National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1879-12-23

feeling among residents of East Washington
regarding the appearance of cases of small
pox. Yesterday morning the business of the
Criminal court was suspended, owing to tho
breaking out of the disease among tho prison.
ors at the jail, and soon sensational reports
were spread, greatly exaggorating the extent
and danger of tho pestilence. Upon inquiry
of the health authorities IL was ascertained
that 80 far seven cases have been reported,
four Of which have been removed to the hos.
pital Tho other three have been isolated and
carefully guarded The cases are located
Ono on X street, between Eleventh and
Twelfth streets southeast one on Eleventh,
between NJ aud N streets southeast one on
Twelfth, between l. street and Pennsylvania
avenue southeast, and one between Twelfth
and Thirteenth and ID and + streets southeast.
Three cases havo occurred in the District Jail.
The first case which came to tho attention OF
the authorities was that of man In Provi-
denco Hospital who came from Staunton, Va.
He had been In tho institution six weeks
before the disease manifested itself, and 1t is
not known now IL originated The patient
was Immediately removed to the smallpox
hospital. The next case appeared in the
District jail II prisoner who had been con.
fined eight months and was within day of
serving out his time being attacked with tho
scourge. Tho man was Immediately trans
ferred to tho smallpox hospital. He Is tho
patient who escaped from the institution last
Friday morning, and was found wandering in
tho streets by the police.
Tho daughter of Mrs. Sylvester, indicted
for abortion, who has been allowed to remain
In Jail with her mother, 10 also sick with the
disease.
The Health Officer has taken active steps to
suppress the disease, aud says theru "a no
great cause for alarm. The most stringent
measure viii at once DO put In force. DIR.
Jownshend reported the facts to the District
Commissioners yesterday, and was instructed
to tako every means in his power to confine
tho disease to tho patients now infected, re-
gardless of expense.
THE CRIMINAL COURT ADJOURNED.
Yesterday morning, prior to the opening of
the Criminal court, the habituos OF the cham
ber were not slow 10 observe that something
outside the usual routine had occurred, and
the evidence was sufficient to show that no
session of the court would be held. The wit
messed supposed to be present were not on
hand, the prisoners dock was empty and the
assignment of cases posted for trial had been
withdrawn.
Desiring to create no excitement oraarm, IL
was thought best to suppress the real causes
for the sudden halt in criminal prosecutions
and when the court convened, tho District
Attorney announced that ho was not at all
able to proceed in any case that morning.
Justice Hagner, being conversant with the
circumstances. adjourned the court for the
day.
Much apprehension was felt lest the prison
ers brought out last Saturday to the Criminal
court to plead tho indictments against them
might have circulated the pest among the per-
sons congregated In tho chamber, and thereby
scattered tho disease throughout the city.
1t is not known at the present time whether
or not any of these dozen inmates of the Jail
have contracted the smallpox, but 1t is rea-
sonable to suppose that as some of them occu-
pied coils contiguous to those prisoners whose
hav anil leQnma a..
that they carried the infection in their clothes,
and ere many days cases will be reported in
localities where hitherto the disease was UNI
known to exist. Had tho judge or other
officials at the Courthouse entertained the
least intmation that the scourge had entered
The city prison not prisoner from within Its
walls would have been permitted to enter the
CITY Hail. As this could not be prevented,
the next step was to place check, II possible,
upon the contaglon, and with this object the
work of the court was suspended, How soon
Justice Hagner will resume his duties de-
ponds entirely upon tho disease and its sup
preston in the jail.
General John s. Croclser, the efficient warden
of tho Jail, is considerably exercised in mind
over tho appearance of the disease in the
prison. and between his humane desire to con
tribute to the better condition Of the sick and
at the same time keep inviolate his duties a.
official custodian of the prisoners of the Dis
trict, he is undecided what course to pursue
THE JAIL
Is provided with very scant hospital facilities
and is so constructed that contagious disease
can travel through 1t without interruption.
short distance away is the smallpox hospital
where all infectious diseases are taken ant
treated. This would be the proper place TO
the sick at the Jail, but Warden Croker dit
not wish to take the responsibility of trans
forring u prisoner from the Jail to that insti
tuition without consulting others better posted
than himself as to the propriety of his acts
Yesterday morning he had an interview will
Distrct-Attorncy Wells upon the subject
IIo stated that he had already assumed thu
responsibility in one case, aud last Sun
day afternoon transferred prisoner will
tho disease well defined to the District small
poX hospital, but as the contagion grew more
serious in its work and continued to increase
tho necessity would soon arise for the remova
of other prisoners that they might receive
proper medical treatment. 1t was also neces
sary to break 1t up in the Jail as soon as posi-
BILE, otherwise every prisoner was liable to In
oculation. He wished to obtain the advice o
the District Attorney as TO the liability he as
sumed in permitting tho transfer OF the prison
ers. District-Attorney Wells stated that di'
he occupy the wardens position he should no
hesitate q moment us to the course that la
would pursue. He would send every well-de
fined case and those manifesting symptoms o
tho disease to to the hospital with all possible
dispatch, and believed that the most human
and proper course TO pursue. Tho wardei
adopted this idea, and expressed his intention
on returning to the Jail, Of putting 1t at olc
into execution.
He is now about the only official cOnnectc'
with the prison that holds communication
WITH THE OUTSIDE WORLD.
The deputy warden and guards, through nc
cessity, have been compelled to come in con
tact with the prisoners aud inhalo tho at
mosphere of the prison proper, and 1t is no
deehed judicious that they should come ou
into the city, lest they might happen to as
sist in circulating tho disease IN this commu
nifty. The warden being differently situated
and not having boon in that part OF the prise
where tho disease prevails, is FREQ to come int
the city without the danger Of carrying germ
of tho loathsone scourge with him.
PRISONERS FOR ALBANY.
Another trouble has sprung up, and whic
requires precaution, and that is the fear tina
tho disease be scattered in other places an
carried into tho Albany penitentiary. Sewers
prisoners that Lad been convicted and Sol
fenced to Albany were to have been started o
I. tH,N t,,uIi tnIt lug nta,h