Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1894-07-07
HERO AMONG LEPERS.
SACRIFICE OF A PRIEST IN
SOUTH AMERICA.
Don Unia, Member OF the saiesian Faith
ers, slowly Dying of the Terrible MS
ease Caught While Ministertng to the
Comfort of Sufferers

/ SCdlts VI lGpipsa NptSt SO 't3NS
he must present very unattractlve'
perhaps hideous appearance News
was recently received in this city
that the dread disease had at last
taken hold OF him.
He is a Roman Catholic priest and
belongs to the order OF Salestan
Fathers. Like Father Damien, who
laid down his life for the lepers OF
Malokai. this man. who is called Don
Unia, went out to minister 10 the
spiritual wants of leper colony.
For two years he has been among
the | POO outcasts who compose the
leper settlement OF Aqua de dos
The last heard of hun he was consid-
cred as being dangerously ILL
The story OF his life among the
lepors has been obtained from his
own pen, but nothing has been heard
directly from him since he became u
leper Don Uuia left Turin in 1889.
He wrote to his superior Two years
later from the south American Re-
public saying that he longel 70 dc
vote his life TO the services ot the
lepers He was then in Sante Fc do
Bogota, from which the leper colony
OF Aqua dc Dios is about three days
march Without waiting TO secure
the desired permission to labor among
the lepers he fastened % the lazar-
ctto There was great Joy among
the outcasts over his coming, says
tho New York Herald This Is the
way Don Uuia describes the recep-
tion.
..As We drew near about hundred
little boys in sunday clothes and
with shining faces advanced with
many little banners tapping above
their heads. These were followed
I by white-robed little girls bearing
palms and flowers and singing hymns
II was a simple scene and got so
touching that it drew tears from my
eyes.
but tho sight soon changed for
me when | visited those lying In the
lazarettu God help them breath
ing carcasses, la long proiracted
putrefactiOn One is without hands.
another without arms and another
has no feet. Here Is enc whose flesh
is dropping OIL piccemlal, aud In
this awful condition they drag out q
miserable decade, Ny heart sank AZ
first, but as ! found these Afflicted
beings brighten ~ my presence /
felt that CHASTITY smile great ru.
ward for weakness overcome
Don UEia was tho only priest
among the l.20) afflicted ones il tina,
outeast community. He looked a..
ter the ones who suffered most. cel.
cbrated mass, administered tho sac
raments aud paid cousoIiug visits 10
those In tho last stages OF the dis
case.
Taking everything into account, -
he said in Oue OF his letters. Il
think work won't ba wanting, SO my
life will be happy ono
He did not expect to escape tho
disease he said but tho fact that
even rs leper he would be- able to
hear confessions aud console the al.
tlicted ones seemed TO console him.
He would do this. he declared. though
he was covered with ulcers Tho
only thing he complained Of was tho
heat, and all he said on this point
was that the temperature was "un-
pleasantly high.
He described his quarters az q
she'd, divided into two little cham bors
and covered with palm leaves,
through which the rain passes beau
tifully. but with the burning heat
one suffers a littlo water will do
no harm "a fine little bog has
been told OF to attend to my wants
He brings me something to eat twice
day. just as the crow used to do
by the old hermit.
IL took two months for his letter
begging to be allowed To pass his
life with the lepers TO reach the su.
perior in Turin. Don Unia was at.
most heartbrokcn whom he resolved
from the superior an order 10 take
charge OF the Salesian house in tho
City OF Mexico He believed tina,
this meant that his request had been
refused. but the fact was the order
had been sent from Turin before Dor
v ulb ? iSbbpl Ihi uatu EEBGlNEu Nv
the superior Don Unia's request
was granted, the superior wrote
with tears and heart full OF zeal.
Gus thankiulness.
When the letter ordering him tC
go TO the City Of Mexico was ro
ceived Dun Cnia at once made prepa
rations TO leave tho lopers, and &c
the superior he sent letter Of
urgent entreaty, in which he said:
I'm order TO render my departure
less bitter to those poor. dgonizeC
souls | will not leave them without
hope / shall give them to under
stand that, after visiting Mexico, II
the lapse Of few months, shall bt
back again among them. to remain
with them forever. My dearly bo
loved superior will not surely max,
me break my word When MI mat
tors will DO definitely settled for th,
Mexican house | implore you to sont
a rector with the necessary stat
from Turin and allow inc 10 re.urt
TO the care OF my lepers The part
ing moment, fear. will Gull forth
heartrcnding scene, but holy obedl
ence will give mo force TO conouet
myself and surmOuntcvery difficuItv