The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-05-05
PESTILENCE IN A WAR SHIP.
YELLOW FEVER IN THE ROTTEN TIM
BERS or THE PLYMOUTH.
Breaking Out Mt seq aner n winter In n High
LstItude-Capt. Bnrrett Charges II 10 Dry
Rot-rhs Plight In which the u. n. Navy is.

Breaking Out Mt Sen amer Winter In n High
Latitude-Capt. Bnrrett Charges n TO Dry
Rot-Ths Plight In which the u. ~. Navyis.
A short time ago the United States ship
Plymouth. which had been all the winter at the
navy yard at Charlestown. started upon cruise
but before she had been Mt sea many days yellow
fever broke out. Tho ship was put about. and
ls now at Portsmouth. The appearance Of yell
low fever while the vessel was Mt sea is. in
view OF all the circumstances regarded rs 80
serious a matter that an investigation will bo
begun shortly. which will seek to discover the
cause. Tho Plymouth has had yellow fover
aboard before. but in order to kill any germs
that may have remained In her. she was sub
jected to the coldest weather Of last winter with
her port holes and hatches open. 1t was be-
lieved that 1t was impossible for any germs
to remain after tho severe exposure. II be-
came apparent. thcn. either that the freezing
process is not absolutely efficaclous. or that
the entire ship was not exposed to tho low tenn
perature. II hns been reported that two or
three OF tho crew staid aboard all winter, and
kept fire in a small stove. II this is 80. then.
in the Opinion Of naval o[Ncess whs-hase given
tho subject much thought. there might as well
have been no effort TO kill the germs DR..
Somerset Robinson surgeon OF the Minnesota.
now at the BROOKLYN Navy Yard. and formerly
with the Plymouth. has given the subject Of
yellow fever much attention. lie said recently
thut the outbreak OF the fever at this time on
| board the Plymouth was matter that ought to
| be very thoroughly investigated. Such thing
| as the appearance OF the fever among tho crew.
| at sea. on a cruise from Northern port and
| after an entire winters absence was remark
| able Tho Plymouth was n clean ship. and the
cases OF yellow fever that had occurred aboard
| not become epidemic Still the germs must
| lave got into the wood and have remained
there during all the winter. ready TO dissem-
| mate rs soon as the ship struck warm latitude.
Il do not think that Nth is the cause OF vel:
low fever" added Surgeon Robinson. for !
have been in cities in tho low lattudes OF
China. where the filth that collects In the streets
is something you have no idea OF here. and yet
| yellow fever II unknown there. II bad sewer
age. exposed cesspools, and decaying animal
| and vegetable matter cause yellow fever IN low
iaiitudcs. II should appear in the Chineeo cities.
don't know but the gases thrown of by large
manufactures Is n preventive OF the germina-
ton. or that pavements cheek H. III the theory
true then certainly the poisonous germ. II It is
germ. comes from tho earth; In the case OF
cause. whatever It is, was in tho ship. perhaps
the soft spongy decay caused by dry rot. | re-
member that there WAS case when wo were on
key West. while Capt. Barrett was in command.
and by his orders we moved the anchorage out.
and there was no further trouble"
| Is Capt Barrett 10 command nowY
No, but he is in New York. on leave OF alb
Capt. Barrett was found at 70 William street
and when asked whether he had any opinion
in regard to tho cause Of the appearanee OF the
Il joined the Plymouth at Norfolk in Novem-
Der. 1875 where she was being put IN repair.
for Port-au-Prince. and were sent there to pro-
tect the American citizens during the ,revolu-
niauo and tho election Of Canale. We re-
| mained there and about there several weeks;
the effect Of il on the crew. They were lisess
and nonchalant, although prompt IN ooeyrrn,g r,,
| effa UNA M / mnvad nnplOraHA
mnica boating 70 windwarS 70 within about 100 100
The Plymouth was then and has been
were perfectly clean and sweet On her return
TO Port Royal she was. under the advice Of Ad-
TS The short Se SSs' %e Se we're here had
wonderfully beneficial effect on the men.
delphia She remained, there until the close
81 the Exhibition, and then went 10 Nor
| folk Thence she WAS ordered TO Pensacola,
New Orleans aud up the Mississippi to Vicks
| burg. Her sanitary condition then was perfect;
Vera Cruz At this place. in June. noticed the
effect OF the climate on the crew. and 10 pre-
vent sickness got under way again. We ex-
perienced "a heavy norther which cooled the air
and improved the mons condition. We were
then ordered north; In 1877. we were sent 70
ST Thomas Porto Rico, Hayt Aspnwall, and
Havana. While Mt 81. Thomas one Of the crew
was taken down with SYMPTOMS Of yellow fever
at Port -nu, Plato. and this man was sent ashore
also. On our way 10 Aspnwall a midshipman
who was stricken with typhoid fever was sent
NORTH At Havana. another officer was sent
north Tho officers complained OF head
ache and general languor during the cruise.
frigate in which yellow fever prevailed. the
Plymouth was healthy and this l attribute to
tho use OF pure water bought on shore Tor
cleaning and washing purposes. instead Of the
staInant water Of the harbor.
What DO S you Ptn,b Pt!Tl1"tGb tho appearance OF
In my opinion i is due to the dry rot
which has appeared In several parts of the ship,
at tlmeo In Indian climate. intense. In dry
climate the dry rot would cause the wood 10
, crumbe when pressed between the fingers. but
in damp climate II becomes spongy and
, absorbs the foul air OF the ship which is gen
! hatchweys. Though the Plymouth is better ven
tilated than other vessels OF her CLASS, yet the
su NOT ss s poEb bspbt 9re Ss
, wv left the Plymouth in February, 1878 and
, was transferred to tho hospital at Norfolk on
account Of ness. have learned that two mid.
shipmen and several men died in the latter part
West Indies. This was on the cruise before the
last one when yellow ieyer again broke out"
G Yes, with properly built ships there can be
no trouble; such ships as are detailed in the
y{ for bsG%ssOps IN Se M f5
I ports which can be caulked at sea. and with
smaller air ports In the center 70 open and shut
deck. Then there should be rotation in the
!. duties OF the squadrons that is. divide thC
; cruise 80 that a vessel will be ono year In the
West Indies and on our coast, ono year in ths
| Mediterranean. and ono year In the South
i Amorca and Pacific stations There should
be bath tubs on the berth deck. SO that the mer
: | mood not have to wash on the spar deck In al
weather; a change in tho issuing OF rations
| which are not so good now as they were thirty
years ago Salt pork and beans three times
week are hardly food for men In hot climates
Too little thought has been given to JACKIE
n | stomach nor can say that officer messes have
improved. | have not tho least dOuh tho do
partment would cause an investigation into thii
4 subject IL properly recommended to do it,"
A What IL the present condition OF the navy
= CaptainT ,., =,
a | rules OF the blue book, which. you know, con
a tains the regulations by which we are guided il
our official duties"
: TO THE EDITOR OF THE SuN-Sir: A private
o. | letter received from the United States shiI
: Plymouth, Mt Portsmouth. N H.. says that thu
! ships deck Ia 80 rotton that after heavy raiI
a the water soaks through upon tho berth deck
Y The timbers of the hull are In many places st
n rotten as to admit OF the insertion Of cast
knife.
), The crew are still using their bedding whicl
Il was attempted TO disufect at the Boston Nav
:, Yard by exposlng TO the frosty mir. The trutl