Evening journal., 1903-09-14
LUKE WRIGHTS GRIT.
An Incident In the Career Of
Governor Taft's Successor.
CALM IN THE FACE OF DEATH,

John Louis Taylor Tells How the
General Dravcdl IL For uumnnity'A
sake and Dencribcs Bis Charnctcr
as Indicator In a Memphis yellow
Fever Epidcmic
General Luke Il. Wright. who Is to
succeed William II. Tnft as governor
Of the Philippines, says john Louis
Taylor in the El Paso News. was. prior
to his appointment to the Philippine |
commission, a lawyer at Memphis.
Tenn. lie was the partner OF United
States Senator Tom Turleys who was
made a senator against,Sis. will and
who had never before held a public Of
Gee. 1t is presumed that It was partial
ly due to Senator Turlry's innuence
that President Mckinley selected Gen.
eral. Wright as member OF the Philip
pine commission. The choice was
wise one. as subsequent developments
have proved. ~. 81. ..,s-
That the people OF Memphis have
cause to revere General yvright and re.
Joice over any good fortune that may
coiheto him IS due to the fact that he
proved himself to he n man during the
yellow fever epidemics which swept
that elty IN .lsTS,za and killed tens Of
thousands. It wns during those times
which tried mems souls that he show
ed what stuff he was made OF, He did
not run away. as ala physicians. ordi-
nary cltIzens and nearly all minister's
except Catholic priests. but stayed at
home aud fought the yellow dcnth
lie was member Of what was call
ed che Howard association p which
wasaeomposed OF menlhnntlcd together
and pledged TO faceithe calamity that
confronted them and risk their lives
to alleviate the suffering OF the masses
and preserve order IN a city devastated
by one OF the most terrible epidemics
OF modern times At that day. when
Memphis was devastated and silent
when the greatest noise was that made
by the carts nt midnight rumblingover
the stones en- route to tie cemeteries
with their high piled burdens OF un-
known dead. General Wright stayed at
his post and braved death for human
ity's sake Dozens OF his associates
died, yet he remained steadfast 1t was
necessary TINT some one should remain.
The populace was scattered to the four
winds. and thieves. Rhouls and bur
glars rnn rampant through the town.
Those who had been trapped by the
quarantine lines knew that almost GER
tain death awaited them and all the
veneering OF civilization was thrown
of. Men beoame brutes and in their
desperation committed all. manner Of.
crimes.
General Wright and his colleagues
succored the sick and suppressed crime
/ by radical means. Ghouls and pillag-
ers were dealt with in a manner SINH
lar 10 that In vogue after the Calves
ton disaster, and order was preserved
at the point OF the bayonet-
II was during the awful summer OF
1878 that / first saw General Wright
/ have never forgotten his face. The
yellow death had swept out of exist
ence entire families in the neighbor-
hood where / lived. / was a child.
I Playmatcs and associates had died and
been carted away. Next door TO me
the son OF jefferson Davis. president OF
the Southern Confederacy, had breath
cd his last. One day after my little
brother was stricken. AT the end Of
three days he expired. One week later
the disease fastened upon me. then but
lad Of eight. In the dimness OF the
silent room and the whirling dizziness
Of eyes burning with fever I remember
that man came into the house. He
sat beside the bed and felt my pulse.
They told me 1t wRs General Wright
Of the relief committee. He was fac
ing death, but was as cool and delib.
crate as the soldier who goes'into bat
tie expecting 10 die md iunmlndful Of
his fate. He spoke a. few words to. me
and the attendants laid HIS. hand upon
my scorching brow. tnrned aside. wrote
an order for medicines and supplies
from the relief station and went out
Beyond the open doorway an August
SUD was blRzlng with unusual feroeiV
in a cioudIess, sky There was. h,fsh
eyerywheFe- No laborers were IN the
fields. and the Nlseelss Of commerce
were still. O1rly. the sgrayeynrds. exhib-
tied signs Of activity. Thee dead and
fdsing we're on every hand yGenerpl
Luke Il. Wright waaled among these
Hooking deaih IN the eye Us ealmly as
he occupies, his position today MS goys
ernor Of the Philippine Islands