National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1879-07-31
A SENSATIONAL REPORT.
No Case OF Yellow Fever Found In
Washington.
Health Ohicer Townshend's Precautions
Refugees to DO overhauied aud Their
Effects Fumigated-Preparatio
for Caring for Fever Patients
II any Should Appear
Arrivals, sc.
A XelloM TeNer Cnnnrd.

The false reports, concerning the existence
of yellow fever in this city, mentioned in yes
terday's REPUBLICAN as being busily crcu.
lated by sensation. mongers, found their way
into print in the Post yesterday That paper
sought to alarm its readers by tho announce
ment that "toall appearances, we have now in
the city a case of yellow fever, which, though
ouly in light form, may be tho precursor of
something far more dangerous and violent"
The only grounds which could be discovered
yesterday upon which the report could be
based, was the fact that Colonel J. NJ.
Heating, editor of the Memphis appeal,
who arrived in the city Tuesday evening,
and Immediately resumed his journey to
New York, was suffering during his short stay
here with a mild attack of diarrh9a. Colonel
Morris, the gentleman reported by tho Post
to have the fever, is in perfect health and has
not boon i'll at all since his arrival from Mem
pills. The publication had the effect of send
ing many anxious inquircrs to tho health
office, and DIR. Townshcnd assured every one
that the report was without foundation and
there was no reason for alarm.
DIR. Townshcnd stated to a REPUBLICAN re-
porter that arrangements had been perfected,
so that If any person should be taken down
with the fever in this city. he would know it
Immediately, aud could provide for the proper
isolation and treatment of the patient. The
National Board of Health, through their agents
at Memphis, are kept informed of the move
ments of persons leaving the city, and DR..
Townsheud will be posted in regard TO all
parties coming TO this city. Colonel Casey
Young, of Memphis, has also arranged to have
all persons from Memphis coming to this city
report to him, and he will inform the Health
Officer. All refugees will be subjected to ex-
animation and their baggage aud effects
thoroughly disinfected.
DIR. Townsheud did not think the danger
any greater this year than IL was last year. If
the fever should appear here the conditions are
all favorable to its speedy extinction, as the
city was never, in any previous summer, in a
better sanitary condition, and the Health
officer has more money at his disposal this
year to deray the expenses that may be incur
red in taking sanitary precautions Last year
there were several suspicious cases. II q case
occurs DIR. Towushend intends to personally
look after it, so there will be no possibility of
tho disease spreading through carclessness.
| The arrangements are SO complete that u
chance patient would at once be isolated aud
provided with medical attendance, nurses and
| provisions. These preparations have been
| made simply as precautiOn. The District
Commissioners have conferred upon the Health
| Officer full power to act, and provided all
necessary means 10 carry out any prccauton-
! airy measure that may be deemed advisable.
Nearly every train from the South brings some
one from Memphis, but it is doubtless whether
any can come into the city with
out the knowledge of the Health
| Officer. In addition to his arrangement with
the National Board of Health aud Col. Young,
the police department and every hotel and
bonrding.house keeper have been enlisted in
the effort to keep the Health Officer informed of
all arrivals from the infected district.
DIR. Townshend yesterday morning visited q
woman with two children in the eastern part
of the city who arrived from Memphis last
Saturday on their way to Virginia. The woman
resided in the suburbs of Memphis, but left
some days ago She had certificate from the
| health authorities of Memphis til there was
10 danger to be apprehended. The police OF
the eighth precinct also notified the Health
| Officer of the presence of woman who had re.
Gently arrived from Memphis. UpOn invest.
| cation il was found that she had left on the
| 10th inst, had had her baggage thoroughly
disiniected, and received u clean bill of health
| SUSPICIOUS ARRIVALS INVESTIGATED.
| Last evening man named Patrick Har-
rington, accompanied by his wife and three
childr n, arrived at tho Baltimore and Ohio
depot, and Immediately report was put in
| circulation that they were refugees from
Memphis. Harrington started out in search
OF lodgings, but discovered that no one would
take him or his family in even for night
In vain lie cxpostulated aud coaxed but all
WIS VI uO avail. ne nhu family ana WAS
stranger; therefore he must be refugee.
Finally the wanderers were escorted to the
Seventh Precinct Station, aud word was sent
the Health Officer Of their arrival Har
rington, In conversation with Lieu
tenant Austin, stated that he and his
family had been living IN Savannah, Ga.
until about three weeks ago, when they de
cided to como north. He was as much afraid
of the fever as any one else, and seemed sur
prised when told The cause of his failure t
Secure lodgings. 1t was proven to the satslac
tion of every one that there was no grount
work upon which to build up II yellow feve
scare, and DR.. Townshend was notified &C
cordingly. He decided, however, to have
talk with the travellers this morning. The ex
: element from this report had hardly dice
away when another furry was created by tn
announcement that there was large party o
refugees at the st, James Hotel. Dr.Townshend
in company with several representatives Of tn
press, visited the hotel, and, upon consulting
the register, sure enough there was party o
seven who claimed as their residence New Or
leans, La. The male member of the party wa
inter viewed and 10! they had all been a
Rawlcy Springs, Va, since the 22d of June
and we're now on their way to Niagara Falls
Thus another rumor was settled, aud it is SAT
to say that no case Of yellow fever nor danger
Gus visitor from Memphis, Tenn is in Wash
ington this morning.