Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1881-07-26
VICKSBURG REMARKS.
Vigorous Expressions ON DIR. Ri.
ley and Others.

Commercial, 25.l
Our citizens were greatly shocked
and disgusted when the contents OF
the following telegraph dispatch be
came known:
MEMPHIS, July %.
DR.. Rice, Vicksburg:
PLEASE forward this to Ashe: BY
order of the Executive Committee in
Washington the Vicksburg inspeo-
tion station is suspended. Make no
more inspections.
"RILEY."
Thus without a word of warning or
notification to the authorities of
Vicksburg, in mid summer, the period
at which the greatest precaution
against epidemic diseases should be
taken, not only this city, but the entire
country lying between New Orleans
and Memphis is ruthlessly and cause
lessly exposed to the horrors of an
other yellow fever scOurge. The
"Ashe" referred to is DR.. Ashe,
the young gentleman recently as
signed to the Quarantine Station
below this city, and we presume
that the order of DR.. Riley,
the National Beard of Health, the
Executive Committee" or whoever
is responsible for this wonderful spec
linen of ignorance, folly and crime,
has already been placed in his posses
sion. While there are some very in
telligent and capable physicians serv-
ing on the National Board of Health,
the organization as a whole hardly
rises to the dead level of absolute
contempt, and some of dts agencies
deserve only execration. But that
body representing the government of
the United States should be guilty of
committing such an outrage, passeth
all comprehension, and when Presi
dent Garfield is able to return to duty,
we hope his first act will be the entire
reorganization of the Board of Health.
Men who have so little sense of
propriety, and such slender knowledge
of the wants of the country at this
moment, can serve the public best as
bootblacks or billiard markers. We
trust that the mayor of this city, and
the Governor Of Mississippi will make
themselves heard by these wonderful
doctors of the Board of Health at
Washington, and heard in no uncer
tain manner. The outrage demands
to be atOned for, and this without ref
erence to the danger to which our
people have been suddenly and reck-
lesly exposed.
We have an idea that the people Of
this section are indebted to one DR.
Frank Riley, the o-called Inspector"
of the National Board Of Health in
this region, for the outrage and insult
wantOnly thrust upon them. The
Mayor and the Health Officer of the
city recently telegraghed DR.. Riley
asking him to come here to confer
with them. Instead o stopping at the
city, where he could have met the
gentlemen referred to, he deliberately
passed on to the quarantine station
and after remaining a brief period
took steamer and returned to Mem
phisl
We suppose this worthless and dis
reputable hummer felt his dignity
sighted because Mayor Birchett and
DR.. Ballour failed to follow him TO
the quarantine station, and so deter
mined to wreak his vengeance on the
whole community. We tell the men,
bers of the National Board of Health
that they cannot afford to keep such
fellow as this DR.. Frank Riley in their
service, and if he is not dismissed
there will be an investigation by the
next Congress which may cause sew
eral changes. Notoriously lacking in
yeracity and integrity, DR.. Frank
Riley is not a fit representative Of any
gentleman.
The people of Vieksburg, where