The Washington herald., 1908-08-24

pension. but the doctor reported he saw
no indications Of an ailment contracted
in line Of duty.
Health Office physicians VIII 80 10 tils
Pension Office to-day and make inquiry
as TO EarIv-s movements there, and as
certain. if possible. whether he touched
any papers. books. or furniture. one Of
the doctors yesterday said Early assured
him that he touched nothing AZ the Pen
sion Once. but merely stood in one OF
the rooms talking TO an empioye- II Is
improbable the Pension Office VIII be fu-
migated or disinfected. unless employees
there indicate some objects which came
in contact with EarIy's body
Until a reply TO the letter sent 70 the
North Carolina health authorities is re-
ceived. the District officials viii make no
plans OF arrangements in Early's case
In the event North Carolina which
Early claims TO be his legal domicile,
bars her doors 10 him. II is believed ef-
forts will be made 70 have him sent 70
the northern part OF New York state
where he lived for some time. and was
married. Failing in this. the District Of
fcials viii wrestle with tie case them
selves
Received speedy Attention.
Although the leprosy case came upon
the District authorities suddenly, they
are 70 be complimented on the speedy
and admirable arrangements made 10
Isolate the victim. When a physician
who was summoned 10 the mission 10
attend Early pronounced the case leprosy
on Friday afternoon. health Office at
taches hurried 10 the man They sent
him 70 the vicinity Of the detention camp.
on the west hank Of the Eastern Branch
Il was not possible 70 take him 10
either the smallpox hospital or deteE-
ton camp For that reason he spent the
night in an ambulance near the fence
around the smallpox camp Two men
were stationed on either side Of the
vehicle 70 guard the sufferer. although
there appears 70 have been no necessity
for the maintenance Of a guard
On Saturday morning the health office
physician having charge Of all contagious
diseases IN the District employed a force
OF men 10 erect quarters FOR Early A
platform two feet high was constructed
as a floor. over This a small. white wall
tent was stretched A cot. washstand.
bowl and pitcher. and other furniture
were placed n the tent Early was then
ushered into his new home. wltl pros
poets OF remaining there Indefinitely
Fy .-vthf-g has been done Sor the CON-
fort and conteutrueut Of the leper- HIS
cot is furnished with clean linen and
towels. A canopy Of mosquito netting 3
stretched over his cot and he has a set
Of 5is1es al his own. A chair s. provided
and fresh drinking water IS kept on a
small table.
His wants are few and he IS grateful
for every service. An attendant ar the
smallpox hospital brings him food
three times day. one of the results of
leprosy is loss OF appetite Early nib
bles al the food and then turns away.
He has pan and tea towel outside his
tent and washes his own dishes.
story Of His Life.
Early was born IN Yancey County. y.
c.. thirty-rvvo years ago. He is man OS
wide learning. extensive travel. sound
philosophy. Intellectual arra.nmeuts. and
courteous Although ne served as a p-i-
vate IN the United States army for nine
years. this was not because he could not
get other employment or was 81 financial
straits. Patriotism. love OF country and
a fondnsss for complaining prompted him
10 enlist in the Fifth Infantry az The out
break Of the Spanish war He twice re-
enlisted after being h0uo-abIy discharged.
and conpIiuented by his superior officers
for obedience. efficiency. and other quaIi-
ties.
He is married and has an sleven-uonths-
old son in Lynn. y @ The crushing be
I lief that his boy was born into tire world
n a leprous state, and that his wife must
sooner or later be tormented by the dis
ease coupled with the fact that he may
never see them again. constitutes Early 5
principal grief OF himself. he has but
little thought He realizes he IS a hope
less leper-
/ Comfortably quartered under The friend
I " sycamore trees on the banks OF the
river. with birds piping overhead. Early
/ has taken a tight grip on his remaining
spark of Efe. and hurIs defiance a. he
{ fate He is a religious man. and spent
( some time n the Salvation Army. He
I SAYS that had his affection been visited
upon him earlier IN life. ne would IN
d0ubtedly have collapsed and gone in
I sane. To-day. however. ne IS QhiI0soQhi-
cal pinniug his faith 90 the passage in
/ Scripture. 7 shall not f0rsake thee
/ He married the sister of his employer
I in New York while working in dry
goods store. Later he worked IN a pulp
mill in North Carolina He took & cor
/ respondence course in journalism, and
D
American publications
! The story OF his life shows a uomadlc
/ tendency When asked by a representa-
I tive Of The Washington Herald 70 relate
/ the narrative OF his life and travel he
{ complied.
says He Is sorry
7 was born in Yancey County. North
/ Carolina, thi-ty-tvo years ago" said
I Fa-lv- It Na-. +-ay-afa5 q great deal
/ suffered a great deal and am here to-
/ day seemingly without hope. But there
/ Is a divine reality. and shall never de-
spair. The end IS not far distant
may not be alive long. but while I I've
shall be Of stout heart. and look to Him
who suffered more than has been visited
! upon me The story OF my life. probably,
/ viii not interest any one Il 7 did not
4 have leprosy few people would know that
I am alive. However I am willing q
/ tell anything about myself that may be
| asked I am sCrTy II by miugli1g with
/ other persons I have wronged them. but
/ I did not know until last Friday that J
had leprosy. The thought that had i
never occurred 10 me until few minute:
before sent for the doctor
7 enlisted IN the United States army
| on June q 1SgS. AT Fort Mcpherson. At
! Ianta, Ga Later. I was sent To Calves
( ton. Tex Early in August We were or
dered to Santiago, Cuba We arrived
there on August 3. saw no active ser
vice in battle. for we only garrisOned tht
| town In the latter part Of 1S9S I was
/ taken in in Cuba and was sent to the
| General Hospital. There 7 remained
| until May 1S9a. Ny case was diagnosed
as intermittent fever 7 was sufferins