The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-10-22
CITY INTELLIGENCE.
TrOR ADDITIONAL LOCAL ITEMS SEE 1Ns1BE PAGES.
THE PESTTLENCE.

Disease Resembling the AslRtlc
Cholera Breaks Out at the Navy Yard
Thirteen Deaths Since Saturday.
We lived through the summer heats without
the dreaded approach Of the cholera, and now
that the moderate temperature of the autumn
has arrived, we were in hopes that we should
entirely escape its ravages. But 1t seems that
the contrary is to be the case, for we are called
upon to-day to record the death OF thirteen men
in the naval service from a disease which has
been pronounced by the physicians In attend
ance to be the AsIatic cholera
The outbreak of the disease occurred on
Saturday, the 10Th inst, on board the receiving
ship Potomac which Is now lying off the Navy
Yard in this city. The Potomac is third.rate
frigate of "a guns, and 1925 TONS old measure
ment, which has been in service as a receiving
nip at the port OF Pensacola for several years
past about four months ago she was trans
Ierred TO this port, and although she may have
become injected with the seeds of the disease
Dy reason OF remaining SO long In Southern
case, as is claimed by some, there should be no
symptoms OF the pesttlence until the present
The Potomac has been under the command
of Captain John DeCamp, and at the ou tbreak
OF the epidemic on Saturday last was filed to
its utmost capacity with men, there being from
three hundred and fifty to four hundred on
board. These men have been subject 10 great
annoyance and inconvenience from the stffiin9
and sickening odors which are sent forth by
large bone boiling establishment located Just
TO the south of the Navy Yard. So terrible mas
been the stencil arising from this concern at
times, especially when a south or southwest
wind prevailed, thati IL has been found necessary
TO close all the ports of the ship when the men
were at their meals, the sickenfug odor depri-
wing them of all desire for food. Huddled to-
gether in theseclose quarters. with littl chance
for exercise, in consequence of the crowded
some fatal malady has not been deyeIoped
before the present time. The officers of the
ys poysd IN IT, have ikeWise Suffered 9n fTom the
proximity of this detestable nuisance. In the
warmest weather during the past summer, it
has often been necessary to close every window
to the offices, quarters, and barracks, in conse-
have repeatedly protested against the pest
breeding establishment, but all attempts hith-
erto to effect its removal have failed, through
the negligence or apathy of our health autho-
rifles 1t will be remembered that the Chatta-
nooga was the scene of an outbreak of cholera
last year, when it was anchored in the same
locality as the Potomac, and also that nve men
taken SICK. one death Resulting. At that time
Surgeon Mcgowan, of the Chattanooga, re-
ported, without qualification, that the odors of
this concern were extremely detrimental to
health. We hope that our health authorities
viii at once take hold of this matter, and cause
the nuisance to be abated without any further
The first death on board the Potomac occurred
on Saturday, and the symptoms of the disease
were at once pronounced by the physicians on
board the vessel and in the yard to be those of
men on the Potomac have been affected more
or less by the disease, and thirteen deaths have
already occurred. Those who have fallen vic
their names have been ascertained:-
Frank Wood. ward-room steward, 10th inst.
William Mcclellan, seaman, 18th Instant.
Richard Toler. landsman (recruit), 10Th inst.
John Watmough, landsman (recruit), Goth inst
J. Vanzandt, SERGEANT of marines, 2lst inst
Conrad Muller, landsman (recruit 2lst inst.
Lewis Koeher, landsman Qecruit), 2lst inst,
Moore Vernon, surgeons steward, 2lst inst.
Joseph Thomas, landsman (recru1t), 2lst inst
Cha, II. Rossen, landsman trecrnit) 2lst inst,
John G. Fell, landsman recruit), 29d inst.
have not been ascertained, were removed to the
| Naval Asylum, where they succumbed to the
| disease Late last night, and early this morn
| ing four more deaths resulted.
II is said that a lady who visited the infected
vessel on Saturday has since died. The two
men who died at the Naval Asylum, 1t is
| thought, were suffering from some other disease
but the exact state of their cases cannot be as
In the majority of the fatal cases death ensued
| within few hours after the first attack, the
| vomiting, and all the known symptoms of
Asiatic cholera. The disease is described by the
physicians as exhibiting very bad type, which
| yields very slowly to the best known methods
| of treatment. AS soon as the epidemic ap-
| peared, preparations were made TO arrest It's
On sunday all hands on board the infected
ship who had not exhibited symptoms of the
| disease, were removed to the Constellation aud
| Florida, which are anchored near by, aud the
| Potomac was at once placed under hospital
| regulations. But this did not avail, as several
were soon attacked, and had to be transferred
| TO their old quarters, NO one except the physl-
clans and nurses, and those whose presence is
| imperatively required are permitted to visit
the vessel, although a number of women whose
relatives were on board have presented them.
selves to the officials at the Navy Yard, and
sought admission.
It issaid that when the Potomac arrived at
this port, in June last, it was deemed best TO
defer a thorough fumigation until the cold
weather had set. Orders were therefore given
not to disturb the lower matches; but these
| orders were recently disregarded and the
disease at once made It's appearance under the
| combined influence, 1t is supposed, OF the con-
| dition of the vessel aud the stencil arising from
| the neighboring bone boiling establishment.
| Comm odore Selfridge has communicated the
| state Of fafiairs to the Department at Washing
| ION and requested instructions as to what dis.
| nosition to make of the infected vessel, which
| will probably be ordered down to the Delaware
| Rreak water there to undergo the fumigatioI
| which she needs so greatly.
| In the meantime, the Sassacus has been or
| deTed mn from League Island, TO be placed OF
| dntV as q hospital ship The latter is n third
| Tste naddle-Wbeel steamer OF 074 tons, and Il
, | therefore amply large enough for the purpoSe
I | frhe sooner ali the sick men are removed iron
| the Potomac 10 the Sassacus, aud the formo
sent beyond the limits OF the city the better.
: Three surgeons, In addition TO those alread
on duty. have been ordered TO attend Inc siok
| and a board of experienced surgeons Will a
| ts,xta whole ALulr, anu fepOt