The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-01-14
TERRIBLE EXPERIENCE
Had by Only Man to Escape From
 Hawaiian Leper Colony.

From the London Standard.
 When an individual becomes a member of the leper colony of Molokai, in the Pacific ocean, he is lost to the world; there Is no cure, no return, except in the rare case of an escape, an almost impossi- ble performance
 It has, nevertheless, happened and that within the past three months. The facts reveal tragedy and pathos trans cending fiction, and would scarcely be believed if it were not youched for by the best authority. For reasons that will readily appreciated, 1t is undesirable to mention the name of the gentleman who through his brothers help has just suc- ceeded in returning to freedom, If not happiness
 He is a Canadian. and was married in January. 1890. A month later, while still on the honeymoon, the young couple wis., tied Honolulu. After a few days enjoy ment of the llge and sights of the capital of the Sandwich Islands the husband at that time man of 25 years of age failed to return to the hotel for dinner The anxious wife waited and waited, and finally called in the assistance of the Hawaiian police, but he had disappeared as completely as though the earth had opened and ingulfed him.
 The young woman cabled to her rela- tives in British Columbia, and her father proceeded to her assistance. Father and daughter remained two months in Homo lulu. and then, as there were still no tidings of the missing man, they returned home.
 His parents were wealthy, and engaged the services of a well known American detective agency urging that no expense should be spared to get at the facts of the disappearance. A competent man was sent to Honolulu, and after six weeks patient investigation he discoV- cred what had happened.
 It seems that shortly after lunch on the day he disappeared he told his wife that he was going to the bank to draw some money, and then he would go to the club for an hour or so and return in time to take her for a drive before dinner Immediately after leaving the bank, where he had drawn $500, he was arrested by four men, and, after being placed in carriage, was driven to the house of a native official doctor. Here, after the most cursory examination, he was de- clared to have leprosy, and when the necessary papers had been signed he was drugged.
 It Is easier to imagine than describe what his feelings were when he awoke to consciousness and found himself lying in the hold of a little vessel bound he knew not whither. Although the island Is less than forty miles from Honolulu. morning had dawned before MolokaI was reached. On arrival he was left to take his place In the company of over a thou sand lepers. It was in vain that he pro- tested, demanded his instant release and refused to believe it possible that he was a prisoner there for life.
 When the report was made to the par ents by the detective agency they did all in their power to obtain their sons release but in al ed wife died of broken heart. Later his mother died, and some months afterward his father likewise.
 Fortunately for the lonely sufferer he possessed a brother year younger than himself, who decided to spare neither himself nor his fortune in efforts at res cue.
 vessel that would carry off the man If he could reach it. but the difficulty was to enter Into any communication with the people on the island, so that CO., operation could be had from that source man was finally found who possessed skin disease that might in appearance be mistaken for a form of leprosy. This man was poor, out of work, and with a family to provide for. He agreed for f2OOO to be paid to his wife to risk his liberty and life. He was taken to Honolulu and accused of being a leper. The doc tor who examined him had grave doubts, but the mans statement that his father had contracted leprosy In a mild form In India before his marriage; also, that later in life the disease became worse, and he died a loathsome object to look upon, removed them, and he signed the necessary papers, as he could conceive no reason why a man should voluntarily desire to proceed to Molokai as a resi- dent.
 His arrival there brought the first ray of hope into the life of the man who for fifteen years and six months had borne and endured such as few men have had to do in the history of the world. The two men were not long fin meeting, and the plot for escape was unfolded.
 It was four nights later that good