New-York tribune., 1900-03-11
A VISIT TO MOLOKAI.
THE HAWAIIAN LEPER COLONY AS SEEN
BY AN ENGLISH CORRESPONDENT.


Honolulu correspondence of The London Standard
I accompanied the Board It's last regular visit
the medical profession and the press about, one
hundred relatives Of the lepers were on board the
~ A. tn daylight next morning the vessel
saw before them the white cottages Of the village
OF Kalaupapa, the principal village of the settle
on the shore for % he mails had Gpi brought news Of
the seamers coming and these semi annual visits
nous existence. While the village brass band of
boats took off the passengers. The landing often
dangerous here ,,t and sometimes impossible was
aaf Vorasle Si'n0"' 'i''"i's-~ina ana sea 0e'ns
The superintendent received the permits. with,
Colony" and the PASSENGERS were then at liberty
dark skinned Hawaiians al the landing and those
met upon the streets Of the village appeared very
glance % one Would Wond not think Of them as being epeTs
or as sufferers from any disease, But closer In,
ear iobes-one OF the marks of leprosy-whiie some
opa Gss sd h faces nG Of
sores. which are the outward manifestation of the
eipai suffering being from % the accompanying fever
The settlement consists of two villages.kalau-
papa where the landing made and Kalawao.
on the opposite side of the peninsula. Both
alns and ' the e sea At the former Which, is the
larger is located the Bishop Home for Girls It con-
grounds. which were built by the generosity OF
Of San pFp Francisoo The Home now @ has about one
hundred and twenty-five Inmates women and girls
some of the former having grown to womanhood
under its protection. In common with the entire
leper colony. it is maintained by the Hawaiian
1t is under the immediate supervision of the Sisters
afiicted inmates, and are each paid salary of $40
per month. The object of the institution is to give
to the colony. A similar refuge for boys and
Is d6 the Baldwin % h Hone at % 81 atoi
the buildings for this establishment. and has ever
month he has Ordered new suits of clothing Zone
hphdted and ffty) besides extra material as q
about $1,000
worlds, heroes-a cultured, modest, unassuming
man who, without hope or expectation of earthly
work for the good of humanity Years ago Brother
Joseph nj Dns who " had entered d on b 69
colony at Mookai. and decided that his life work
thirteen years he has lived among them as a friend
and brother He has not only counseled and IN
needs. washing and dressing their sores with his
own hands. continually working with and for them,
cheering and waiting on them In sickness comfort
Ing them when death is near, and. above all else.
EiSins fs the" an example of noble self-sa0rihoins
With his aid and under his direction. the once
tages located has been cleared and planted
with bright leaved shrubs and flowers. A model
sweet potatoes. gives evidence of and in
been taught the blessings that result from wisely
directed labor. Besides the two homes mentioned
there are many cottages at the settlement. built by
the Board of Health. for families and individuals
who prefer to live by themselves: also some built
by lepers who. having the means, prefer to OWN
their homes.
the settlement is over 500 900 year besides whicn
much is done by private charity Food is issued in
Is pounds of beef or fresh fish. pounds of salt
So pounds of bread with i pound Of sugar or
pounds OF rice with pound OF sugar. or 124 pounds
soap salt, matches and Kerosene oil are issued
monthiy also ration bill of $40 year. for WHICH
store Which the '' Board ard maintains at Ka1aupapa
Whe range ISn neth the 0I p and resh
vegetables and fruits can now all the year
them. There has heretofore been insufficient water
Tor irrlgang gardens. but last year the Board had
and there is now an abundance of good water for
made fhe nao3a food d0o @
tke ssa 1if fee asf@ bread
The Board maintains at the settlement a skhtuI
the relief of the sufferers. The Goto treatment
msed to mas the eps b
lievng that 1t gives them more relief than anything
eper always S aDfs ieper @ % The disease does not p
pear to be hereditary. The majority of the chill.
dren born the settlement of leprous parents are
not lepers, and a home has been established IN IN
Honolulu to which they may De prTushi H isaaaa anu
from their parents 1t is said to be a custom
then place it in the mouths of their children. and
many little ones are supposed 10 nave contracteu
As a rare they seem have fear of disease.
il is reported that in taking leave or leprouS
friends about TO be removed TO Molokai they have
followed old custom of passing the same pipe
from mouth to mouth, lepers and all smoking IT.
II has been the custom, where leper needed spe-
cial care, to allow friend to go with him to the
settlement as a "kokua'' nurse. Years ago a
healthy man went as a kokua to care for his lep-
rous wife. She afterward died. According to the
rules of the Board he required to leave within
weeks after his wifes death He avoided TINS
by marrying another leprous woman ana when
she also died married third leper. with whom he
is now living. and he has as yet shown no symp-
toms of leprosy.
II is a noticeable fact that among the twelve hun
dred lepers the settlement there are only about
dozen white people, and IL seems to indicate that
there is little danger of contracting the disease II
ordinary care is used c. B. Reynolds, by birth an
Board of Health, visits the settlement every month,
and quite frequently remains a week at time,
planning and overseeing necessary improvements
For years he has been doing this, and he has no
fear of contracting the disease. The Sisters of St
Francis, of whom there are seven at Molokal wash
and dress the of those in their charge, as
does Brother Dutton. and not one of them has been
affected. Father DaElien'S case was an exception,
but those who well acquainted with him. and
frequently visited him at his work. that he took
absolutely care to guard against the disease.
grave at Molokai is covered with blooming plants
always and the recollection of his good works viii
The steamers whistle signared her approaching
The visitors who had Joyousy disembarked in the
morning burdened with delicacies and mementoes
for their afflicted friends, slowly and with mex
pressibe returned toward the landing. their
leper friends with them anxious to postpone to the
last moment what might be their final earthly fare
well. 1t was an infinitely pathetic scene. In that
human affection banished all thought or fear OF
conta gion The afflicted bodies held closely
embraced. Loving kisses were pressed on lips and