Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-12-31

The tragedy by which Silas Yancey lost
his life in Richmond by asphySiation.
while here on a shopping tour before
Christmas, is intimately connected with
a train of misfortunes which have since
developed, one of the saddest of which is
that his brother Lewis Yancey, who
came here and nursed him. devotedly at
the City Hospital. until he died, has been
s1nitten with very bad case of small
pox at his home at Green Springs Depot,
in Louisa county, which he believes he
contracted while with his brother in the
hospital here
There is but too much reason to believe
that his surmise is correct, the chain OF
evidence, while circumstantial, being ap-
parently perfect.
Superintendent George Is. Davis when
told last night of Mr.. Ianceys condl-
ton and of his claim that he contracted
the disease at the City Hospital. frankly,
but sorrowfully admitted that he believed
the claim to be correct.
Heard of His Illness.
''I heard OF Nr. Yancey's illness yester-.
day. he said, and l was not surprised.
/ had been expecting it fearfully and
such was my suspense and anxiety that
If I had known where to communicate
with Mr. Yancey I would have made
Inquiry about him.
Yes. we have had a distressing expe-
rience here without fault of our own. one
that knocked US silly and completely
spoilt the Christmas holidays for. US.
I have been here seven years, but nave
not had anything to worry me SO. l
wish the public to understand just the
cause and extent Of the calamity SO that
the matter may not be exaggerated. ana
blame may not attach for something we
could not protect ourselves against. l
will tell you the facts just as they are
and you can draw your own conclu-
eions.''
How 1t WA. Introduced.
Mr. Davis then gave the following facts.
On November Soth. Mrs. Matte NJ.
Light. the head of the Saliva ton Army,
at Fourth and Broad streets. rescued
from some tiissolute place here a girl
named Stone, who came from Charlotte,
N. C. Some time later on the girls bro
ther came here from Charlotte, n C...
looking for his sister, and he found her.
at the Salvation Army headquarters. he
was poor young man. not much more
than boy. Stone was penniless, and Mrs.
Light, out OF sympathy, lOoh iiilH az
also. He told her that he had been in
the small pox hospital in Charlotte. n.
C. She was worried over it, and to con-
firm his statement, he being stranger
to her, she wrote to the chief of police
of Charlotte and received a reply stating.
that such was the case. but that the boy
had had been discharged from the hos
.pital as being cured.
SMALLPOX Not Mentioned.
A few days later he was taken sick.
and not having the accommodation for
him, Mrs Light sent her daughter out
Sunday afternoon, November 3oth. to see
Superintendent Davis. The daughter said:
Mr.. Davis. we have a young man at our
quarters that's taken sick, and Is very
poor. We have no accommodations for
him Will you take him in the hospital?"
Superintendent Davis asked her what
was the matter with him. She said she
did not know. Mr.. Davis told her "yes."
he would, and called the sick wagon at
once.
The man was brought in and, as is Gus
tonlary. the doctor in charge examined
him and treated him for another disease
with which he was found to be then suf-
fering. and, although he was well of
smallpox the period of contagion had not
passed.
Later on, December Il, Mr.. Silas Yancy