business before left. had been to Fairhaven
and Everett before came here. While on the
boat going to Fairhaven had an attack of the
grippe and had to stay in the hospital there for
. few days. Ileft there too soon and came here
and had to take to my bed after came to visit
my friends hare. WA not In hiding hera but
on the contrary heard that the marshal was in
town looking for me and sent word 70 him that
l would like to sec him. He came and took
bonds for my appearance at court ON Tuesday.
but he did not put any guard over me- have
made no attempt to hide myself.