Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-08-19

huvia of the vilest stamp. The cots
were defiled. reeking with filth. Pain
misery. helplessness were on every |
hand. The agonizing groans Of men
and women writing in oholera's fatal
and unyielding grip were almost be-
You'd endurance.
NO attempt was made at treatment.
called for the physician. There was
none. a hospital attendant with not
az much knowledge OF medicine as an
apprentice in a pharmacy was in
charge. How many of these people
will be saved?" 1 asked. "They come
here to die" was the stole response.
1t was the abomnation of desola,ion,
and l was as helpless TO help as the
victims themselves. Yet L would have
gladly given at that moment all that
l possessed had it been in my power
to afford relief even for one single
hour 10 those whose piteous gaze be-
tween the spasms rnutely appealed TO
the white man for the help that they
vaguely longed for yet did not expect,
and which he unfortunately was unable
to render. Never, never shall forget
that sad experience. But what we saw
in the first ward was only q specimen
of all the others. We travelled from
ward 10 ward only to repeat the same
experience. Our heart-strinGs were
wrunG until the ever-present con-
seriousness OF our own utter helpless
ness became so oppressive that con-
tinuation of the tour threatened to
unnerve us.
We stepped out into the square
sIlirted by the bamboo enclosure and
into the brazen sun. There before us
on the ground. without shade or pro-
lection of any kind, stark naked. lay a
| number of women in the last throes OF
| the cholera. Two of them were moan
ing piteously. They seemed uncon-
scious. yet the contortions of their
bodies indicated that they were suffer
/ ing intense pain. We called an at
tendant and ordered him to carry the
women under shelter from the burning
| rays.
We did not stop to think that we
lacked authority to enforce our de-
mands. Fortunately there was no OBJ
lection and the women were one BY
one carried under roof. One of then
was practically dead, and at our re-
quest a few rags were thrown over hel
for decency'S sake. She was not re-
moved and then and there She died
We had seen enough. We were anxious
to get away. But it occurred to us tina
thus far no children had been in evi
dencc SO we made inquiry concernin.
them and learned that they were KEEP
in what is termed the kitchen. w
asked 10 be shown there.
The kitchen in the Baroda poorhous
must he seen to be realized. In BAN
boo enclosure. under the supervision o
:, fat turbaned Hindoo. sat 300 skelc
tonized. diminutive creatures. mostl
naked. all sickly and miserable. an
, many OF them totally blind. In the en-
= tire number there was not singl
child which. in our country. would no
/. be considered hopelessly afflicted wit
l marasmus.
Millions of flies gorged themselves o
fostering sores and on eyes sealed wit
nauseating cXudations. The sight {
:. these poor little helpless human being
!. was saddening beyond description
E Never have / seen anything approx
: mating in abject misery and utter de:
@ titution this gathering Of innocent
: Not a cry escaped their lips. The plat
3 was as silent as the abode of dealt
: Hardly n hand stirred. Not q sour
a was heard. With the exception OF Il
@ blinking OF the eyelids there was I
Q indication of lie. Had our own ey'
e been blind We could have passed
: this place In total ignorance Of q
: presence OF o .htvfps being. We waltz