Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1879-06-13
The Newark Horror.


THEORY FAR FETCHED AND THE CARCASS
THEORY USTENABLE-A FILTHY FAMILY
WHOSE CHILDREN WENT 10 SCHOOL, AND
THE UNsANITAEY CONDITION OF THE
SCHOOL HOUSE TIE PROBABLE CAUSE.
Capt. Blake, editor of the Barton Monitor,
visitedthe afflicted ncighborhood in Newark
and made common sense investigation of
the circumstances attending the sad fatality
there, In company with one of the physi-
clans. He makes the only full report that
has yet been given TO the public, and we
quote all the material points. In the first
place he speaks of the disease as diphtheria,
and goes on to say:
The severity of the disease caused the par
ents to summon physicians at once, among
whom were Drs, Carpenter, Davis and
Moody of Burne Carter of Wheelcck, and
others each of whom has had much expert
ence in the treatment of diphthcria Prompt
measures were ut once taken to afford relief,
and in most instances. where the disease had
not advanced to the formation of mem
brane in the throat relief was afforded; but
in other cases, when the system had absorb
ed the diphtheria poison, medicine had no
effect; the patient turned purple. and black,
and died in few hours, the body becoming
putrid before it was cold. Besides those who
attended the school. other children in the
families fell sick in a few days, some in "a
few hours after being exposed to the con-
tagion of the disease Several adults who
waited upon them were taken sick immedi-
atcly, and have been in dangerous condi-
ton, though none appeared to he attacked rs
severely rs the school children.
L /. i
deep down between high hills, where several
small streams unite TO form one of the branch
Is of the Passumpsic river, and the school
house where the scholars attended school
stands under a steep hill just at the edge, or
partly within the highway. 1t is one of
those old, mrsty, unti,ly, unpleasant houses,
the like of which may be- found in far too
many places all about the country. Ii was
built on the lower side of the road on ground
that is wet in the Spring and the front side
is now so low that water in the Spring of the |
year runs into the door, in quite large guam
titles, and falls INTO the pit under the house,
through large crack under the partition
that separates the sled and entry Part from
the school-ronm. The house is now banked
up on all sides, the dirt averaging one foot
above the stills, with no sort OF ventilation
under the house except quite q large crack
in the floor. The dirt with which the house
is banked was sloycllrd up close around the
house, and the pits out Of which it was dug
ARE now partially filed with the most filthy
water. The schoOl-house was washed" af-
ter fashion, some days before the COM
mencement Of school. and then tightly closed |
until school was opened The prvy is most
conveniently situated. standing about twelve
feet from the front door OF the house 1t is
well ventilated, however rs 1t stands On
blocks So hlSh, That The clliZtns can thorough
~ inspect 1t every TIM" they - past AMI see
for themselves wh'th'r 1t is 'lnssri, either
above or pehe'uh ihe h"Hr. Inc Farmers
usually draw i"daWay from every srrlhS, |
hut nave MOI I"hr 81 lnls year IL looks as |
lhoush u H'lsn' /" Su''tA VI hiu'h 'iiS''hiri'
past AMI present running hihhG siue the
road ami JUST IN me rear oil the house is |
small brook, now lAr"r enough To I'LL 4 spout |
one 1901 wlhe ana l"tf inches d'ep- y lew |
rods ABOVE llle nous r' reg" CROSSES 'he |
pfooh anu runs up H''' mn an"'il nite'h
rods 10 inc ,arih ,'lll''iisS al j. H. heht!-
Near inc nrlngr tue cili''ieh nave oeei ae-
customer 10 R't "aier i"r uTihhihH pur-
poses anu IL was snr'iiseu III once tIit tilere
WAS poison Ill tue "a'tr- Investigation
shows thai II not poisoned inc water was
al the one II was t'rihh NOT Wlr m, or
clean MT, 1hchey lafhs arc huiit IN asas
IN Inc slue NIL tlai al inns season "l tie year
IS wet the water now wofhlnS !ul unIer
ana below llfn IN quih'ilies s'i,ncleht 10 pe
vlsloif aIlTl "a tle nthA' nhe hi,','I I
away. IN Iho '.,'n ,'hl'r ''ie iu'''' "aa'ii'g
up Inc MI PAST lhc paiiis si',ili stream III
water Is now running ih'' IS 'l'li'e reu' e'tiier
from nozlns through manure "r MI rom ocIre
or other hiiherai substance; ihls wafer
reached me hrooh ABOVE inc pfiisc' lnore
j. noihiils anhul lhp YARNS 'f hluse ol VT
lhehey lhhl SHOWS my AlsHs ui Slufcn
Illness: In the tarhyard, however water ID
standing IN inc low pace IN inc middle mo