Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-10-03
THE SMALLPOX SWINDLE,
Clever Trick That Cost n Hotel Man
Five Thousand Dollars

Clever Trick That Cost n Hotel Nun
Five Thousand Dollars.
From tn; New Orleans Times Democrat
I dare say you never heard of the great
smallpox swindle," said the hotel manager.
The facts Of that remarkable affair were
withheld at the time for the most urgent
reasons of policy, and even now l prefer to
tell the story without names or localities.
1t happened in the fall Of 1885, when a GER
tain hotel in a large western city was
crowded with tourists. One day, at the
height OF the season. two gentlemanly
looking strangers put up at the house and
were assigned to what we call double
ROOM About a week later one of them ap-
peared at the Office and requested a private
interview with the manager. I regret to
inform you. he said. after the door was
closed. that my friend is down with a Sc
we're attack Of smallpox The proprietor
nearly fell out of his chair. There was
known to be smallpox in the city, and the
bare suggestion that the disease had ap-
peared in the hotel was enough to empty
1T in twinkiing. To let the news get out
meant the loss Of thousands upon thou
sands OF dollars. 1t meant the ruin of the
seasons business. He must be quietly re-
moved at once said the proprietor, trying
to control his agitation. Removed ex-
claimed the other; taken through the cold
air to lazaretto! Why. man. that would
be murder! I'll not permit it, The hotel
keeper was thunderstruck. DO you mean
to say he must stay here?' he gasped. Ger
tainly.' said the stranger
1T was a ticklish situation. The hotel
keeper dare not enforce his suggestion
while to let the case remain was like stor-
ing gunpowder in a furnace room. He
pleaded. protested, begged, threatened and
clustered. but all in vain. The man was
as firm as a rock. If you attempt to eject
my sick friend, he declared, I'll publish
your inhumanity to the entire community
Finally it occurred to the distracted pro-
prietor to see. first whether it was really
case of smallpox So he sent for
physician. Swore him to secrecy, and huS-
tied him up to the room. The doctor took
one look at the disfigured face the pill
low and reported that the malady was
there in a malignant type. He advised the
mans immediate removal at any cost. II
you keep him concealed he said, the dis
ease may spread. and 1t would ruin you for
life. You owe something to your guests
Again the proprietor interviewed the friend
and again the latter refused to bulge from
his position. Where can I take him. he
demanded. You know very well 1 can't
get comfortable quarters for such a pur-
pose. and I won't have him butchered in
pesthouse to please any landlord on EARTH!
The hotel man felt his hair stand on end,
but concluded to let things stand as they
were until morning.
Next day he sent for the sick mans
friend and asked him whether he had any
suggestions to make. Yes he replied; I
thought up plan over night. which you
may adopt or not, as you like. AS l said
BEFORE he continued. 1t is useless to try
to rent quarters for such a case. We
might. however, buy a small cottage and
take him there. I have figured the thing
up and the total expense would be about
5000. If you are willing to hand over
that amount, I will take him away and as
sumo all further responsibility. 1 make the
offer entirely out of sympathy for your
guests The landlord looked him in the
eye. I. too. have thought The situation
over he said. and I'm convinced it's a
confidence game pure and simple I'm con-
WINGED there's nothing the matter with
your dear friend upstairs, but / am also
convinced that the slightest breath of the
affair would greatly damage the reputation
Of the house. AS business proposition l
consider it worth 5000 to get rid Of you
The other man smiled ironically. Call a
cab and get out your money he said. and
inside of an hour the incubus had been
spirited through side door swathed in
blankets and driven away. AS the land
lord shrewdly surmised the whole thing
was confidence game. and h, earned the
particulars later on through ort he had
once befriended. There was l. thing the
matter with the rascal upstairs except that
his face had been pricked a little with a
quill dipped in croton oil. something that
makes Notwithstanding pustule. which
disappears in a. few days and leaves no
mark. I always thought the hotel man
showed good sense in taking the course he
did. He was caught in a trap and took
the cheapest way out. The bare rumor Of
even a suspected case would probably have
involved a loss of $50. 900 or SEQ, 900 It was
far better to pay the SIS. 900 and charge it to
education