American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1875-12-04

anu OnductI paints anew MS age
As IL some Pantheon's marbles broke
Their stony trance, and lived and spoke,
Life thrills around the allowed hall,
The lords Of thought await our call!
A ROMANCE OF THE OLD HULK.
Founded ON Fact.
FROM the time of the Quarantine riots,
when the hospital buildings on Staten
Island were destroyed by fire, to that of
the erection of houses on made land in
the lower bay for the reception of cases
of contagious fevers, the old steamer Hill
nois, stripped of masts and spars, lay
rocking below the Narrows, the only hos
pital where patients from infected vessels
were admitted. This floating pest-house,
with yellow flag waving at its stern,
was anchored within sight of the south
eastern shore of Staten Island. 1t was re-
garded with curiosity and dread by excur-
sionists up and down the bay AID with a
horrible interest by those on board vessels
though christened at one time the 60 Flor
ence Nightingale, !" it was usually known
by officers of the Quarantine service and
mariners of the harbor as the Old Hulk
This dreary-looking black hulk, anchored
in. an unfrequented spot in the bay, was
really a comfortable and capacious hospi-
tai, quite as agreeable to those transferred
from ships and accustomed to their mo-
ton a. would have been accommodations
ON land With machinery and state
rooms removed, the long cabin was en-
larged and fitted up as the main ward,
while the upper saloon was partitioned
into apartments for the use of the physi-
clan, assistants and nurses. At the period
our story opens every cot in the fever
ward Of the Old Hulk was flied with
young men-the flower of our land
smitten with yellow fever in its most fatal
form. During the past three years ample
accommodations for patients with infec-
tious fevers have been made and the Old
Hulk is now used only as a reception
place, where patients are examined and
from thence removed to the island hos
pitfalls.
In the summer of 1868, when DIR. Swim
burne was Health Officer of this port, he
resided in q cottage on Staten Island, in
the Enclosure so long known as 'sQuaran-
tine grounds, and distinguished by the
remains Of the stone wall which formerly
bounded the hospital buildings. Below
this officers residence were the houses of
his deputies, Drs. M and R, the
cottage of the latter being quite adjacent
To the long pier used exclusively for the
partment Small boats employed in board
ing vessels were moored to this dock, and
the little steam tug Fenton, familiar to
boatmen on the bay, was always waiting
here with steam up to convey the Health
Officers wherever duty called them. Yes
sells entering the port of New York are
obliged TO be quarantined in the Lower
Bay when there is contagion on board ;
otherwise they pass down to Staten Island,
where they are boarded and examined be-
fore proceeding to the city. Although
there was resident physician on the Old
Hulk, DIR. Swinburne or his deputies Wis
tied there daily, watching the patients
with anxious interest. Evening was the
time usually selected for these trips,
which were made in the Fenton, when
letters or packages for those confined in
the floating hospital were conveyed to
them.
The rules of quarantine are necessarily
very severe when the city is threatened
with an epidemic from fevers brought by
vessels from infected ports. Ship and
yellow fevers are more dreaded BY health
officials than other forms of contagion.
On vessels where these diseases are cpl
denies infection hangs about their corners
and crevices like verdigris ON an old copper
None but officers of the service are permit
ted to visit the sick, relatives and friends
never in any instance being allowed to
approach the hospital. This is trying
deprivation to those learning that kindred
are detained in the Lower Bay, isolated
completely, and stricken with a deadly
disease. 1t has required hearts of stone
in the officers in authority to deny petit
tons of wives, mothers and loving friends
who would gladly have risked their lives
for the privilege of nursing their be-
loved.
1t was a distressing season for the quar-
antine service when, in the June of 1868,
the Scholarship Saratoga entered the
Lower Bay with officers, fmidshipmen and
crew attacked by yellow fever. The sar
atoga had been on long cruise with ar
advanced class of midshipmen from
our Annapolis school, under Lieut..
Com Ralston, a young officer of bright
promise. With a lack of wisdom and
reckless disregard OF consequences unac
countable, the Saratoga made for Key
West in this season, when that place /
known to be unhealthy. While lying of
that port the Yellow Jack broke GU
among the crew. The ship was headet
for New York. On the passage severa
died, and when she anchored off the Oh
Hulk nearly every man On board was
victim to the terrible malady. The da
that the Saratoga reached the Lowe
Bay Lieut. Com. RalstOn, who had be
haved heroically throughout the ordeal
was attacked with violent symptoms of tn
fever. Among the patients on the OIL
Hulk there were none about whom s.
much interest centered as Edward RAJ
ston- Belonging to an excellent an
wealthy family residing on the banks G
the Hudson, an only son, and affianced u
young girl who was impatiently await
ing his return to fulfill their nuptials, thi
young man, in his twenty fifth year, ha
been the idol of his comrades, who's
hearts had been won by his manly COZ
duct, and who considered that if ever
young fellow had bright career befor
him il was Edward Ralston 1t was Xix
a death-blow to those already PROSTATE
when their commander was taken dow
with the fever Eighteen deaths occurre
next day, so unfavorable was the effect ,
this calamity. Young Ralston was place
in n room on the officers deck, ever
effort being made to conceal his illne.
from those sick. Vain endeavori for b
comrades missed his watchful attention
knowing that if he were able he would
at their bedside. The appalling truth fe
upon those in the fever ward. Physician
were untlring In their efforts 10 do all