The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1916-02-10


trail, they were in camp.
Its city" Shorty whispered.
There must be twenty cabins. An
not dog Amt that funny?"
"And that explains it, Smoke whis-
pered back excitedly. ITS the Laura
Sibley outfit. Don't you remember?
Came up the Yukon last fall on the
| Port Townsend No. G. Went right by
Dawson without stopping. The steam
| er must have landed them at the mouth
| of the creek"
"Sure, remember. They was Nor
mons"
"No-vegetarians." Smoke grinned
in the darkness. They won't eat meat
and they won't work dogs"
Its all the same. I knowed they
was somethin' funny about 'em. Had
the all wise steer to the yellow. That
Laura Sibley was goin' to take 'em
right to the spot where they'd all be
millionaires."
Yes; she was their seeress-had VI
sions and that sort of stuff. l 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 a 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 Il lighted cabin
and was followed in by Shorty in an
swer to the Come in!' Of the voice
they heard groaning.
whats the matterY" Smoke de-
manded Of one whose blankets could
not hide his broad shoulders and mas
siyely 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.
"Scurvy." he muttered to Shorty
and the man confirmed the diagnosis
with nod Of the head
PLENTY of grub:" Shorty asked.
Yep" was the answer from mar
} in another bunk Help yourself
: There's slathers of it. The cabin mex
, ON the other side is empty. Cache is
right alongside. Wade into it,
In every cabin they visited tha,
night they found a similar situation
erurry- -a1u1 s1uitten- tire whotr-~ ~r1r.p
, 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 gon'
, that short distance down the trail t.
find out for themselves. What par
ticularly struck him and Shorty wa
the helplessness of these people. Thei
t cabins were Uttered and dirty. cab
ms troubles were its own troubles
!. and already they had ceased from tn
] exertion of burying their dead.
Its almost weird" Smoke confide
to Shorty. I've met shirkers and loaf
!. ers, but never met so many all at on
t time. You heard what they sale
: They've never done tap. III bet the
/ haven't washed their own faces. n
n wonder they got scurvy.'
But vegetarians hadn't ought to sc
!? scurvy," Shorty contended Its th
S salt meat eaters that's supposed to ia
e for it. And they don't eat meat. sa
e or fresh. raw or cooked. or any othe
q way"
e Smoke shook his head. II know
And it's vegetable diet that cures scu
q w. No drugs will do it. Vegetable
n especially potatoes, are the only dop
But don't forget one thing. Shorty:
are not up against theory. but COZ
dition. The fact is these grass eate
I, have all got scurvy.'
u Must be conta gious.'
NO. That the doctors do kno'
y Scurvy is not a germ disease. 1t can
W. be caught It's generated. AS near
le l can get it, it's due to an impoverish'
condition Of the blood. Its cause is II
" something they've got. but somethll
they haven't got. A man gets scur'
10 for lack of certain chemicals III
;e blood, and those chemicals don't con
~ out of powders and bottles. but
:. come out of vegetables
a. An these people eats nothin b
grass" Shorty groaned. An thev
- got ii I'D to their ears. That prov
.e you're all wrong, Smoke. You're spiel
p theory, but this condition sure knoc
w. ~ the spots out O. your theory. scurV!
w. catchin', an that's why they've all
- it, an rotten bad at that You
nell get it too if we hang around II
m diggin'."
~ Smoke laughed skeptically a
~ knocked on cabin door.
ne ns What do you want?" came a
mt mans sharp voice.
~ ~ I'VE want to see you." Smoke
lid swered.
~ "Who are your
1.-TWO doctors from Dawson. SAC
-. blurted in. with a levity that broush
- nurch in the short ribs from Smok
elbow.
Don't want to see any doctors,
49, woman said in tones crisp and 81
,no CATO go away. Good night
- don't believe in doctors"
IS. Smoke pulled the latch. showed
AZ door open and entered, turning up
- low famed kerosene lamp SO that
a., could see. In four hunks four Wol
~ ceased from grooming and signing
lird stare at 'iie M. "u 49, =,
ho young, thin faced creatures: the ii