The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-03-11
GAVE AN ARMY SMALLPOX
TIMELY STORY OF THE LATE CIVIL
VAR BY DIR. X. j. MAsSEY.
IL Was Known to No One-Eight Cases In
tho Heart of the CIty-soldisrs
stole the Bedding.


where he was one Of the most prominent
citizens. enjoys the distinction Of having
given an army the smallpox.
He was in the Confederate service as a
surgeon, and he will be regarded as
benefactor when it is stated that it was
shermans army on its march to the sea
10 which he gave the dread disease.
Or. Massey was in charge Of the Brown
Hospital in the old city hall i'm Atlanta,
until the 18th Of July. 1864. when he was
ordered TO Aliledgeyille.
There he had under him from 800 TO
400 patients. five Of them being in the
third floor Of what was known as Stet-
sons Hall.
In addition to these patients he had
two matrons. two nurses. and negro
boy. Mat Mitchell. who is now working
in Notes photograph gallery.
Early one morning the doctor was
awakened by an assistant surgeon VINO
informed him that he thought he had
case Of smallpox on investigation Dr.
Massey found zone Of the five men IN
Stetson's Hall had a genuine case OF
smallpox.
He had so little fear Of the disease that
he decided TO keep il a secret from every
one He accordingly told the matrons'
the nurses. and the negro that the man
was suffering with smallpox and that
he lad decided 10 keep them all there
within doors He bound his assistant 10
secrecy. and there in the heart OF the
old Capitol, he smothered up the sniail-
pox.
Rumors of smallpox reached the Leg
islature, which was in session. ana Il
committee with Mr.. Gaulden' or Liberty
gate the matter This committee went
To- DR. Massey and asked him if he had
any smallpox patients.
He didn't follow George Washington
example and tell the whole truth, but
he outwitted the learned legislators.
Gentlemen" said he. the best way
to get at the truth Of such a matter as
this is 10 see for yourselves
He then made "A round Of all the differ
ent hospitals with the legislators taxi
ing i'm Stetson's hall last Of all The com
mitteemen were tired out by this time.
and after reaching the second floor Or.
Massey said. well. ] guess you've seen
enough. ] have some sleeping rooms UP
stairs. but they are about tho same as
the others.
The gentlemen expressed themselves
as satisfied. rendered their report to the
Legislature that there was not a single
case OF smallpox i'm the hospitals. and a
feeling Of security rested upon the peo-
pie.
In the meantime the disease was
spreading among the little colony on the
third floor Of the hall. Two more Of the
soldiers took it and SO did the negro. the
matrons and the nurses Only two es-
capped an attack
The last patient was convalescent and
all were about ready to leave the hos
Dital.
The clothing worn by the patients. to-
gether with the bedding was bundled
away In a spare room.
Or. Massey was going to take it out
some night and burn II on the river bank.
News Of Sherman's approach reached
Milledgeyille and the infected stun was
forgotten
The soldiers swarmed into the city and
nothing except the sick ESCAPED them.
They entered Stetson's hall and seized
eagerly upon the smallpox clothes and
bedding, and DR.. Massey was too good a
Confederate 10 make them any the wiser
lie had done very little active killing Of
the enemy. but he was willing 10 Kill
some Of the blue coats in roundabout
way
lie was curious 10 hear the end Of the
story. for all he knew at the time was
that Sherman moved on TO Savannah
from Aliledgeville
Years afterwards he was appointed
Government surveyor surgeon at ST.
Simons Island
He noticed number Of negroes badly
marked from smallpox.
one Of them he had known I'm Nfilledee-
vile informed him that a great many Of
the ST. Simons negroes had gone 10
Savannah 10 join Sherman and had
found about forty Of his men in the hos
pita there with smallpox. Some Of the
negroes took it there and some returned
to the land and there it spread among
the blacks.
The doctor then for the first time had
the last chapter I'm his smallpox story.
General Sherman and his soldiers were
doubtless puzzled about the origin Of the |
disease but had they known the secret Of |
Stetson's hall they would have had their |
eyes opened long ago
Thus it was that Dr. Massey gave an |
army the small pOx.-Atlanta Journal.