River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1915-02-18

millionaires."
Yes; she was their seeress-had vi
sions and that sort of stuff. I thought
they went up the Nordenskjold."
Huh! Listen to that!'
Shorty's hand in the darkness went
out warningly to Smokes chest. and
together they listened to groan. deep
and long drawn. that came from one
Of the cabins. Ere it could die away
it was taken up by another cabin and
another-a vast suspiratiOn of human
misery. The effect was monstrous and
nightmarish.
'B-r-r-r.' Shorty shivered. Its get
tin me goin'. Let's break in an find
what's eatin' EN-"
Smoke knocked at lighted cabin
and was followed in by Shorty in an
swer to the Come in!' of the voice
they heard grooming.
whats the matterw Smoke de-
handed Of one whose blankets could
not hide his broad shoulders and mas
sively muscled body. but whose eyes
were pain racked and whose cheeks
were hollow. Smallpox? What is it,"
In reply the man pointed at his
mouth. spreading black and swollen
lips in the effort, and Smoke recoiled
at the sight
"Scuryy," he muttered to Shorty,
and the man confirmed the diagnosis
with a nod of the head.
Plenty Of grub?" Shorty asked.
Yep" was the answer from a man
In another bunk. Help yourself.
There's slathers Of it. The cabin next
on the other side is empty. Cache is
right alongside. Wade into it."
In every cabin they visited that
night they found a similar situation.
Scurvy had smitten the whole camp.
Originally there had been ninety-three
men and women. But ten had died.
and two had recently disappeared.
Smoke told of finding the two and ex
pressed surprise that none had gone
that short distance down the trail to
find out for themselves. What par
ticularly struck him and Shorty was
the helplessness of these people. Their
cabins were Uttered and dirty. A cab
ln's troubles were it's own troubles,
and already they had ceased from the
exertion Of burying their dead.
Its almost weird Smoke cOnfided
to Shorty. i've met shirkers and loaf
ers, but never met so many all at one
time You heard what they said.
They've never done tap. III bet they
haven't washed their own faces. No
Sv,npIor +boVv crOf coy1rvU''
But vegetarians hadn't ought to get
scurvy.'' Shorty contended. Its the
salt meat eaters that's supposed to fall
for it. And they don't eat meat, salt
or fresh, raw or cooked, or any other
way"
Smoke shook his head. Il know
And it's vegetable diet that cures sour
Wy. no drugs will do it. Vegetables,
especially potatoes. are the only dope
But don't forget one thing, Shorty; we
are not up against u theory, but a con
dition. The fact is these grass eaters
have all got scurvy.
Must be contagious"
No That the doctors do know
Scurvy is not il germ disease. 1t can't
be caught It's generated. AS near as
| can get it, it's due to an impoverished
condition of the blood. Its cause is not
something they've got but something
they haven't got. A man gets scuryy
for lack Of certain chemicals IL his
blood, and those chemicals don't come
out Of powders and bottles, but do
come out Of vegetables"
An these people eats nothin' but
grass" Shorty groaned. An they've
cot it up to their ears. That proves
you're ali wrong, Smoke. You're spielin'
n theory, but this condition sure knocks
the spots out O. your theory. Scurvy's
catchin', an that's why they've all got
il, an rotten bad at that. You an
nell get it too if we hang around this
diggin'."
Smoke laughed skeptically and
knocked on Il cabin door,
What do you want?' came wO-
mans sharp voice.
I'VE want to see you.'' Smoke an
ywered.
who are yOu?"
Two doctors from Dawson" Shorty
blurted in. with a levity that brought
punch in the short ribs from Smokes
elbow.
Don't want to see any doctors" the
woman said in tones crisp and stac-
cato. go away. Good night. We
don't believe in DOCTORS"
Smoke pulled the latch. showed the
door open and entered, turning up the
low famed kerosene lamp so that he
could see. In four hunks four women
ceased from groaning and signing to
stare at the intruders Two were
young. thin faced creatures; the third
was an elderly and very stout woman.
and the fourth, the one whom Smoke
identified by her voice, was the thin
nest, frailest specimen of the human
race he had ever seen.
AS he quickly learned. she was Laura
Sibley. the seeress and professional
eia1ryoyant, who had organized the ex-