On August 2, 1889,[7] Hyde wrote a private letter to a Reverend H.B. Gage, regarding Father Damien of Molokai. Hyde intimated that Damien's death from leprosy was the result of what Hyde believed to be the priest's lack of hygiene, and was seemingly dismissive of Damien as a person. Without Hyde's permission, the correspondence was published in a Sydney, Australia newspaper, and angered many of Damien's supporters.