The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1876-07-03

From tho tinO Of tho Quarantine
: riots, when the hospital buildings OIL
Staten Island were destroyed by fire,
to tint Of tho erection OF houses on
made. .laud III tho lower bay for the re.
ceptiou OF eases Of contagious fevers, the
old gsteamer Illinois, stripped Of masts
aud spurs, lay rocking below tho mar.
rows, the only hospital where patients
from infected vessels were admitted.
This floating pest house, with n yellow
ilng waving at its stern, was anchored
within sight OF the southeastern shore OF
Staten Island. It was regarded with
curiosity and DR., nd by excursionists up
.nnd down tho bay, and with horrible
interest by those on board vessels ply
ing to and from Southern ports. Al.
though christened at one tins the
S ~ Florence Nightingale, ut was usually
Z. known by officers Of the quarantine Scr
vice and mariners OF the harbor ms the
Z Old Hulk. This dreary looking black
khulk, anchored in an unirequcnted spot
in the bay, was really comfortable and
caraciouS hospital, quite rs agreeable to
Those transferred from chips and accus-
toned to their motion rs would have
rbeen accommodations on land. With
. machinery and staterooms removed, the
long cabiu was enlarged and fitted up
as the min ward, while the upper
saio N was partitioned into apartments
for this uso OF the physician, assistants,
and nurses. At tho period our story
, opens every cot in tho fever ward OF thu
y NiJ Hull, ,,nS Ella1 With ynnpp WAN
the flower Of our land-smitten with yel-
low fever in its most fatal form. Dur
ling tho past three years ample accom-
mO,iations for patients have been made,
aud the Old Hulk is now used only as q
reception place, where patients are ex-
amined, and from thence removed to
tho island hospitals.
In the summer OF 1868, when DR..
Swinburne was health officer Of this
port, he resided in cottage on Staten
Island, in the inclosuro.so long known ms
"Quarantine grounds" aud distinguish.
..ed by the remains Of tho stone wall
which formerly bounded the hospital
buildings. Below this officers residence
were the houses Of his deputies, Drs. NJ.
and r., the cottage Of the latter being
quito adjacent to tho long pier used e1-
clusively for the boats in the service Of
the quarantine department. Small
boats employed in boarding vessels
were moored to this dock, and the little
steam tug Fenton, familiar to boatmen
on tho bay, was always waiting here,
with steam up, TO convey tho health
officers wherever duty called them.
Vessels entering the port OF New York
arc 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 before proceeding to the
city. Although there was resident
physician OIL tho Old Hulk, DR.. Swim.
burne or his deputies visited there
laily, watching the patients withanIious
interest. Evening was the time usually
;eelected for. these trips, which were
y made in the Fenton, when letters or
j packages for those confined in the float
ing hospital werO conveyed to them.
Tho rules Of quarantine are necessa-
rily very severe when tho city is threat.
oned with M epidemic from fcvers
Drought ny NcsSelh lIUul lulcCteu puEtbs
Ship and yellow ievers are moro dreaded
by health officials than other forms OF
contnpion. Ga vessels where these dis
eases arc epidemic, infection hangs
about their corners aud crevices like
vcrdigris on m old copper. No ono but
officers Of the service arc permitted to
visit tho sick, relatives or friends never
in any instance being allowed to ap-
y proach the hospital. This is trying
deprivation 10 those learning that kin
drcd aro detained in tho lower bay, iso-
lated completely, and stricken with n
deadly disease. 1t has required hearts
OF stone in the officers in authority 10
deny petitions OF wives, mothers, and
loving friends who would gladly have
risked their lives for tho privilege OF
nursing their beloved.
II was distressing season for the
quarantine service. when, in the June
q 1868, tho sehoolShip Saratoga en-
tered the slower bay with officers, mid
shipmen aud crow attacked by yellow
fever. Tue Saratoga Ind been OF a long
cruise with an advanced class OF mid.
shipmen from our Annapolis school, un.
der Lieut.. Commander Ralston, a young
officer OF bright promise. With q lack
Of wisdom and a reckless disregard ot
...,..nnuokn tta thn Hnra.