The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-09-10
THE NEW GOVERNOR OF THE
PHILIPPINES.
CharaCte r Of Gen. Luke II. wright As In
dicated in q Memphis Yellow Fever
Endemic

John Louis Tallor in the FL Pdso News.
One of the names most prominently before
the pub Bile at the present day is that Of Gen.
Luke Z. Wright, recently appointed Governor
OF the Philippines.
Prior to his appointment to the Philippine
Commission. Gen Wright was lawyer at
Memphis, Tenn He was the partner Of
United States Senator Tom Turley. who was
made Senator against his will. and who had
never before held public Office. IL is pre-
sumed that it was partially due to Senator
Turley s influence that President Mckinley
selected Gen. Wright as o member of the
Philippine Commission. The choice was
wise one, as subsequent developments have
That the people Of Memphis have cause to
revere Gen Wright and rejoice over any good
fortune that may come to nun Is due to the
ING the yellow fever epdemics which swept
that city in 1880 and killed tens Of thou
sands i wa, during those no times which
he was made of, He did not run away. as did
physicians, ordinary citizens and nearly all
ministers. except Catholic priests. but stayed
at home and fought tnS yt ha, ueath a,os a..
Howard Association" which was composed
of men banded together and pledged to face
their lives to alleviate, the suffering OF the
by one OF the most terrible epiden,ics Of mod
deya v,td and silent when the greatest
noise was that made by the carts at mid
night rumbling over the stones en-. route to
of unknown dead. Gen. Wright stayed at his
post and braved death for humanity's sake.
Dozens Of his associates died while remain
ing steadfnst. II was necessary that some
one should remain. The populaoe was scat
tered to the four winds. and thieves. ghouls
and burglars ran rampant through the town.
Those who had been trapped by the quaran-
tine lines knew that almost certain death
awaited them. and all the veneering OF civil
ization was thrown Of Men became brutes
Gen. Wright and his colleagues succored
the sick and suppressed crime by radical
means Ghouls and pillaRers were dealt with
in manner similar to that in vogue after the
Galveston disaster and order was preserved
at the point Of the bayonet.
that first saw Gen. Wright, have never
forgotten his face. The yellow death had
swept out of existence entire families in the
neehborhood where l lived. was child
Playmates and associates had died and been
carried away. Next door to me the son Of
Jefferson Davis, President Of the, southern
COnfederacy, had breathed his last One
day after my little brother was stricken Al
the end OF three days he expired, One week
later the disease fastened upon me-. then
but a lad OF T. In tn" dpness of the silent
room and the whirinG dizziness OF eyes burn
ing with fever | remember that a man came
into the house. He sat beside the bed and
felt my pulse
They told me il was Gen Wright Of the
relief committee He was facing death but
was as cool and deliberate az the soldier who
goes into battle expecting to die and unmind-
7ul Of his fate He spoke few words to me
and the attendants. laid his hand upon my
scorchinx brow turned aside, wrote an order
for medicines ard supplies from the relief
station, and went out
Beyond the open doorway an August sun
WAS blazing with unusual ierOcity in "A cloud
less sky There was hush evorywheI" No
l.i.I II Hlli md I.4 boa
commerce were srlll. only the Rravsyarde
sN hbit"d signs Of activity III" d.nd and
dying wnf. on every hsud Isn Luke T.
Wright waiked among these looking doHth
~ the eye NJ calmly AZ h. occupies his post
ton to-day Rs Governor Of the Philippine
Islands