Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-04-10

plsced them with those he brought Before
the second day il was found his nurses were
chiefly lot OF drunken roTdies picked up as-
sareItly st hap-hazard In Galveston, and
their treatment OF the sick was such that the
Mexican people, who had commenced TO ap-
preciate the advantages afforded by the hos
Pital, and we're beginning 10 avail themselves
OF lis comforts, became alarmed, and would
not permit their sick to be sent there The
result was thai, in building capable of &C.
commod atiDg 200 sicS, there we're never more
Than twenty-iour patients while the Marine
Hospital had charge of il, and during most
of that period there was an average of over
600 yellowt-eTer cases in the town. Instead
of taking charge of all the sick, as DR.. Muir
ray stated his willingness and ability TO do
on his arrival, as we'll as 10 supply ali needed
medicines, ne announced three or four days
sitter he came here that he could only attend
to and provide medicines Tor those In the
hospital, or about three per cent. of the people
under treatment. This was after his Calves
ton nurses had made the hospital place
of terror to the sick poor. On this !, as
mayor, wired the Surgeon General as per tele-
gram annexed, marked 3, and to which, 10
this day, have received no reply. Bat we
cav we could not rely on the Marine Hos
pital Department for any relief for our
stricken people, and we authorized the gov
etnor OF Texas TO state our case TO our fell
loW-couuirymen. Their noble response from
all quarters of the Union enabled the Relief
Committee 10 Eave, 80 not hesitate to cay,
hundreds OF lives, not alone from the jaws Of
the pestilence, but from the not less deadly
menace of hunger and starvation. These are
the simple facts in the case, and you can
gather from them the value OF the servics Of
the Marine Hospital Department TO the af-
aicted people OF Brownsville in their recent
trial.
Ques-How long was il after the declara-
ton of the epidemic before the Gordon was
completed?
Aus.-On the 29'h Of. July We declared
quarantine against MatamOras, Mexico. On
The 4th of August the disease was declared
epidemic in Brownsville. The Marine Hos
pital contingent arrived in Brownsville on
the 2Sh of August, and D.. Murray or
sanized his Gordon about the Sd of Septsm-
Der, thirty days after the disease had been
declared epidemic here.
Ques-Did the officials of the ID arine Hos
pital Service work IN any way antagonistic
TO, or IN opposition TO, the local health
authorities?
Aus.-From small beginnings, which were
overlooked because of the attention OF the
officials being epgrossed in caring for the
sick and destitute, Dr.. Murray gradually as
suned supreme and exclusive control in
quarantine matters. Citizens we're required
10 have bis passport 10 enable them TO leave
the country for Mexico, and were prohibited
coming back at all; no provision wss made
by aim Tor keeping persons in quarantine or
isolation he simply declared non intercourse
aud when the local authorities sought 10
amend the situation, he secuted their au-
thority, and threatened to bring United
States troops to sustain his pretensions.
Driven from this position, he practically
retired from the town, but continued to ex-
ercise despotic authority on the line Of his
Gordon.
Ques.-Was pecunisry aid given in any
way by the government, save in connection
with the Gordon?
Aus.-1n no way, saye as indicated ia my
answer TO your first question.
Ques.-What was Lhe nature of the aid
given to refugees within the Gordon lines?
State, pleess, If provisions, medicines, and
attention were given them.
Ans.-There were no refugees within the
liues Of Gordon esta blished by DR.. Murray.
A person desiring TO go outside the lime of
the Gordon proceeded on his journey the usual
way. Ii he met q Gordon guard he was in
formed he could not go further unless he re-
mAiued at one of two designated points
about thirty miles apart-for ten days. AT
each OF these two points house was provided,
but no provisions or auythiEg, but mere shel-
ter. So far AS | ean learn, about six persons
awaited themselves OF those provisions 10 get
through the Gordon during the entire period
OF its exis'eDce-say from September Sd 10
November OH.
Ques.-Plesses 81 ate, as near as possible, the
number Of people who were removed from
the city through the e. forts Of the au, horities;
also what disposition was made of them?
ADs.-No people we're removed from the
city by The Gordon authorities. Nearly all
the people who desired to leave town did SO
within week or two after tAe disease was
declared epidemic. Some of them went in
10 voluntary quarantine, in order TO pass into
other counties.
Ques.-After the expiration of tn. slotted
period of quarantine, were refugees ger
nniited to pass through the outer Gordon into
the State?
referred 10 IN my answer TO fifth question.
Ques.-Was contsgion carried to any othsr
cities by such refugees ss were released from
the Gordon quarantine?
Ans.-There is no record that the disease
was carried anywhere else from Brownsville,
by parties leaving this town, either before or
after the establishment of tn. Gordon. The
disease spread among the adj AGENT ranches
say within fourteen 10 fifteen miles-but was
rarely fatal among them.
Ques.-Who were appointed az Gordon
guards and oficials-Democrats or Republi-
cane? Do you think politics effected such
choice and appointments?
Aus Young men, principally OF Browns
vile, nearly all "Aosters" as regards politi-
cal faith at the time of appointment. l
don't think DR.. Murray hsd any view
OF their politics; but they were named
leader Of the Ocbiltree movement here-snd
the Gordon guards TO a man supported Ochil.
tree, the Republican candidate.
Ques-By what officers was the money for
The disbursement OF oldon distributed?
Ans.-Tbe guards are not yet paid. The
money, / understand, comes to the collector
of customs after receipted psy-rolIs are for
wsrded.
Ques.-Was there any just suspicion that
the funds were used for political ends? Ii
SO, what evidence Of it?
Aus.-As } this question you must co.,
clude from foregoing snswsrs. Republican
could pass tie Gordon guards with
little or no detention; Democratic enes could
not.
Ques.-Did the disease spread within the
two lines of Gordon in the camps to any eI-
tent?
Aus.-Qusstion not clearly understood.
There were no camps, except that Of the
troops from Fort Brown. There was for
time line of Gordon guards on the river, TO
prevent people crossing from Mexico. Those
we're withdrawn about October 3ist, and
placed on the line of the Arroyo Colorado,
about thirty miles north of Brownsville
There was another line of Gordon 40 miles
north of the Arroyo Colorado. / have heard
# very little disease between or beyond
hose lines-not over a dozen cases.
Ques.-Did the establishment of the cor
don remove the expense OF quarantine
against Brownsville by other cities, or did it
reduce such expense?
Aus.-Not dollar. II had no effect what
ever.
Ques.-Whst is your opinion OF the efiei-
sncy of the Gordon?
Ans-The line guarded in this country
" as in all about severity miles long, and there
we're twenty. eight guards on it. Most of them
knew nothing OF the topography OF the
country. From this fact you can Judge
If Its efficiency in preventing parties passing
beyond it. Only the few people-the half
dozen before referred to-who we're we'll
known, and could not conceal their identity
Dr. whence they came, when beyond the lines,
roubled themselves about the Gordon in
passing out.
Quea-Do you think that its establi.h-
nent was vice?
Ans-No; the money it cost could have
been more usefully applied.
Qaes.-Do you think that the effects of the
GORDON had anything to do with the stamp
ing out of the fever?
Ans-In my opinion, and from close OBJ
'ervation OF its working, not even in re-
mote degree.
Ques.-Do you think that, without the
GORDON and its influence, the plague Of yell
ow-fever would have been any more severe?
Aus.-It had no effect in yellow fever