The L'Anse sentinel., 1915-03-13
heScarlet
Plague
BY JACK LoNDo

"
'er begged me to stay in my own
house for at least twenty-four houru
more, on the chance Of the plague de-
.veloping In me. To this agreed. and
he promised to come for me next day.
We talked over the details of the pro-
,visioning and the defending OF the
Chemistry building until the telephone
died. It died in the midst Of our
conversation. That evening there were
mo electric lights. and l was alone in
my house in the darkness. No more
newspapers were being printed, so !
had no knowledge Of what was taking
place outside. heard sounds Of riot.
ling and Of pistol shots, and from my
windows ! could see the glare on the
sky of some confiagration In the d.
rection Of Oakland. 1t was a night Of
terror. did not sleep wink. A
man--why and how I DO not know
was killed on the sidewalk In front
S0f the house. heard the rapid re-
ports of an automatic pistol. and c few
minutes later the wounded wretch
crawled up to my door, moaning and
crying out for help. Armine myself
with two automatios. went 10 him.
BY the light of a match ! ascertained
that while he was dying Of tho bullet
wounds, at the same time the plague
was on him. fed indoors, whence
heard him moan and cry out for half
an hour longer.
I'm the morning my brother came
to me. ! had gathered into hand
bag what things of value l proposed
taking, but when / saw his face
knew that he would never accompany
me to the Chemistry building. The
plague was on him. He intended shak-
ing my hand. but went back hurried
'ly before him.
Look at yourself in the mirror
! commanded.
my God!' he said. I've got It.
: Don't come near me. I'm dead man
Then the convulsions seized him.
He was two hours in dying. and was
conscious to the last. complaining
about the coldness and loss Of sensa.
jtion in his feet, his calves. his thighs,
until at last 1t was his heart and he
was dead.
THAT was the way the Scarlet Death
slew. / caught up my handbag and
ned. The sights In the streets were
terrible. One stumbled ON bodies
everywhere. Some were not yet dead.
And even az you looked you saw men
sink down with the death fastened
upon them. There we're numerous
flres burning In Berkeley, while Oak
land and San Francisco were appar-
emily being swept by vast conflagra-
!tions. The smoke from the burning
filled the heavens. SO that the midday
was q gloomy twilight. and, in the
shifts Of wind. sometimes the sun
shone through dimly, duh red orb.
Truly. my grandsons, It was like the
last days Of the end Of the world.
There were numerous stalled motor
lcars. showing that the gasoline and
the engine supplies Of the garages had
given out remember one such car.
A man and a woman lay back dead in
ithe seats. and on the pavement near
lit were two more women and a child.
Strange and terrible sights there we're
ion every hand. People slipped by 81.
llentiy, furtively, like ghosts white.
faced women carrying infants in their
larms; fathers leading children by the
hand; singly, and In couples, and In
lfamilies-all fleeing out OF the city
!of death Some carried supplies Of
food. others blankets and valuables,
land there were many who carried
nothing.
There was q grocery store--a place
where food was sold. The man to
whom It belonged-I knew him WE'LL
Ia quiet, sober, but stupid and obstinate
fellow, was defending It. The win
,dows and doors had been broken In,
but he, inside, hiding behind coun-
ter. was discharging his pistol at .
number Of men on the sidewalk who
were breaking in. In the entrance
2,woe several bodies-of men. decid-
ed, whom he had killed earlier in the
day. Even as looked on from q dis
,tance, saw one Of the robbers break
the windows Of an adjoining store, .
place where shoes we're sold. and de-
Iliberately set fre to It. did not 90
to the groceryman's assistance. The
time for such acts had already passed.
Civilization was crumbling, and It was
each for himself.
II went away hastily. down . cross
street. and ct the first corner saw
another tragedy. Two men Of the
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