Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-03-03
THE LEPERS OF MOLOKAI,

THE LEPERS OF MOLOKAI.
Settlements Where Hawaiian Sufferers Are
Kept.
1.-THE Island Of Molokai, which holds the
leper settlement, in the Hawaiian group is
about eighty miles from Honolulu said E. c..
Macfarlane, who is assisting the deposed queen 8
representatives in presenting her case at Wash
ington. to New York Times reporter: There
are about 1,100 wretches who are suffering in
all the various stages Of the disease at the set
tlement, and whenever a new case is discovered
In any Of the other islands under the laws Of
the country the victim is removed to Molokai
There is no help for it.
''The sufferers go to the island to associate
with others who are stricken like themselves,
and there they remain until they die. This
period depends much upon the constitution Of
the unfortunate victim. In most cases 1t Ii
from four to seven years between the appear
ance Of the disease and death. Sometimes it is
longer but not often.
"Most Of the victims now there are native
Hawaiians. A few are Americans. The whites
seem much less susceptible to the disease
than the natives: visit to the settlement is
full OF interest"
Mr.. Macfarlane said that he had visited the
settlement at Molokai about year and half
ago as one OF a committee from the Hawaiian
legislature and had thus learned something OF
the life Of the lepers, and to some extent had
become familiar with their condition. The
disease he did not consider contagious and
while the present methods Of segregation are
in existence there was little or no danger to
visitors or to whites who might settle on any Of
the group Of islands making up the ex-queens
domain.
III ID said that seven years may eapse be-
tween the time the leprous poison enters the
system and any visible signs Of the disease :"
said Mr.. Macfarlane. "When it appears the
victim is taken to Molokai. and henceforth is
doomed to remain there in circumstances de-
pendent much upon his financial condition and
the disposition Of his friends and relatives
"Some Of the lepers live in fine houses, which
they have built with their own means or which
have been provided by sympathetic friends.
Each of these has his own tract Of land to till.
He has books to read. His house is furnished
to suit his taste and all the luxuries of the king
dom are within his reach. The best that the
markets afford is on his table. He NAV enter
tain as extensively Us is possible with such
limited social circle as the settlement affords.
He,has nothing to do but wait, with grim death
slowly and Ger tainly coming upon him
The government is bound to provide for
those who have no means. There are several
settlements or villages on the island. and to
some extent the sufferers are classified in these
Generally tney tlll the SOIL, winch IL q good
thing. not only because 1t gives them something
to distract their attention from their own sur
ferngs and the sufferings OF their associates
but also because it is healthful thing for
them.
The superintendent of the island lives apart
from all the patients in house surrounded by
a high stone wall. within which no leper NAV
come. His position is not one which would be
sought for by most men. but he need associate
very little with the stricken subjects over
whom he has control. Physicians and nurses
are employed who attend to the wants of the
stricken people and they report to the superin-
tendent.
Zone might imagine that this settlement
would be gloomy place. filled with beings who
were in abject misery, the abode of suffering
with no sunshine or any bright side to life.
This Is mistake. The lepers seem to be haspy.
Many Of them spend their leisure time in gam
bling. They own horses and nearly everybody
is an expert rider. They have picnics, gala
days and all manner Of celebrations The
casual visitor would say they were o happy,
easy-going race, who had as much enjoyment
as the average Of human beings-perhaps more
than the average.
The visits Of the committee from the legis-
lature are made the occasion OF great festiv-
tiles. The day is looked forward to from the
time when 1t IL first announced, and when the
visiting statesmen come they are received with
. procession which for picturesque beauty is
one is at his best. and the visitors are met at
the steamship landing and escorted to the su-
perintendent's house.
1.-The procession is one of the most peculiar
which could be gotten up anywhere. Men,
W men and children, all on horseback, make it
up, and their costumes are striking and UNIQUE
The women ride astride, and they have a style
Of dress which is not down in any Of the fashion
plates They wind about their bodies and legs
long streamers Of the most brightly colored
fabrics. These form not only their Dress
but the saddle, and are Of all coiors Of the
| rainbow. Imagine a hundred or more stout
Kanaka women. decorated in this way. flying
at q canter up the road. while behind each the
ends Of these red, white and blue streamers
trail out over the horses tails to length Of six
or eight feet. They look like group of circus
riders in unusually bright costumes In the
q near view that traces OF the disease NAV
be discovered. Even when this disease has
reached an advanced stage they Join in these
parades, escorting the visiting members Of the
legislature.
ION these occasions they have an oppor.
tunity to state my grievance they may have,
and they avail themselves of the opportunity,
They are born speechmakers, and they harangue
the committee, sometimes with force and elo-
| quence They are, in fact, well treated. but
they complain Of everything: They want
be more kind and sympathetic. They
want relief from work IN the fields.
They want more bread and meat in their
weekly allowance from the government. They
want better houses and they want more horses,
| In short, they take occasion to present gem
| eral list Of grievances. The lawmakers listen
patiently, and they appear to Be satisfied.
Their numbers are not increasing very
rapidly, and there seems to be no especial rec-
son for the new cases which from time to time
appear"
Calvin Hancock was yesterday found guilty
I OF granddaughter, at Smithport. Pa. He WA
charged with the murder Of Frank Wagner De-
cember 10.
The Homestead (Pa) relief committee an
nouncss that no moro money Il needed for
Homestead sufHerers