Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1899-01-18
CHAPTER Y.
HOW WE FOUGHT THE PLAGUE.

Ol1a3 LIN
HOW WE FOUGHT THE PLAGUE.
Leaving the house behind Us, we
made our way by means OF circultous
path round the base Of the majestic
waterfall before described, down to-
ward the buildings on the plain.
AS we made our way down the path
we talked on many subjects-European
politics, of which her knowledge was
extensive; the beauties of the east, lit
erature and art-but somehow or an
other, however far we might wander
from it, the conversation invariably
came back to the epidemic that was the
occasion of my presence in the settle
ment.
At last we left the jungle and pre-
pared to descend the precipitous hillside
by means Of long fight of wooden
steps, which ended at the commence
ment of the main street. In the bril-
liant sunlight the township looked a
pretty enough little place, with it's well
laid out and nicely planted thorough
fares, neatly built European houses and
picturesque native huts 1t was hard
to believe that, clean and healthy as it
all looked, it had lost more than quar-
ter Of its population by the ravages OF
one of the most awful pestilences hu-
man flesh is heir to. Indeed, so much
impressed was I with it's beauty that
for moment or two I stood watching
1t, unable to say word. Then looked
at my companion. She, like myself, had
been very silent for the last hundred
yards, and now as she looked down at
her kiagdom I-saw her beautiful eyes
fill with tears.
"Dr. De Normanville, she said, as
we arrived at the bottom of the steps,
eff you will allow me some day, when
we are little better acquainted, will
tell you the story of this place and the
influence it has had upon my life. Then
you will be able to understand how 1T
is that I am so much affected by my
peoples sufferings.'
murmured an appropriate reply, and
we entered the village. Our arrival had
been anxiously expected, and at the gate
of the first house we were met by an
old man, who was evidently person Of
considerable importance in the place.
He had white skin and slightly
Scandinavian cast of countenance, and,
though he spoke Chinese and the native
tongue with unusual fuency, was evil
IDENTIFY more than half an Englishman.
On seeing my companion he raised his
hat politely and waited for her to speak.
"Mr. Christianson, she said, hold
ing out her hand, "this is DR.. De Nor
manville, who has been kind enough to
come to our assistance from Hongkong.
don't think it is necessary for me to
assure him that you will give him your
entire assistance in this terrible Crisis
in the same manner as you have hither-
to given it to me. y
The old man bowed to me and then
addressed my companion.
"We have done our best in your ab-
sence," he said sorrowfully, "but it
seems as if fate were against us. There
are at the present moment l30 cases all
told, of which 81 are men, % women
and the remainder children. Yesterday
there were / deaths, among them your
old cockswain, Kusae, who died at 7 In
the morning, and Ellai, the wife of At
tack, who followed him within an
hour. The Englishman, Brandon, died
at midday, his wife during the after
noon, and their only child this morning,
scarcely an hour ago. Doctor, is there
any hope at all of our being able to
stop this awful plague?"
assured him we would do our best,
and he agreed that no man could ask
or expect US to do more. By the time
our conversation was finished l had
taken decided fancy to the old fellow,
and with Allies permission enrolled him
there and then as my second in COM
mand.
"Now," I said, turning to her, "be-
fore we commence our work let me ex-
actly understand my position. With
what powers am I invested"
with full and complete authority, y
she answered promptly. whatever you
may deem best for my unfortunate peo-
pie, please do without consulting any
one. Believe me, no one will attempt to
dispute your right.
"That is as it should be, and l thank
you" said. "Now, will you tell me
where my own abode is to be? 1t should
be as far removed from the center of the
Infected district as possible, yet at the
same time central enough to be con-
venient for all the inhabitants. "
II thought that house on the mound
at the foot of the hill, ," she answered,
pointing with her beautiful land to a
neat weatherboard structure about a
couple of hundred yards from the place
where we were then standing. "1n fact,
/ have even gone so far as to give orders
that it should be prepared for you.
Shall we go and examine it,"
Accordingly, accompanied by the old
man, we set out for it, eagerly watched
by a crowd of natives, who, from the
expressions on their faces, had come
unite to look UPON me as their dellverer.