The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1872-08-12
THE CITY FATHERS AFLOAT.
A Tour of Marine Inspectton-A S'oo
Municipal Excursion-starthhs
croachments Of old NePtu i
Charleston-The Lazaretto Fateo'

In accordance with an invitation oy the
quarantine committee of the Clty ooun'',
large party of gentlemen proceeded down 'ho
harbor last Saturday morning, on the steamer
Emile, to make an Inspection OF tne hazale'.o
building, on Morris Island, Wnlcn 'ne o'a.o
authorities are desrous of conveying, III Irns''
to the City of Charleston. The steamer sIai'eu
from, sontb Commercial wharf al aoost nall
noet oaven. having on board Aldermen s"ee-
Don M,cbaels, Brown, Glover, Kenny ana
voiat. | Clty Attorney Corbin; Major Cal
,.nan ot the United States army; Cap
taIn Ramsay, commandant Of the Arse
nal. DR.. Gibson, post surgeon; DR..
| Robert Lebby, Sr., health officer f; DR..
chszal. OF the medical committee Of the board
of health; DR.. Buist, of the City Hospital, and a
number of other members Of the board Also,
Captain Minott, Lleutenants Fraser, Flckling
and Fofdham of the police force; City Engl'
neer Barbot, the Rev. Messrs. Yates, Muller
and Oulgley, Lieutenant. Governor Ransler,
and about seventy,dve invited guests. The
Mayor was detained In the city by municipal
dnties. An Invitation had been extended 10
Colonel Ludlow, of the United States engineer
CORPS, but be was prevented from oelnS
nresent by business. The steamer touched at
snIliyan,s Island for City Registrar PeIzer,
Aldermen Bowen and O'Neill, and several
MANNERS of the board of health, after which
she proceeded directly to Morris Island The
morning was bright and clear and rendered
delightful by strong breeze coming III from
the ocean. All on board was life and anitna-
finn. A miscellaneous and constantly varying
crowd filled the main saloon, some surround.
inc the long table spread with substantial
vIands and making ample amends for hasly
breakfasts, while others filed bumpers to the
pleasant termination of the tour of Inspection,
and every one was happy. Reaching Com
ine's Point most of the party dlsembarked in
small boat and proceeded leisurely down the
beach to the Lazaretto, over mile distant.
pausing every now and again TO gather shells,
sea grass. or some other curiosity. Morris
Island is a narrow strip OF sandy land, varying
In width from fifty to two hundred yards, and
Ia densely covered with long grass peculiar
10 the sea shore. Abort quarter OF q mile
northwest of the Lazaretto is the famous Bat
lery Wagner It has almost lost lts identity;
the bomb proofs have long since caved In, aud
the interior has therefore assumed the ap-
pearance of long and narrow gully. The
northeast parapet has been washed away by
the encroachments OF the sea; the logs used in
building it lie on the beach 10 confused heap,
half covered with sand. Here and there are
frapments of shell reduced almost to dust by
continued exposure to the salt air. And on
the north side one may notice strips of half
decayed rubber cloth, which were probably
winding sheets, as the dead we're buried on
that side.
The Lazaretto stands upon what was known,
during the war, as the ''curlew ground" the
spot where 80 many colored troops were
slaughtered at the storming Of Battery Wag-
ner on the 18th of July, 1863. 1t is one-storry
wooden building, seventy five feet by twenty,
with piazza on the southeast front. The In
terror is one large room, on either SIDE oil
which stand row of cots. The W. and
ceiling are yellow washed. Beneath the CEN
tre of the floor is brick clstern, capable of
holding seven thousand five hundred gallons
Of water. In the rear of the Laza-etto build
in. 10 tho kaanAr's honaa- n neat lwo-slorY
structure, fancy style, containing two rooms
below, and one above, situated upon the cen.
ire of the roof, aud resembling o large square
cupola Both buildings are In excellent con-
dition. The Lazaretto contains no patients.
The high water mark Is already under the floor
of the Lazaretto, about ten feet from the
northeast gable.
discussion arose between Alderman Swee
gan, of the quarantine committee, and DR..
Lebby, upon the terms of agreement between
the State and the city, in case the latter as
sumed charge Of the Lazaretto. DR.. Lebby
said that the State would reserve the right TO
send patients thither from quarantined yes.
sells. Mr.. Sweegan Wished to know whether
the city would be expected to maintain such
patients at her expense. DR.. Lebby replied
that such patients would be maintained at the
expense of the vessel from which they were
taken. There seemed to be some doubt, how
ever, In the minds of several OF the commit
tee, whether vessels always paid the hospital
bills of their sailors. Mr.. Sweegan said he
WOulQ OUJeCL W ICCCNiue enO Aoc1ASo'o ALVIN
the State, on two grounds: First, it was evil
dent the foundations of the building would
soon be washed away; second, as party con-
nected with the shipping interest, he would
object to having sailors, who were afflicted
with other diseases, sent to smallpox hos
pital. The quarantine committee, and the
of the Board of Health present, then
to the keepers house, and there held
an informal meeting, with Mr.. Sweegan in the
chair. Mr.. Sweegau briefly stated That the
object of the inspection was to ascertain
whether it would be advisable for the city to
establish smallpox hospital upon Morris
Island. resolution was passed inviting DR..
Lebby 10 be present at the meeting. AT Mr.
Sweegan's request, DR.. Lebby produced copy
Of Governor Scott's letter, authorizing hlm 10
turn the Lazaretto, with its furniture, over to
the city, 10 trust for the Slate. On being
asked by Mr.. Sweegan If he understood the
letter from Governor Scott to reserve the right
Of sending quarantine patients to the Laza.
retto after it had been turned over to the city,
he entered into lengthy explanation of the
quarantine law. After this was concluded, |
Mr.. Sweegan said he did not see anything in
the letter which implied the reservation of the
right, and tn if the city was expected 10
enter into On agreement, the terms Of which