Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-09-11
THE REALTH OF THE ALLAN
TIC COAST PORTS.
Injurious Reports and Unfair Dis
cFimInatfOne-An Erroneous Press
Dispatch - RumOFs Concerning
FeFnandIna Denied.

Injurious Reports and Unfair Dis.
cFimInatfOne-An Erroneous Press
Dispatch RumOFs Concerning
FeFnandIna Denied.
Among the Associated Press dispatches
In the MORNING NEWS OF the 4th instant
was one from Philadelphia, to the effect
thar Danish bark had arrived at that port
with yellow fever on board, after having
stopped at st. Mary's. This dispatch hs:
occasioned considerable trouble, and given
rise to numerous reports concerning the
health of the Southern ports on the Atlantic
coast, which create a wrong and injurious
impression. During the week numerou:
inquiries have been received by DR.. j. T.
Mcfarland, our Health Officer, in reference
to the matter, and stating that 1t was cur
rently reported abroad that there was fever
in st. Mary's and neighbOring ports. DR..
Mcfarland at once wrote to the Mayor OF
st. Mary's for information, and received the
following response:
ST. MARY's, GA, September 5, 1882
Dr.. Mcfarland:
DEAR SIR-Your letter Of the 4th inst.
making inquiry as to the Danish bark Mar
cello, reported in the press dispatches as
having touched at st. Mary's, and shortly
after becoming infected with yellow fever,
losing seven OF her crew, Is all a mistake as
to this port, no such vessel having touched
here during the season. Our town is re-
markably healthy.
Very respectfully,
CHAs. HARDEE, NJ. D.,
Health Officer aud President Board of
Health.
He also addressed 8 communication to
the Health Officer at Philadelphia, and
SATURDAY. received the following:
PHILADELPHIA. September 2, 1882.
j. T. Mcfarland. N D., Health Officer:
DEAR SIR-Your esteemed favor of the
4th instant to hand in regard to bark Mar
cello from West Indies having stopped at
St. Mary's is newspaper mistake.
The bark Marcello cleared August
IL from st. Marc, HaYu, for Queens
town or Falmouth. Having lost half
of her crew by yellow fever, and also
the Captains wife, she put In at this port in
distress, and was received at our quarantine
for treatment, where she now is. No deaths
since her arrival. Iuclosed you have copy
of bill Of inquiry by Captain of the vessel,
and | congratulate you upon the healthy
reports in regard to ali the Georgia ports.
lCSpCCbAuliNy
JOHN E. ADDICKs,
Health officer.
1t appears then that instead OF st. Mary's,
Ca, the place at which this infected vessel
stopped was St. Marc, Hayti, and this err
ror in the telegraph has, we are informed,
done much harm to the town Of st. Mary's.
In such cases, where an error may be pro-
ductive of injury to the commerce of the
port, It would seem that particular care
should be taken. The mistake was not ty-
biographical error, IS DR.. Addicks imag-
ines, but is according to the dispatch
received. st. Marc, Hayti, and st.
Mary's, Ga, are very different localities,
and 1t will require time to correct the inju-
rious effect upon the latter. The letter
above given, however, covers all that we
can say IN the matter.
We would, in this connection, and In
view of the frequent publications in
Northern papers Of the extreme unhealtbi-
Dees of Charleston and Savannah, refer
to another matter of importance. It is
undenied that some of these publications
refused TO draw the color line in giving the
mortuary returns for Savannah and Charles
ton, Notwithstanding the fact that both
cities have large colored populations, and
the correct presentation OF the returns
would show that the ratio among the whites
is as low as in many Northern cities.
The injustice of this failure to specify
the difference in number of whites aud
blacks or colored, has resulted in the de
termination on the part of the health
authorities OF Savannah and Charleston
to furnish no such journals with any
official reports Of the mortality OF the cities
named. The following is a copy of a COM
muDicatiOn on the subject received by DIR.
Mcfarland Saturday from the City Regis
trar and Secretary Of the Charleston Board
OF Health, and will be read with Interest:
CHARLESTON, s. c., September, 1882.
J. Z. Mcfarland, d. d., Health Officer, Sa-
Uannat. Ga:
DEAR DOCToR-I beg to forward the fol-
lowing resolutions adopted st meeting
OF the Board of Health, held September 9th
ult.:
''Resolved, That in future the bills of NOR
tality Of the city Of Charleston be withheld
from the SGnjtGrla11, in consequence Of that
journals not publishing the full report
specifying difference In number OF white
and black.
"ReSoIUed, That should the editor OF the
SanttaraGn request to be supplied with the
weekly bills OF the health OF Charleston that
he be informed that the Board Of Health
cannot consent to furnish same while an In
com Dlete copy of same is published.
"ResOlUed, That > copy of tbs above reso-
lutions be forwarded to j. 7. Mcfarland,
VI. D., Health Officer, Savannah, Ca"
Very respectfully,
H. B. HoRLBECK, NJ. D.,
c. r. and Sec'Y.
These resolutions of the Charleston Board
OF Health were adopted subse quent to
letter addressed to DR.. Mcfarland by Dr..
Horlbeck, asking how they could meet and
put down the continued publications in
prints of the extreme unhealthiness of Sa-
vannah and Charleston. DR.. Mcfarland re-
piled to this letter, by stating that he had
declined giving the S0nitGrida and other
journals and papers any moriuarY report
unless they would draw he color line, and
advised the Charleston authorities to act
likewise. The resolutions adopted by the
Board OF Health Of that city are the result.
We are pleased to learn that the kiudliest
relations exist between the ports of Savan-
nah and Charleston, and that the authorities
are acting in perfect accord regarding
quarantine and other health matters.
The Sanitdridn referred to is published in
New York, and is edited by DIR. A. N. Bell,
who some two years ago was Inspector on
the South Atlantic Coast, under the
National Board of Health, but who was
subsequently removed. We do not wish to
attribute any motive or desire on the part
of the SdaitdriGn 10 misrepresent the
health Of these cities, but the EDITORS person
al knowledge of Savannah and Charleston
should satisfy MIN that great Injustice is
done us in presenting the number Of deaths
in either place without specifying whether
they are whites or blacks, thus creating an
impression in the minds of Northern readers
that is erroneous and unfair
ANOTHER REPORT DENIED.
A report was current in the city Saturday
that yellow fever was prevailing in Fernan
dina. DR.. Mcfarland promptly telegraphed
to the Mayor, and received, Saturday even
ing, the following positive denial:
FERNANDINA, FLA, September g. 500 p. NJ,
j. I. Mcfarland:
No truth in the report. Fernsndna has
never been more healthy than 1t is at present.
f. q. SUHIER, Acting Mayor.
The Commander
or the Famous" has returned. In his train
comes ships laden with the fruits of a thou