New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-11-14
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 cree
ton of houses on made land in the Lower
bay for the reception of cases of ntagious
tevers, the old steamer Illinois, stripped of
masts and spars, lay rocking below the
Narrows, the only hospital where patients
from infected vessels were admitted. This
floating pesthouse. with yellow flag way
ing at it's stern, was anchored within sight
Of the southeastern shore of Staten leland
1t was regarded with curisity and dread by
excursionists up and down the bay, and with
horrible interest by those on board vessels
plying tn and from Southern ports. AL
though christened at one time the Flor.
ence SSisltingale," it was usually known by
officers of the 0ual entine service and mar
liners of the barbor az lie Old Hulk This
dreary looking black hulk, anchored in an
unfrequented spot in the GAY, was really a
comfortable and capacious hospital, quite
as agre cable to those transferred from ships
and accustomed to their motion as would
have been accommodations on land. With
machinery and statesroOms removed, the
long cabin was enlarged and fitted up as
the main ward, while the upper saloon was
partltioned into apartments for the use of
the physician, assistants and nurses. At
the period our story opens every cot in the
young men-the flower of our land-smitten
with yellow fever in its most fatal form
During the past three years ample accom-
mOdations for patients with infectious fe.
vers 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 hospitals,
In the summer of 1868, when DR., Swim.
oui1e was health orfioer of this port, he
resided in Cottage on Staten Island, in
the inclosure 40 long known a. Quarantine
grounds and distinguished by the re.
mains Of the stone wall which formerly
bounded the hospital builkings. Below
this officers residence were the houses of
his deputies, Drs. NJ and R, the cot
tage OF the latter being quite adjacent to
the long pier used exclusively for the boats
of the quarantine department. Small boats
employed 10 boarding vessels were moored
to this dock, and the little steam-tug Fen
ton, familiar to boatmen on the bay, was
always waiting here, with steam up, to
convey the health officers wherever duty
called them. Vessels 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 ex-
anined before proceeding to the city. Al
though there was resident ply stefan on
the Old Hulk, DIR. Swinburne or his depu.
ties visited there daily, watching the pa
TENTS with anxious interest. Evening was
the time usually selected for these trips,
which were made in the Fenton, when let
ters or PACKAGE 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 vel
1.,xr 90 lvn La IN as
cials than other forms OF contagiOn. On
vessels where these diseases are epidemic,
infection hangs about their corners and
crevices like verdigris on an old copper. No
one but officers of the service are permitted
to visit the sick, relativea or friends never
in any instance being allowed to approach
the hospital. This is q trying deprivation
to those learning that kindred are detained
in the Lower Bay, isolated completely, and
stricken with q deadly disease. 1t has re-
quired hearts Of stone in the officers in au-
thOrity to deny petitions of wives, mothers,
and loving friends who would gladly have
risked their lives for the privilege Of nurs-
ing their beloved.
It was Q distressing season for the quar-
antine service, when, in the June of 1868,
the school-ship Ssratoga entered the Lower
Bay with officers, midshipmen and crew at
tackled by yellow fever. The Saratoga had
class of midshipmen from our Annapolis
school, under Lieutenant Commander
Ralston, young officer OF bright promise.
With lack Of wisdom and a reckless dis
regard Of consequences unaccOuntable, the
Saratoga made tor Key West in this season
when that place IL known to be unhealthy.
While lying off that port the Yellew JACK
broke out among the crew. The ship was
headed for New York. On the psssape
several died, and when she anchored of ths
Old Hulk nearly every man on board wa
. victim to the terrible malsdy. The .dsy
that the Saratoga reached the Lower Bsy.
Lieutenant Commander Ralston, who
bed behaved hsaro q through the
toms Of ,shs fever. !, Among the pAtients
on ,the Old Hulk there were none sbout
whom 90 much interest centred 8 EdVsrd
Ralstons belonging 70 ~ excsIlsnt ard
vselthy family residing on the banks Of the
Hals@, e ealy con, and afBanccd 10 4
yssng 6isi who IVES impatjsnsly awaisine
his rslsln tofulall their nuptials, this yoanS
man. In his wnty-ffth. year, lad bsen the
won BY his manly conduct, and who oonsid-