The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-10-01
THE BURNING OF QUARANTINE.


THE BURNING OF QUARANTINE.
The Investigation Before Judge NIetcalfe, at
Staten Island.
RAY TOMrKINs AND J. C. THOMPSON CHARGED WITH
ARsON-TEsTIM0NY OF DIR. MUNDAY-CRosS-ExAMI
NATION OF DIR. THOMPSON, HEALTH oFFICER-HE
THINKS CASTLE GARDEN AvAIBLE AND SAFE AS A
HOSPITAL If THE INFECTED VESSELS ARE DE-
TANNED AT THE LOWER BAY-ASswERs OF RAY
ToAPKINs AND J. G. THOMPSON, ETC., ETC.
The investigation into the alleged charges of
against Mr.. Ray Tompkins and Mr. J. c. Thompson
resumed yesterday morning, the Iyceum, stapleon,
Staten Island AS the previous stngs of the Court,
the crowded throughout the day by the resi-
dents of the island and several influential citizens from
New York Brooklyn and Jersey,
AT half past ten o'clock Judge Mctcalfe took his seat
when Mr. Anthon for the defendants both of whom
present, put in the following which admitted by the
presentment which found by the Grand Jury of the
county Of Richmond, on the 25th Of April, ls4s-
"we, the Grand Jury inquest of the county of Rich.
mond having finished abors and having first heard
the evidence and facts brought before us and duly
sdered the same, beg leave unanimously TO present to
this honorable Court the location and effects Of the pre-
sent Marine Hospitals and Quarantine station as pub
lie nuisance, detrimental in the highest degree TO the
health, prosperity and interests of the people OF this
county and oppressivey injurious TO the comfort, health
and interests of the immediate residents in their neigh
borhood and recommend 10 the public authorities their
immediate removal TO some other place, where the public
health and interests could be better preserved from con-
tact with thcm.'
The Judge then called upon counsel for the defendants
when Mr. Ray Tompkins and Mr. Thompson each read the
following answers to the charge made against them
ANSWER OF MR.. RAY ToMPKINs.
am citizen Of the town OF Castcton. For years
have been witness the suerngs OF the people OF Rich
mcnd county by plague and pesence, scattered among
them broadcast from the Quarantine establishment; and
/ have my friends and knsmen, the old and the
young, the good and the beautiful stricken down by my
side. All our attempts to remove this deadly evil,
seconded they have been by the legislative authority OF
State several enactmens. and by the
action OF courts Of justice have been defeated by the
open opposition the secret chcancry Of Interested
men who weigh their dollars against our lives. AT
length the Board Of Heath Of the town Of Caseton nd
poon Of the scenes Of 1859 called upon the cizens 10
protect their homes and nresdes by ahatng this death
spreading nuisance. deemed i my duty, as citizen OF
Castcton and Captain Of the Fire Police 10 be present
deemed u duty, man tc devote NY crsire sners
ses to the prccryaton aud care Of the sick leave Il 70
others testify ia what manner performed those duties
and have no further statement TO make on the subject
ANSWER or MR.. ). G. THOMPSON.
am citizen Of the town OF Casteton, and live in the
immediate ncighborhood OF the Quarantine free
holder Richmond and the father Of a family; con.
ceiyed that my own e and the lives Of those dear to me-
jcoparded every hour by the existence OF csab
lishment which many times bad spread, and was then
spreading, pcsticncc and death among my relations
friends and nciehbors; therefore, when the Board Of
Health OF Castcun following the example OF the Grand
Jury Of the county Of Richmond, solemny declared the
Quarantine TO be- a nuisance, and added q recommendation
~ ~
myself called upon as citizen, as father and as man.
did and what my actions were, prefer that
the testimony Of others rather than my own statement
should disclose.
Aftcr some preliminary remarks the defendants pro
oeeded to call their witnesses, when
Dr Edward c. Munday, Health Officer Of Castcton,
tilted follows-I am practising physician in this
county, and have racscd medicine about eight years
in the year 1855 there Of yellow fever that
under my immediate notice, IN the vilag. of Fac.
toryvle, which about three miles from Quarantine rc
patient had been employed ship keeper on board the
Jane Gcddn, badly infected vessel hc had left the
sci and visited his faily that village saturday
evening and remained there Saturday night and Sunday
and on Monday was called to SEQ him; did not pro
nouncc the case yellow fever until the next mornings
Tuesday morning my suspicious were aroused, and !
made inquiries and learned the fact of his having been
employed at Quarantine he remained under my charge
until the Wednesday following and then taken TO the
Marine Hospital and died with cnpous vonit
informed by the physician Of the hospital al the time of
my appointment The town unusually hcaithy but
shortly after yellow fever made s appearance IN the VII
afc of Tompknsville the first case occurred at Rag
Pckcrs Row, that the of Kramer deputy
scowman, and his wife, both occurring about the
tmc this about tho 18th Of July think Kramer died
hrst, ~ few da,s after woman named knei living
Immediately by Kramcrs house sickencd and died of the
same disease; Mrs Knes husband was stevedore but
docs not know whether she In any way connected
with the Quarantine. post moriem Appearances together
with the history Of the case, established the fact Of her
dying 81 yellow fever the next case was few days after
Mr Holiday, who lived few rods from Mrs Knc he
also died o yellow fever and Mr. Holiday not being
noctcd with Quarantine his disease was traced the
poson existing Ia that locality al the time
believe that the poison introduced by infected articles
Of clothing brought TO that locality from the IRON
from the shipping: the disease had by this time become
epidemic: shortly after that Mr. Miles and three members
of his family, living in that locality. sickcned and Mr.
Niles dicd since that time 10 the present others have sick
ened of the cases exccp, Kramer of persons
employed IN the Quarantine witness thinks that tho infection
came from the iron scow, bedding or clothing brought from
the shipping up Sept 3, occurred in
that vicinity and four at New Brighton there were
d'aihs out Of these cases witness suggested certain rules
the early part o the 10 prevent the spread of
the disease and of these parties
employed in the Quarantine grounds from coming into the
town directed by the Bard of Health copies
Of the ordinances upon Drs Thompson and Bssc and
ask them 10 aid their enforcement no attention
paid 70 " as the empoys came out as nsnal from the
Quarantine grounds no did not think possible that the
Quarantine establishment could be Isolated 70 insure
the safety Of Richmond Kings aud New York counties he
midst Of the poison Of yellow fever, where Il existed in
concentrated force the hold of ship, might carry
the infection among the houses, and thus the dtscas
might he communicated mans clothing poison
ed might communicate the disease 10 others
though y did not TO tlc person wearing them
the SICK brought down 10 the lower hospital the nigh
Of the fire properly treated the second occaso
the sick were between the open acds and r Bssesrc
sdencc they laid close the exterior wall of IN
hospital Dr Bsses house was ON the west side and IN
female hospital on the east side. the sick thei
beds, covered from the weather none Of them SCENE
dscontenied AZ what bad happened 10 them went ther
ne Health officer Of the town for the purpose Of
their situation and TO advise in respect 20 their treatment
" needed, but not TO prescribe counted from fifteen
twenty the beds there we're number Of convalesccn
PATIENTS not confined 70 their beds sitting upon the
was PaIucuar W advising certain precautions W protect
the sick from the consequence Of their situation and then
left The witness then gave IN substance his statement,
which has already appeared in the TlERAip)
cross examined by Mr. Peckham-Hc had heard m.
NOR that the buildings were 10 be burned.
o. Did you advise the burning OF the buldngsf You
need not answer the question unless you like. A. !
did not.
o nd you coun,cnance IN A. DO nc, understand tho
question.
q The question IA plain one and you are ntei.
gent man. Did you counsnance or advise the proceed
ingsy A. did not advise, but not very sorry al
what happened did not see Mr. Allen the night in
question ~ tho nre
v Have you any idea of any person engaged In The
burning A. have no knowledge of any person
Y Have you any knowledge cf any person aiding
copntonaneng the burnngf A. do not und@siapd what