Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1901-07-28

the saratoff Cholera Hospital, faced
round to the window, one Of the panes
of which was open. The sleeve OF q
ragged caftan had been thrust through
II. a sinewy hand grasped the inn1r
frame. and face distorted by hideous
passions looked down on them.
There they are, there they are, the
witches, 1 can see the pots and the
little phials in which they make 'he-f
noisousi" the man shrieked, turning
his head outward again and addressing
persons evidently below the vantage
point to which he had climbed ana
look, say, the smoke is rising AGAIN
from their devils furnace" and nc
pointed to the left, on which, little
apart from the main building, stooG the
newly erected mortuary, and the ou'-
house in which infected garments were
destroyed, or vermin-infested ones pnt
fled in the ovens. Look. Look! DO
YOU know what that smoke is? That 5
where they burn the bodies OF your
wives and children.
"Who says lie? Who dares to say
it? Have we any funerals? Do we
ever see our dead? No. they burn
them, they burn them. There stands
Nicol. the little mason. He built the
dead-house and he built its neignbof
the devils oven. They are side by
side. The oven is large enough to hold
a man. and that is what it does hold
It's smoking now. How do we know
that they are all dead that go there!
How do we know, | say?"
The frightened women, clasping each
other by the wrist, drew closer to-
gether for the wild, h0arse shout that
followed this harangue nothing was in
telligible but its fearful menace, and
that it sprang from myriad of threats.
A few moments OF breathless sus-
pense passed, and then young student
burst into the yard, his face white as
curds.
ely. Fly for your lives." he said
They have fred the hospital.
~But the patients? They will burn in
their beds"
Take those who have chance and
leave the others. In any case the ex-
posure must kill them Make haste'
Make haste. They will surround the
place and kill you otherwise. LEI
Arkalich struggling with the mob, and
.Niviski is down. saw him fall"
The two women wrung their hands.
ooh, what death. What horrible
| DEATH" one woman moaned, moving
to the door, but turning her wild eyes
upon the helpless wretches who were
already screaming and endeavoring t.
struggle from their beds.
81 will not leave them" said thu
other.
Smother them! Smother them!
urged the student Their cries will bt
heard; they will still further enragC
the mob | tell you they are doomed.
What counsels would have prevailed
in the end among the terrified staff O.
students, servants and nurses who hat
focked into the ward, 1t is impossible
to say. but suddenly someone fel
against the door, burst it open, ant
entered.
1T was woman, slight and frail. witt
| the red cross on her arm, and on hel
brow and cheek a replica of the cross
| in her own blood, flowing from tn,
cash a well-directed flint had made.
She placed herself against the dool
and held it closed.
Listen" she said. 'Tf you leave thu
patients, you yourselves are doomed
Carry them with you, let the people see
them living or dead, let them only SEE
their bodies, and you may pass. say
may; it is only a chance, but it is the
only one. Attempt to pass without
them and l tell you you will be cut tc
pieces. Arkalich is in the courtyard
and they have ripped his heart out
Quick! Bring the stretchers."
AS she spoke she moved to the bed
side of the nearest patient, and com
mened to wrap his blanket round him
1.-TWO only to each stretcher,' she
| cried again. 1.-TWO and patient may
pass. three will not. If we have moi
| enough stretchers take the rest, heac
and feet, in their blankets as far as
our numbers go. We shall not be al,
| lowed to return. The crowd must save
the others"
There were women there tearing of
| their lienen caps and the red cross from
off their arms. That sign-to which
the veriest pagans have paid homage
as to a symbol of mercy-was discard
ed by them as though it had been some
badge Of inquiry. But the pale, frai
Englishwoman st4Al wore hers.
The last couple had snatcned pa
! tient. and she was left the odd number
She looked around her. Dense vol.
umes of smoke were rolling in through