East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1908-09-09
PATHETIC 0UTCAST
WASHINGTON LEPER
WORRIES ABOUT FAMILY
Does Not Care for Hlmself-Is Re-
signed TO His Fate-Seeks ConsOla-
ton In the Bible.

Washington, Sept. S.-The thought
and feelings of a leper, who knows
his doom is awaiting the terrible end
were pathetically voiced by John r
Early. He is the North CaroliniaI
who walked the streets Of Washing
ton for six days before 1t was dis
covered that he was a victim Of lep'
rosy. He is being detained in a ten
in an isolated spot on the outskirts
of the city.
Arrangements are being made Il
remove Early from Washington al
soon as possible. 1t is expected HI
will be sent to the leper colony II
Louisiana, although negotiations are
pending to have the North Caroline
authorities take charge Of him.
None OF the physicions who have
seen him will venture a prediction as
to the length of time the disease may
run before It kills him. He may live
two or a dozen years, they say. They
only are certain that leprosy will
claim him finally.
Thoughts All Of Family.
81 don't know what they are going
to do with me-" said Early to his in
tervlers, so feet away. II don't
know what is to become of the wife
and child / left behind me at Lynn,
but feel that the world is kind, and
somehow, though / never see them
again. a God will provide My
thoughts are of them; l care moth
ing for this old frame Of mine now,"
he sobbed.
"They are lepers. too?" he asked
pleadingly as he regained his COM
posure. 1.-THE world regards them as
such. for they have been near me
Yet l wonder If there is not some way
out-if there is not hope. The bible
tells me so. and were it not for the
bible do not know what would dc
in the dark days that have overtaken
me-"
Yes, would like to see them
again." he continued. as his eyes
wandered over the green fields and
the waters of the Potomac, "even II
only as l see you-afar off, to look
but not to touch; to hear. but no
to feel the press of a hand that Is
gone forever.
The Bible His Mainstay.
'It.Yould mean something just tc
have them near. The Bible Is my
mainstay now I read 1t constantly
and somehow l feel that God has
prepared me for this trial He doesn't
allow my mind to dwell too much up
on my troubles. He makes me real
ize that it is only a question of years
between your end and mine; that the
body is not everything, and that a.
though the home of clay may be 'un-
clean, the soul may look for brighter
things.
Therefore l am not afraid to go. I
don't know when the end will come.
| may live a long time; It may be
soon. All | ask is that / may be as
little trouble and as litti, danger as
possible to my fellow man am a
leper, you know, and, of course the
Torll must turn the other way.
Next to my wife ana chi'l my con-
cern is for those with whom | have
come in contact. l do not
know what they will think; would
not have them be like me. Perhaps
after this is over and l am gone they
will forget that a lcper has beel. this
way. | hope l have not subjected
any humon being to a fate like mine"
Harry L. West. commi IsiUner for
.1o pistric. Of Columbi, created con-
stcrnation here by the announcement
hat there are at largo il Washington
many cases of leprosy in its primary
stages. He quoted as authority an
,Xpert of the marine hospital service.
IF there are any cases Of leprosy
II Washington other than the case
ust discovered by the district health
| know nothing about
t." said DR.. McGlennan, in charge in
he marine hospital service, in the
lbsence of Surgeon General Wyman.