J.W.Terrell, Chief S J.Smith, and
others; see also Carrington Eastern Band of Cherokees, Extra Bulletin of Eleventh Census, p 21 1892,
172 MYTHS OF THE CHEROKEE [eth.ass.19
pox from sin infected camp near Knoxville. Shortly after his return
he became sick and soon died. As the characteristic pustules had not
appeared, the disease seeming to work inwardly, the nature of his
sickness was not at first suspected- smallpox having been an unknown
disease among the Cherokee for nearly a century — and his funeral was
largely attended. A week later a number of those who had been pres-
ent became sick, and the disease was recognized by Colonel Thomas as
smallpox in all its virulence. It spread throughout the tribe, this
being in the early spring of 1866, and in spite of all the efforts of
Thomas, who brought adoctor from Tennessee to wait upon them,
more than one hundred of the small community died in consequence.
The fatal result was largely due to the ignorance of the Indians, who.
finding their own remedies of no avail, used the heroic aboriginal
treatment of the plunge bath in the river and the cold-water douche,
which resulted in death in almost every case. Thus did the war bring
its harvest of death, misery, and civil feud to the East Cherokee. 1
Shortly after this event Colonel Thomas was compelled by physical
and mental infirmity to retire from further active participation in the
affairs of the East Cherokee, after more than half a century spent in
intimate connection with them, during the greater portion of which
time he had been their most trusted friend and adviser. Their affairs
at once became the