The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1900-01-29
HAD BLUE FUNK
Morgue Keeper Badly
Scared.
Chewed Something That Did Not
Agree With Him and Plague
Scare Followed.

One Of the mcrgue-keepers common
~ known as Captain" has won a repu-
tltion for f5ariesshess in handling the
bodies which are consigned to his care.
and the admiration of the health de-
partment officials and laymen in gen
eral has been frequently expressed.
Captain" went about the gruesome
work of the morgue with a cheerful
heart, whistled merrlly as he strobe
about the room defying attacks of
bacilli or the fumes of the powerful dis
infectanis, and, although he was new
man in the business. made fine record
for himself. Others have been there
before him, but somehow their courage
oozed as the plague victims began TO
increase and were brought into the
mofgue too often. One excuse after an
other would be given. and then new
man would be observed around the
house Of mystery.
The night shift seemed to be the one
which had the most terrors in it along
toward the wee sma' hours of the
morning, when the city was quietly at
rest until only a snore could be heard
OF and ON from the guard tents out
on the lawn. That was a time which
chilled the morgue-keeper's heart, and
caused him to consult his watch ner-
yously or eagerly sean the sky in the
direction of Diamond Head to catch a
glimpse of dawn. With only a corpse
in the dimly lighted room and not
seul to keep him company, the lonely
watch was enough at times to shake
the nerves of the brayest.
however, captain" held his own I'M
tu Yesterday morning. He had taken |
a nip or two uuring the night 10 keep
him warm-the nights have been cold |
lately-'and just before daylight took |
a chew OF tobacco. This particular 1
chew was one which he had been
during the night. but had 1
aiken II out and transferred it to his 4
coat pocket, wherein was kept the
Captains" supply OF bi-chloride
ablets for cleansing his hands. The
vet qufd and the tablets absorbed each
>ther until the quid had most of the
of the bi-chloride tablets.
The Captain" chewed, and also drank
cup of coffee, and shortly afterward
be sleepy employees around the health
nice were startled by the apparitfon Of
he Captain" flying into the office. and
elling for a doctor. The employees
rere startled, and especially so when
he Captain" declared he had the
iague.g The physician was sent for
Ost haste, but he dId not come for /
ONE time. The morgue-k keeper walled
p and down the Office, groaning in his
Misery. The doctor came. and took in
ne situation at a glance. The Office e
this time was crowded. and tipping
he wink TO them, they waited for the
IN.
Seating the badly scared Captain"
! chair on one side OF the long table +
it'll his back to the audience. the doc p
IT examined hts pulse, then his tongue 4
nd then took his temperature Grave
looking at its registered heat. the b
)ctor slowly shook his head and the
rfnkle between his brows became
'ep and mystical. The patient kept a
ose eye upon the doctors features.
Id as the mystery deepened between
e doctors eyebrows, his courage be- II
n to ooZe away and his limbs shook. W
he next operation puzzled the patient al
ID sent his spirits down to zero point. p;
'ening the mans shirt, the doctor
avely placed the stethoscope against
e Captains" broad chest and list-1-
ed to the thumpings OF the heart.
llch by this time was working like
piston rod under full steam. Again
2 wrinkle deepened, and the Can
n quaked. UncGnsciously. the doc az
took a clean, glistening scalpel out te'
its case. and then the Captain" gu
ed TO bolt the office He was re- pli
aimed by the eager audience who tn
nted to see the fun out to the finish. QU
e doctor told the Captain" that his pr
y hope lay in his taking a number
pills. which he proceeded to turn into =
Captain S" hand. They were of all
ors. some big and others small. This
5 the straw which broke the camel's
*, and the Captain" arose, and
wing for the door, hoarsely cried thu
: 4 guess I'll go home doc. don't AN
nix I've got the plague" and the by {
nders said that a game of chess 1870
I'd have been PLAYED on the tails OF Str