The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1903-04-04
LEPERs ON DAP q.
Living Tomb OF Thoa.
Dread Dsaaas saesaI

LAYING tomb of Those AM.
Dread Diaeaes'
Lying tn one Of the
beautiful archipelagoes
the blue waves Of ona u
picturesque island seas
Americas only Leper Islsas
tanned IN secret as the NM.
Of Wretched human beinss
curse necessitates thal,
from all mankind, it ii knoss
OF those who pass it an,I \
by all who have Learned \.
story. Darcy Island II MI
of the city OF Victoria. RrIi,s1
bia. It Is the dying pIaea J.
lepers who are found a,nono 4
sands of cannery Chinese Il L Y, Y
other British Columbian ci III w.
correspondent of the BrootlSa
/: The curse Of those who ,vss !
upon 1t has seemingly oyertasl
island. Fair in the track a n
kan feet, passed each weal " Y
OF vessels, Its shores are rav g Il
except at rare intervals, BY m
those who can never leave NJ
set apart as a place for ~, II
and none save those who MI
for death land on Its beach \
sepulcher afor those living wSs
dead to their fellow men.
Darcy Island is one Of the a.
settlements In the world, and 4 !,
among them all. Unlike other MI
it has neither nurses nor mels
tendants for the living, nor
priests for the dead. Its inhabit,,
landed on it's shores and left 4
to bury one another. Food and h
are brought them from the litts
of Sidney near by, and what hi
gardening utensils they need
wise they are left alone-eaeh Il
the others waste away while he N
waits for death.
The island lies in Peril Strait n
miles north Of the Straits Of m
Fuca, out into which it looks
close to the east shore of ysDa
Island, near its south end. tits INT
from the northern end Of San I'M
and and separated from 1t By \
few miles Of salt water. 1t ID one
archipelago dotting the northen
trance from British Columbian n
into the Straits of Juan de Fuca 4
lie between the two nations. Ii Issl
two miles In length by half d M
width. It is we'll wooded and ii
tered by a couple of springs III
small stream. At Its southern n
a small clearing. Here lies the 4
settlement. This settlement WA
by the city Of Vancouver, which
chased the island from the pFOr6
government ten years ago. II eda
Of four well-built houses and a nua
Of outbuildings surrounded by al
ed space Of about six acres. About
other small buildings, erected 81
lepers themselves, have sprung upA
time to time and have fallen aaa
decay.
When this island was purchaail
the first house built, some twentyl
existed in the province of British
lumbia. The cases occurred among
cannery Chinese of the Fraser D
and of the salmon fisheries along
coast. These coolies work long \
during the fishing season. They.
Wretchedly CT meager wages. I
diet Is mainly fsh42as rule s s:s!4.
and is rarely varied during the Il
season, save by a little rice. The
ditiQns in some Of the Chinese Fl
settlements along the Fraser on
some of the Chinese salmon cam
among the co0lle workmen, Is ext
ly conducive to any sort Of bloc
skin disease. The diet would itself
to an impoverished condition Of
blood. When the coolies go to VII
or Vancouver for the winter the
little better. In a race already II
erished by inbreeding, leprosy Is .
the natural results of such surrou
conditions. AS a consequence,
stricter health regulations wer'
forced among the Chinese in tht
vince of British Columbia lie
sprang up. This was the cause
purchase by the city Of Victor
Darcy Island.