The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1895-08-16


All Getting Well.
Last Friday morning party OF
thirty or forty people from near La
Harpe d rove into lola TO perpetrate a
surprise on DR.. and Mrs. G.. w. Boul-
con in honor of the 10th anniversary
of their weiding. Some of the party
arrived in town about 8 o'clock and
the whole crowd was assembled by
noon. About l o'clock dinner was
served from the numerous baskets
which had been brought along and it
was very merry meal.
Immediately after dinner DIR. BouI-
son arose and prepared to drive into
the country to attend sick child but
before he was ready to start he began
10 get sick at his stomcch and was
taken with cramps and nausea. In a
short time one or two of the guests
began to feel sick, but at first nothing
was thought of it and those who were
we'll jOked the others about coming
tOa DOCTORS house to- get sick" and
about "eating so much that they
made themselves sick" But one by
one the jOkers went over to the other
side and those who were sick became
sicker and were seized with cramps
and vomiting.
1t soon became evident that some.
thing was seriously wrong, and as
DIR. BoulsOn was himself one Of the
worst, Drs. Chastain and Fulton were
summoned.
By the time the doctors arrived a
dozen or more were rolling in agony
on the floor and they were kept busy
trying to alleviate their sufferings.
The first thing the doctors thought of
was poison from the symptoms dis
played and they went to work at
once 10 cOunteract it. They were
hindered, however by not knowing
was the poison was and could not
find out as the sick people told diff
ferent and disconnected stories.
DIR. Boulson and wife and Rose
Newton were among the worst from
the first and others sickened from
time TO time until twenty-seven were
stretched out helpless. Mrs. Cole be-
came unconscious and her life was
despaired of. Rose Newton, when she
was first taken went to the barn aud
cTawled into a maDger. Mrs. ID. b.
ID. Smeltzer was very sick and hav-
ing heart trouble, las also had Mrs.
BOulsOn) it was feared she would die.
Grandpa and Grandma Hackney had
started for home but became sick and
drove in to Mason's house. Finding
no one at home the old people lay
down in the yard, too sick to go on.
Mr.. Pyle came along and summoned
assistance and doctor was hurried
from La Harpe. MI. Sticky had gone
down TO the ball game Immediately
after dinner and became sick and
crswled under hedge, but was dis
covered and brought up TO DR.. BOul-
sons house.
The neighbors brought cots from |
all sides and soon had all the sick |
comfortably cared for. The house and
yard wore the appearance of a hospi-
tai and Miss Travis, who is trained
nurse, was right at home and rem
dered great assistance.
AS soon as it was thought safe
those who were well enough started
home and the sick were taken TO diff
ferent houses in the neighbOrhOOd and
fixed for the night.
All who were sick are now out of
danger and most OF them are entirely
recovered.
Every one but the doctors knew at
once what the cause of the trouble
was and the salad, pressed chicken,
fried chicken, cake, cabbage, coffee,
beef, and ice cream were all named
DR.. Fulton after inquiry concluded
that it was the pressed chicken as a
hired man of Mr.. Ohlfest's ate some
of it that was left and was sick.
One serious feature of the affair was
the fact that some of the people had
gone home before they discovered that
the whole crowd was liable to be sick
and had taken parcels of food away :
with them sor their families at home.
1t can be easily seen how serious this
would have been had ne poison
proven fatal.
1t was very close call and could 7
easily have developed into the great !
est tragedy lola ever witnessed. 1t !,
wAs bad enough as it was, but how T
much worse it could have been we >,
realize. Wrought to have a f.
sufficient stock of thankfulness from a
This experience to last us many h
rood long yeaI. n
So far as we have been able to learn .,
he sick were: el
Mr.. and Mrs. Hackney, Mr.. and b