The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-08-02
Bean LIngs Administers Last
Sacramsnts TO Dying Girl.
33iaAA i77
AFFLICTED WITH SMALLPOX.
langsT Of Contracting the Disease Did Not
Deter Clergyman From Giving
Final Consolation

Yonkers. ~, Y, August 2.-Dying from
smallpox. Miss Anna Magner. OF this city.
received today IN the contagious hospital
lie Church.
Miss Megner was received week ago
tuo. ths ipstitution. which is isolated In
the extreme northern limits of Yonkers.
SHer case h ~ peculiar one. inasmuch as
the disease WIS contracted In the office
OF prominent firm of brokers I'm New
York city where che was employed aud
divulge.
Miss Magner scorned the idea OF being
vaecifIated' and resisted every entreaty of
her mother and other relatives. all OF
whom received the virus when the small
pox. plague began TO spread in Yonkers.
DID NOT BELIEVE IN VACCINATION.
mo. 1 do not believe In vaccination"
said the young woman. '1f am des-
tined 10 be stricken down with small
pox | do not believe that vaccination or
anything else will save me-"
When she became al and was Informed
that her ailment was smallpox, Miss Mag
ner at first refused To believe IL. She
PEELED TO enter the City hospital under
quarantine. but was reconciled In the be-
lief that she was simply suffering from
light case OF varioloid, which II was
said would require but a few days 10
cure. -
Her father. Edward Magner. who is
immune from the disease, accompanied
bis daughter TO the hospital and has
since acted as her attendant
Immediately following the girls sola-
tion- the. health authorities OF New York
city were informed that the disease had
been contracted there, and the Offices
where the girl had been employed were
thoroughly fumigated. every member Of
the firm and all the clerks being yacci-
mated N
Miss Magner, who was believed to be on
the road 70 recovery. became rapidly
worse and the physicians acknowledged
grave doubts as 20 her recovery. They
informed Miss Magner, and she. at once
requested that priest be sent for.
The Very Rev. Dean Albert A. Lings.
rector OF st. Joseph's Catholic church, of
this city. was summoned, and without
hesitation fastened 10 the hospital whore
no one save the doctors and attendants
are permitted 20 enter The Dean, how
ever. proceeded direct through the wards
of the hospital, passing many suffering
patients, and was eagerly greeted by the
patient. vf-
Kneeling close to the dying girl the dean
then, heard her confession and admins
tered communion and extreme uncton.
while the attendants, heavily clothed in
rubber. watched the scene wonderingly.
The priest in his sacred vestments, with
out my cloth protection 20 prevent his
contracting the disease spent nearly half
an hour at the bedside and carefully ad-
nlinistered the holy oils. amounting the
suffered with his naked fingers.
Il AN UNUSUAL BONFIRE
4.Dean Llngsv accompanied by the doc
tors. then. proceeded 20 the lawn in front
OF the hospital. Placing all the articles
used in the last rites together with his
stole vestments and breviary. I'm small
pfc. he fghited them with a match, and
soon reduced them TO ashes.
Few " shy clergymen In the vicinity
can be persuaded 10 make visit 10 the
smallpox hospital During his thirty
three years competition with the Yonkers
church Dean Lings, who has been chap
lain al the hospital. has made regular
pilgrimaees 10 the afflicted patients. al
though not immune from the disease.