Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-01-17
AMONG THE 'LEPERS
The Visit of Father Clark to the
Sandwich Islands.
He Talks Entertn,nlngly TO vir-
Eininn-Pilot Representative of
HIS "Trip, What He Saw ma what
He Heard Among tho Lep.rs.

Catholic Church during the absence of
Father Hannagan. gives the following
interesting account of a visit to the
leper settlement in the Sandwich ISL
ands:
Crossing the mountain form San
Francisco to New York in the spring of
~. had the pleasure OF making q
chance acquaintance with Mr. Thurs
ton, Mr.. w. o. Smith. and General
Hartwell, OF the Sandwich Islands. Mr.
Smith, finding that had been in Hon
olulu, invited me to be Il guest of the
government on their next trip to the
lcper settlement, in the coming summer
Much that L state in this little sketch
l had from Mr.. Smith. whose brother,
a physician and authority OH leprosy,
fell Il victim to the hatred of some ma
tires. whose relatives he had sent to the
leper settlement. He was cruelty muir
dercd In ~, not long after had made
my visit. which am about to describe
1t was Il beautiful warm night in
June when we left Honolulu OH a little
old steamer that once In three months
anchors off the landing place near the
leper settlement in Nlolo liai. We had
on board a number of doctors, trained
nurses, Scrgcants from various navies,
and half n. dozen curiosity seekers.
The night was too fine to retire early,
but L soon got tired OF gazing at the
far famed, much exaggerated Southern
Cross. But when i did get below it
was not to sleep. Were there state
rooms about? There may have been
some hiding around in unknown cor
ners. but if there were 1 never saw
them. l found Il place to lie down on
the floor of the cabin. But we all slept
well, and at o'clock ! arose aud went
on deck. to find the ship passing under
the wall of the gigantic mountain rs-
ing perpendicularly 5000 feet above the
sea- The strata of the rock dip OH an
angle OF 40 degrees and are very highly
colored and beautiful. The lace work
of surf at the foot of the mountains
cliff only serves to enhance the beauty
of it. Ahead of us we could see 4 lit
tie spot of land Il few miles III extent,
rising northward into the sea, ana cut
off from the rest of the island by
great mountain to the south of it, This
was the place where we were 10 land
and L must confess that 1 had many
fears, and n great feeling OF rcpug
nance now that / came TO be near it.
Anchor was let go n mile from shore,
and / said that there was no wharf.
We were to go ashore in boats, which
were coming after us. 1 got into the
first boat that came, with the bishop,
Mr.. Smith, and half n dozen others,
and away we went. We were about
hundred feet from the rocks and the
surf. The rowcrS held the boat back
the helmsmen stcercd with Il great oar
twenty feet in length. and on the crest
of the wave we went like sword into
it's sheath, through the narrow opening.
.l,..r
fairly lifted out of tho boat 10 the drip
ping rock, and hurried away lest we
should be drenchcd with the spray from
the next wave. / know not if it was
the sight of the lepcrs or the excite
ment caused by the peculiar mode of
landing that made me feel quite i'll for
several hours after | came ashore. but
i'll ! was, and I hardly felt able TO do
anything for some time after. How
ever, ] went to the church and heard
mass, which was said by the bishop,
and then after breakfast I found my
-seitfe- lasaa-.-I need Mat descrihe the liycs
of these poor creatures who are ter
ribly deformed but the sight grows
familiar in a few hours when one is
surrounded with them.
After IL short walk I came 10 the
Bishops Home" conducted by the
Franciscan Sisters from Syracuse, n.
y. 1t was the place I was in search
Of and such a small settlement was
not hard to find. To see IL priest from
the United States who could speak
United States was Il. great treat,
though, nevertheless, there was not
much to speak about, unless it was OF
their work. In answer 10 my question
if they were afraid of leprosy, they
said:
mo; we are not afraid of it, VIC
have been here now about ten years
and have not had a sign nor n symptom
of the disease. 1t can only be had by
incubation and we take the utmost
care by frequent bathing, eating food
which is not leprous, never permitting
lepers to our homes where we live, 10
keep it away. If any one comes here
and takes leprosy it is his own fault"
This testimony Mr.. Smith, the Bishop.
all the physicians and two priests who
reside in the island. and AIR. Joseph
Dutton confirmed; adding, however.
that anyone having eczema should BY
no means live among these people.
The bishops Home" is a place
founded for the care of lcper women
by Mr.. Bishop, Il resident of the island
and placed in charge of the Franciscan
Sisters. because no ono else could be
found except Catholic nuns to do This
work. 1t is n great and good charity
and has made many n convert amonr
the poor lepers who have come here.
was panied TO see so many young and
likely looking girls at this place
was delighted 10 see the amusement
which the bicycle created among them.
Some one brought one along and the
poor creatures were in shrieks OF
laughter and merrimcnt as he rode The
machine about the ground of the home
for their amusement. 1t was told that
it was the first bicycle that had been
seen on the island.
You are great heroincs." laugh
In, oil, cat