The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1905-06-21
Smallpox Near Baxter
Claims For its Victim Young Mr..
SneIgrove, of SaIuda County.

SneIgrove, of SaIuda County.
To the Editor Of the Dispatch:
have often in life heard the name
smallpox that carried with it's name
death and physical torture. I have
sympathized with those that have
had to contend with this dreaded
disease, but since I have had them
at home and gone through physical
and mental agonies that tongue can
not describe, I will, in the future,
know better how to sympathize with
those that need sympathy, and weep
with those that weep.
On Thursday, May 11th, young
man, Reedy Snelgrove, who had
been an occasional visitor to my
home for the past two or three years,
came in from Columbia complaining
of being sick. Next morning friday
he was desperately i'll, and grew
worse until Sunday, when his case
developed into one of smallpox I
did all for him that was possible for
me to do until Thursday when Mr..
William Psdgett, whom I shall Fever
forget for this act Of kindness, came
to my relief and carried Mr.. Smell
grove to his homie (he, himself, hav-
ing had smallpox where all that
could be done in the way of careful
nursing was done for him, but to no
avail. He fingered until the Monday
following when he breatbed his last
and his spirit returned to the God
who gave it. His body was carried by
the same kind and loving hands to
it's last resting place and deposited
in the bosom of the same earth that
gave it to peacefully await the call
to come forth agaip, to live on, and
never die.
I would like to return my com.
pliments to q few that came to my
relief when in my deepest distress;
especially, the town of Batesburg
and the State Board of Health. No
sooner had the news reached Bates
burg OF the case of smallpox at my
place than I received letter from
the authorities of that town, contain
ing no words of sympathy and clos
ing with threats of legal action
against me if I failed to strictly
quarantine myself and family from
their town. Now, please don't mis-
understand me, for I am truly glad
my heart is such that I can truth
fully say "With charity towards all
and malice towards no one." But
when child is hurt it is sure to cry,
and the actions of the town, that has
been my nearby home for twenty
five years, within whose borders I
have always tried to conduct myself
go as to command respect as a gen.
tleman on plane of citizenship with
due regard to the feelings Of others
to quarantine myself and family
against the health of my friends, and
neighbors, the town Of Bstesburg, or
any other human being from the ter
rible scourge Of this loathful disease
if there was the least danger of COM
municating it to others.
was also informed that this town
forbid it's worthless negroes who
have had smallpox to come to my
home and help me while in distress,
when I offered to pay them literally
for their services, and, also, give
them new charge of garments when
they desired to return; their doctors,
furthermore, who had been treating
the 80 called cases of smallpox in
their town with such skill as to cure
their patients in few days, refused
to listen to the dying cries of a man
living and dying alone, refused to
come when sent for, even at an ex-
tortionate fee. I am not personally
complaining of such treatment for I
feel that as far as am concerned the
crisis is past, and I will, by the help
of God, be spared of this disease and
frop, This oxroe,ro DIT fo, tLa