The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-02-23
THE QUARANTINE BUBBLES

Commerce md Navigati0u-The Firm Tint
Lost $4,000 Because Dr. Cnrnochnn
Wouldn't Trust the Yellow Fevcr-Llttle
"Dinlculties mt Quarautine' and What
Caused Them.
The Committee on Commerce and Navigation Of
the Legislature met yesterday In defiance OF the
popular prejudice in favor Of holiday on the ed OF
February-not on Staten Island, however, but at
their comfortable quarters In the 81. Nicholas HOTEL
Mr.. Alberger was III the chair, and little Mr.. Judd
was around ana about the chair, ndeIatigably con-
splcuous The testimony was OF q mix water
character, with more water tnan milk. This, OF
course Is inevitable where but one side OF q story
Is heard.
James +. Pendergast shipping merchant was
the first witness called. He testified that he had
had
DIFFICULTIES AT QUARANTINE"
His testimony was quite lengthy and disclosed the
fact that the 'dillculles" arose from the trining
circumstance OF his having tried on two occasions
to evade quarantine with vessels from ports injected
with disease The bark wavelet, from Rio
Janelro, owned by the witness. was run into
the ''port' OF Perth AmbOy, TO the immi-
nent peril or the health OF the city and
country, although she carried "a clean bill
OF health.n For this offence the Wavelet was seized
by the Health officer ana turned back to quaran-
tine. This ''dilllculty' cost Mr.. Pendergast, or
rather Pendergast Brothers & Co.. altogether $780,
which he thought was ABOUT TOUR times TOO much.
The Kind or nealth that prevailed ut RIO at the time
the wavelet sailed was shown III the affidavit or
the steward WHO made oath that yellow fever was
prevalent IN inc city ana among ,ne spping. Ana
masters ut foreign ports the following affidavit was
reac TO the committee. Mr. judd objected 70 Its re-
' "a CLEAN BILL OF HEALTHY
LOWER ouAn fSET or A Msw Y199nIK ~,
The Undersigned master OF the British brig Victoria being
truly '' sa Ss fs a sas
SsS I: s se ia. iii %
The United States Vice Consul for that port that at the tme
tai with yellow fever and that he wan consequence obliged
TO leave an behind TIA, during the passage 70 ths port
fever aud that John osen SEAMAN died August Of said DIS
easr. J. TRAFION.
Among the grim Jokes of this kind that came up
was "clean bill OF health" given 10 captain OF
ship sailing from Copenhagen the morning OF the
Mar. Pendergast stated, when cross.examlned by
Mr. John c. Boyd, counsel OF the Health Onicer that
their coming from injected ports The bark Cam
panero might have had disease on board on her ar
rival for an no knew tne Wavelet was brought
the Commissioners of Quarantine the health OH
cer's charges we're illegal.
the
FEES CHARGED WERE LEGAL.
The captains OF the Wavelet and Campanero were
imprisoned tout were afterwards let out on ba)
for violating the Quarantine laws OF the State. Mr.
medical talent In the country could be procured to
act rs Health Onicer for salary Of ST. 800 per an.
nun. aL which everybody tried 10 look grave. This
was about all Mr.. Pendergast had TO say though he
took an unconscionable time In saying 1.-THE
wheat In the heap OF chaH
MIR. Joseph K. Busk, q general commission mer-
cnant, had had a "dinlculty" or two al Quarantine
also. Several OF his vessels were detained there
when, IN his opinion they ought to have come Ill.
rect to the city. He considered this Injustice,
although the vessels were loaded at ports Injected
with yellow fever. Then
THE QUARANTINE PEOPLE
would not let ordinary lighters go near the ships;
they had them unloaded BY the New York Lghterage
anu Steveioring Company; this sort OF lnterfer-
ence with the business or Mr.. Busk's firm cost for
the season about ten thousand dollars; II would not
have cost quite as much to have the vessels sail
right up to the dock and unload; Mr.. Boyd said he
was sorry about the 10000, but glad that the health
and lives OF millions OF people had not been jeop-
ardized.
Captain Ed. Flnnerty, Deputy Port Warden and
captain OF the Quarantine steamer Fenton, was ex-
amined as to
WHAT HE KNEW ABOUT ABUSES.
He didn't know anything OF the sort, AMI was
allowed TO go on his way rejoicing. Then john
Decker testified; he got red In the face, anu Mr..
Johnson counsel for the Commissioners, got pale In
the lace over n question OF yeraclty. Mr., Decker
thought that the Quarantine grounds on the island
were sold too cheap, and Mr.. Johnson knew they
sold Tor what they were worth. Mr. Albergcr had
his say. and Mr. Judd, OF course, two says. The
wordy rumpus ended, as the whole investigation
seems likely TO end, IN smoke.