The Wichita city eagle., 1879-07-31
INTERVIEW WITH A. J. KELLER


Mr.. A. j. Keller. of the Memphis
4cataachc, has reached Chicago and
has been interviewed by reporter OF
The Inter Ocean. The light he throws
upon the subject of yellow fever in the
South is very important and is well
worth careful periisal by our readers.
The question about yellow fever in
New Orleans is quite well settled BY
this interview as well as the living re-
port from Memphis about the colored
people rushing in for rations. Mr..
Keller says:
Il have been through an epidemic
every few years in the South since that
of New Orleans of 1853, but did not
care to risk it again. ! left Memphis
Monday
The reporter of the Inter- Ocean asked
him if he considered the fever epidemic
yet.
Said he: '.Dr. Porter, the head OF
the city government. says he will not
consider ii epidemic until the deaths
from this cause exceed all Others. So
far the deaths from this source have
been but a small per cent. of the regu-
lar weekly mortality"
How many people have left Mem
phis!'
about $4,000. On Sunday night
was figuring il up. and from all sources
up 10 thai time, about 26,0OO had left,
or about halt the population
''is il not the intention to cvacuate
the city,"
at is, or nearly so. | suppose that
10000 residents will eventually be left.
all of whom went through the epidemic
of 1873"
Where have the people mostly gone
to:''
TO Eastern Tennessee and Virginia
| 10 the high country, out of the maarial
district
do you consider the bayou the
cause of the tever!"
No: suppose il was brought in
lasl yeaisiroin New Orleans, and this
years attack is the result of the re-
mains of the infection. have had all
my theories dissipated. however by the
epidemic OF '7S, and the opinions used
TO hold do not value now
II understand there is no fever at
New Orlcans?'
Don't You believe il. Galveston
would not quarntine against her if thi,
was not the case. They have their own
agent there 10 report upon the condi-
,lon of things, on which the Governor
of Texas acts, without reference to the
reports OF the New Orleans Board of
Health
''Is the fever spreading as rapidly as
last year -
1T looks a though il would. What
trightcns people tins season is that the
disease has made its appearance a
month earlier than il did last year
Great precautions are being taken
though, and no doubt it will be better
managed. in view of last years expert
ence. The Memphis AID Charleston
road has been engaged to take all the
poor people from the city at 50 apiece.
When the government tents arrive
camps will be established in East Ten
nessee until the hot weather is over
''Will they need help from the out
side?"
Mr.. Langstall,, the head man of the
I!owards. told me he did not think
they should, and aid will not be called
for till The last minute. 4 number of
the leading business men of Memphis
gave liberally before they left. with in
sirnctions in some cases to draw on
them for more. business was never
better in Memphis than it has been for
the pas, year, and all the business men
have made money.
"A dispatch came north 10 the effect
tha! the negroes were rushing in from
The country 10 draw rations"
That comes from that man Reilly.
You can discount anything he says
He is the fellow that deserted the fever
boat last summer, and then came north
10 humbug the people by lecluring on
yellow fever. 1 here is no truth in IL -
Mr.. Keller viii remain for some
weeks in the city. In the meantime
the Acataache will be published in half
sheet form.