West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1896-02-13

out It leaves the water so shallow
that Mr.. Shark can't turn over.
The native boys used to 60 to this
pond, plunge in, mount the sharks.
and ride them all around. The
shark is not dangerous unless he
can get on his back, and the water
is too shallow for that, so the boys
can ride them in safety. Now, If
anyone doubts that story just char
ter the ship, and | will take him to
the fish pond. IL don't I'll pay
all expenses.
Shark stories were in order until
the steward announced that coffee
was ready for the party, this to keep
them awake until breakfast.
When invited TO have a cup of
coffee l announced that | did not
drink coffee.
MAYBE you prefer beer" said
one of the newspaper men.
81 never drank glass of beer in
my life," 1 answered.
"That IS moro incredible than
any shark story told this morning, !"
the senator declared. Then, Of
fered, if he would pay the expenses
OF the party to the United States,
to show them the country in which
| had lived without drinking coffee
or beer, and IL did not, | would
pay the expenses of the voyage my
self.
When day dawed we we're at an
chor off Kalanp,pa. The lepers
were aware of our intended visit,
and, soon after daylight, the shore
was lined with these unfortunate
people straining their eyes to catch
the first glimpse of their visitors.
The band, composed of leper boys,
played several airs of welcome.
Bishop Robert, Father Pamphie,
and the other missionaries, went
ashore in the first boat and were
greeted with cheers. To get ashore
we had to climb down swinging
ladder over the ships side into u
boat, both bobbing about and in
opposite directions, which added
the spice of danger to the expedl.
ton.
On landing we found OH the
shore two or three hundred lepers.
Some of them were but slightly az
fected by the disease, and some so
dishgured as to hardly resem bic
human beings. The disease seems
to attack the extremi les first.
Uusually it first appears in the
lobes OF the ears, and they begin to
hang rs if there was heavy weight
in each. Then it appears in the
face in great Jumps, and cheeks
swell. The fingers lose all feeling
and wither away or drop off, until
the hand is fnger!ess aud the foot
toeless. Often the head is earless
and noseiess. The unfortunate
often loses his eyesight, the balls
entirely disappearing. IL may take
years for the disease to accomplish
it's deadly work, but there is no
hope for the victim when once it
seizes him.
And yet 1t is not uncommon to
see q leper on horseback galloping
over the settlement, so manned that
one cannot understand how he
holds the reins. Their ears often
become so elongated that they in
terefere with their riding. A doc.
tor who was for three years in the
settlement, saId
81 nave often had them come to
me and say Doctor, won't you
cut my ears of they are getting In
my way"
There is a house set apart for
visitors which no leper is permitted
to enter. We went to this house
to wait for the horses which we're
to convey as across the island to
the Boys Home. The lepers, TO
the number Of seven hundred. came
TO the fence and gazed at US so
longingly, so fondly, as to almost
melt one to tears. TO them we
we're superior beings, loved friends.
from whom they were forever sep.
arated.
Senator Waterhousc, who possesses
a world Of moral courage aud a
heart as tender as woman's, was
everywhere among them, not hesi.
tating to grasp the fngerless hand.