A DREAD DISEASE.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 38, 27 January 1912, Page 2

A DREAD DISEASE.

A remarkable example of the dire effects of sleeping sickness was afforded by. the experiences of tho crew of the French sailing vessel, the Antoinette, which completed a voyage from Java to a French port a few weeks ago. The arrival of the vessel at her homo port occasioned great excitement, since her 1 crew of fifteen all belonged to the port and. she hadi been absent for more than a year. Wives and children and friends turned, 1 out to welcome the ’ voyagers, but it was a sad home-coming. Only two members of tho crew, a French lad of fifteen and a negro a year older,’ were' to be seen on deck when the Antoinette anchored at tho quarantine station Of the remaining thirteen three were dead and ton were lying helpless. Tho story the’ two boys had to tell was a pitiable one The' vessel deft Samarang on August, Ist, and some weeks later the mate complained of sickpess. He felt pain in his legs, which were swollen, badjy, apd he told his companions that he was “dying for a little sleep." He went to bed, a victim of sleeping sickness, and his death occurred bn October 26th. Meanwhile other members of the crew, had -been attacked, and the quartermaster died three Weeks after the mate. By that time all tho members of the crew except the two boys, had fallen under the spell of the dread disease and ware lying in their bunks helpless and almost unconscious. The captain fought off the attack longer than any of the men did, his concern for the safety of his ship giving him strength, and for .some time after he lost the use of his limbs he forced his mind to retain a little of its power. Before he lapsed into unconsciousness he succeeded in telling tho boys how to navigate tho ship into port, and they carried out his instructions in heroic fashion. The reason why they 'should have escaped tho ravages of the epidemic is one of the mysteries that the investigators of the terrible disease have still to solvcf.