| Transcribed by Norma Knotts Shaffer from microfilm of
the Calhoun Chronicle dated 4/3/1900.
Smallpox
So many things have been told with reference to the attitude of the
Bennett family, of Steer creek, and especially "Bob" Bennett, in reference
to a disposition to see that the people of this town should have a few
cases of smallpox, if it was possible to get them here, that we went and
called "Bob" up on telephone last Friday and talked to him on the subject.
In response to our questions he said, "I have no disposition to give them
to any one, in fact if I could I would not give them to a dog. While
some people in Grantsville have not treated us right, I know none of the
family hold any such animosity. Our house has been thoroughly fumigated
and our clothing so effectually disinfected that there is not now a particle
of danger of anyone taking the disease from us or our premises."
He also told us that they were all more or less marked from the effects
of the disease and were truly thankful that they were alive.
"Bob's" voice, over the phone, was so very much like that of his father's
the day we talked to him before taking his bend, from which he never got
up, that it was with great difficulty we suppressed emotion. Nelson
Bennett never had a more ardent admirer than the writer. |
