Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1865-05-22
THE EVENING STAR.
THE YELLOW FEVER PLef.
Further Develspments-The Origin u the
DcaeMe-It was Tried Last Year, snd
Faiied-Attempt to Infect the White

Taiisd-Astemot 70 infect the White
Iron the Detroit Advertiser.l
We have already stated that we expected 70
int a the S ssS me-
Luke p Black6urn, VINO acting In the interest
OF the late rebel government was engaged in
1e Ii y fever and sa pox, with the Intention
OF introd ucing those contagious disorders into
the Union army and into the cities of the North.
The data In onr possession shows that the late
operations Of Dr. Blackburn were intended to
repeat, on large scale, the attempt Of a sim.
ilsr nature which we shall now expose, ana
which only met with partial success.
agent Of the State Of Mississippi He seems 70
have originated the fiendish plot wnich ne was
the principal agent in carrying ous, 1 an Mn ~
lev, Of Mississippi who, in 1863, gave DIR.
blackburn An order for seVerai nuhareo oaies
of cotton. which ne was TO sell, and employ
the nroceeds in concentrating his scheme.
the Doctor endeavored unsuccessfully TO sell
his cotton at Mobile, and subsequently at other
points, and finally at Augusta, Ga, where we
and laid his scheme before the rebel govern.
ment, but we are informed, did not obtain Of
ncial sanction. although he was encouraged by
leading rebels to persevere in his plans ~
How Dr. Blackburn got into Canada we
know not bat in the fall Of 1869 we find him a
guest at Q ueen's Hotel, Toronto, on the look
ont for some one to help to carry out his plot
a
known by this name, but whose true name we
have now before rs, came TO Toronto from
Helena, Ark, whence he had been expelled by
the occupation Of that place by Union troops;
or rather from ST. Louis, where he resided for
n time after leaving Helena He was despe-
rate by losses of property and violent treat
ment of his family by our army, and wrote to
II. o. Slaughter, rebel enlisting agent at Mon
treal, expressing desire TO 60 into the rebel
army. Slaughter brought his case 10 the at
tentien of Rev. DIR. Stuart Robinson, of Ken
thvc bal
introduced him to DR.. Blackburn; Harris was
then working as a shoemaker in Toronto; DR..
Ii. was then stopping at the Queens Hotel,
Toronto, and there Harris had his first inter.
view with him; at first he pretended to be q
recruiting agent, and told Harris he would
send him South in company with some new.
hattering his victim tor his courage and ST.
gacity, he enlisted his services, promising him
1900 from the rebel government in case he
succeeded; although Harris had succeeded in
differently in seeking the endorsement OF the
rebel government at Richmond, he was more
fortunate with the agents of that government
iect. Supplied him with money, and gave him
their approval; Harris gives the following &C
count Of his inter view with Doctor Blackburn,
when the latter lold him in what capacity he
wanted his services; after going into private
room, DIR. b. said:
"You want to serve the Ccnfederacy said
] did. I can tell you how you can do more
than TO Join Lees army with 100000 men-can
add more fame 10 your name than General
Lee. said, what 10 'tl He SAID: have tried
10 get some one to , on an expedition, but
confidence in youl said yes. He asked me,
ARE You Free Mason ! said n o. He said,
well, 1 am; here is the right hand of friendship
OF Free Mason, which will never degrade or
hetray; will you accept it in friendship
want you to kill and destroy as many of the
Northern army or the people OF the place Won
60 to as yon cam It is to consist Of cases Of
fever IN them. L said, 1 Will co. he said,
will guarantee to you, If You do this, that you
VIII have 10000, and this should be half Of
Dr. b. I met, and also - McGregor, for.
merly OF New Orleans, jewelry dealsr: also
= Hammock from New Orleans; ! saw them
all together at the Halifax Hotel, At DR.. BIS
room; Doctor said he had the goods ready;
wanted me to 90 to Washington, Norfolk and
Newbern, or IL could not get there to send
an arrangement with some vessel Captain to
smnggle the goods to Boston as they could not
be Inspected by Custom HOUSE officers: all
three were together that day went down to
with the FIRST mate OF the steamer, Hill who
smuggied The goods into Halifax. They were
hid in the hold by Hill; he said he had hard
time to get them liz; took the trunks, eight i'm
number, TO the Farmers Hotel, the hotel
wagon took them upi John Doran, son Of the
proprietor drove the team; he did not know
the contents; 1t was in the evening; they were
taken 10 a private room in the hotel ON the first
Moor On the right hand side OF the Mr.. Doran's
private sitting room; no one in the hotel kne "
anything about It; said was going on an ex-
pedition, but did not say what; I took three
trunks Of DIR. BIS order to Halifax Hotel:
there was also very nice valise with
some very elegant shirts and other things
infected with fever or small pox, which
they wanted me to take with q letter
rs present to President Lincoln. refused to
undertake that, and the vaiise was left with
br. Blackburn, and do not know what became
OF 1t. DIR. b. sent Hill with me TO some Of the
captains he knew 10 have the trunks smuggled
into Boston; the first vessel we went to was
Captain McGrifhn's don't know the name of
ship; he refused; then to the bark Halifax,
Capt John OBrien, who was Newfoundland
man; he agreed TO smuggle them in; / was to
give $50 IN gold TO him fer doing it; young Do.
ran took down the five trunks; went on board
same day, and the vessel left in the evening; 1t
was on the 2ith or 25th OF July; she arrived at
Boston some seven days after, about the Sd of
all the time by name of J. W. Harris; the Gus
tom house officer came on beard, but did not
md the goods; there was on the side of the
along, and behind which the trunks were
slowed, they were used for smuggling; he had
other goods smuggled there, stopped at wharf
Der the full consigHees of vessels: 1t was HolI-
man and some one else; keep office at foot of
Fort Hill; got an express wagon and took
them TO the express office ia State street, and
tlll called for, and took q receipt for same
HARRIS went to New York, Philadelphia and
DdiliInOIe III succession. at philadelphia he
had the infected goods sent to the American
Hotel, where he stopped. At Baltimore rela-
i've attempted TO dissuade him from the enter.
prise, without success. He here sorted the
goods at the Fountain House, smoothing them
out 50 that they would sell better. Being short
OF money, he now returned to Toronto, where
he arrived about August 5th. DIR. Blackburn
was At Niagara Falls in company with Nc.
Gregor, Holcomb, O. q. Clay and S S. Pres
ton. Or. b. gave him, on his application, 500
IN gold, which he borrowed OF Preston Me.
Gregor, now In Havana, greatly encouraged
him, and told him his fortune was made and
that on mis- return he would surely recei We
800, coo, ana that be wo1,d give him an interest
In MA business, large jeweny store in New
Orleans. Harris soon left and returned ~ Bal
umore. We resume Harris statement IN his
own words:l
After my return from Toronto and Niagara
1 took five Of the eight trunks that had re-
PACKED and took them TO Wall Il Co, auction.
GERS, corner Pennsylvania avenue and 9th
street, Washington; / have the receipt and let.
ter received from them at Toronto by me in re-
lation 70 sale; they transmitted the money, some