The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-11-16
is LIVING
I IN LONELY SPOT
lansing, Michigan, Case Is
Il Segregated in Wild Tract
of Land. /

LANSING Mich, Nov. 16. (By In
ternational News Service --Nestled
at the base of hill near the shore
Of Lake Nagel, eight and half miles
northeast of Grayling, there is a cot
tage of two rooms with a "lean-to."
It appeared there just few weeks
ago In it Marshall F. Truax, of
Lansing, lives far away from every
living soul except one, because he Is
afflicted with dreaded leprosy.
In 1898 Truax, then just a strips
| ling, entered the American army as
a volunteer in the war against Spain.
After the war he remained in the
army and was assigned to duty In the
| Philippines. There he contracted
leprosy, which, however. did not be-
| gin to show at once. For time he
| remained in the Soldiers Home at
Dayton. o.. and later he. was sent to
the government hospital for disabled
soldiers at Milwaukee.
Last February TruaX returned to
his home here from the government
hospital The local health authori-
ties induced him to go back, but he
did not remain long. He was back in
Lansing in July, and ne recently was
taken by the authorities here to the
site of his present home. He is being
treated for his ailment by DIR. James
/ AT Humphrey, city health director OF
Lansing, through whose efforts Truax
/ was placed in his present isolated
but comfortable situation.
| Chamulga oil, being given as a
remedy, comes from the tree of that
name. The tree grows in the Sodtn
Sea islands and is of the rubber
species. This oil is now being used
extensively In the treatment of lep-
rosy. Truax has been taking 1t in
capsules for about a year, and DR..
/ Humphrey says the outward signs of
the disease are disappearing.
The companion of Truax in his ex-
lie is Wendell Bixler, also of Lansing.
IBy a ruling, of tbs health board of
Grayling, neither of the two men is
i permitted to enter the town. They
are not even to leave the half -section
tract of government land on which
their cottage stands. They must re-
main away from all other persons.
The only human voices they may
hear other than their own come
Through the telephone installed In the
kcttage.
IyS.seeS have mail box nailed to a
Itree on the lonely road and receive
Ashe daily papers and letters. Ihelr
u food supplies are uSllNSlSu W 'itS"A
at the edge of the reservation once
week now. When winter sets in anG
the road must be dug out because OF
the heavy SHOWS, their supplies Will
come to them from Grayling once
month. The fuel supply consisting
of coal and wood, is already IN LOT
Il the approaching winter.
The cottage is situated just rev
4 rods from the edge of Lake Nagel. IL
is warmly built and pleasantly
Outside the surroundings are wild
A and beautiful Lake Nagel is circular
Il and about a mile across. Surround
4 ing hills are partly covered with
Il woods.
il Truax and his companion made TOT
II themselves "a boat and have spent
4 much time in fishing. This winter
II they will hunt over the reserve Last
4 week Truax says he saw three oeef
II not far from their cottage.
II Truax, who is single and about 40
4 seems to be contented with his lot
4 even though he may never AGAIN
Il have the privilege of associating Win
Il even his nearest relatives. When
II the government leprosarium Is com,
4 pleted on the southern coast ne WI
4 probably be placed in that institu
II ton. Until then the city OF Lansing
II must care for him.