Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1885-05-13
the PLYMOUTH PLAGUE.
No Abatement Of the Fever at the
Stricken Town.
A DISTRESSING STATE OF AFFAIRS.
Over One Hundred Children Have
Been Left Orphans by ths
Plague.
THE STRICKEN PENNSYLVANIA TOWN.

WlLKEsBARRE, Pa, May l2.-The death
rate stll continues large at Plymouth. In
addition to three deaths yesterday, three
occurred last night and early this morning.
Two Of the victims were fathers Of large
families, and leave behind them sixteen
orphan children. The third victim was a
young school teacher.
It is safe TO estimate that there are already
over 100 children Left orphans BY the death
of their parents. A particularly sad case
is that of the family OF Chss. Stair. On
the first Of April Mr.. Stair moved his family
to Plymouth from this city. The third day
after his arrival he was stricken down with
the disease. He died on the 9th inst On
Sunday his wife died and was buried this
morning. The Eve orphan children are
now down with the disease.
Eckley B. Coke, the coal operator, has
given $500 to aid the sufferers. Two hun
dred dollars were forwarded from this city
this morning. The Relief Committee are
spending 500 day in relief. The mum.
Der OF destitute is increasing, and they will
have to increase their expenditures or
many will suffer. Eleven patients were
admitted to the new hospital this morn
ing.
Philadelphia Help.
PHILADELPHIA, May H. AT to-day 8
meeting of citizens for the relief of the suf'
ferers by the fever at Plymouth the police
surgeon detailed to visit the infected region
reported that he found the reports had not
been exaggerated. In some instances he
found for or FIVE persons i'll in one house,
with three or four in one room, and in other
instances two or three dead persons in the
same house. The only school house in
the borough had been turned into
a hospital. Many young physicians
have offered their services. A telegram
was forwarded to the relief committee Of
Plymouth directing them to draw on the
Philadelphia committee for $1,000. Miss
Alice Fisher, the head of the training school
for nurses at the Philadelphia Hospital, has
gone to Plymouth. In many cases the
father or mother of a large family Of chill
dren have died. He heard Of q case in
which the father and mother were both
down with the fever and were being nursei
by a l4,year old boy, who was also caring
for small babe. DR.. Shenespeare, who
also went to investigate the disease, said
that unless disafectsnts are freely used the
disease will spread and will not be wiped
out this summer. The Chairman of the
Philadelphia Relief Committee stated thai
$1,000 Of the Sl,7OO contributed for the re
lief Of the Ohio food sufferers had been
placed at the disposal Of Inc committee and
would be used to aid Sufferers.
Two Deaths.
WILEESBARRE, Pa May l2.-Two death:
have occurred at Plymouth since last
night. Reports from there this eve
nipg are that no new cases are announced.
The hospital was opened this afternoon
and ambulences were seen in all parts oi
the town gathering up destitute patients.
Citizens lave made q demand upon the
borough Council to forthwith
have the town thoroughly cleaned.
In event Of the failure of Council to do this
within the next two days an appeal will be
made to the Judge OF the court to compel
them to proceed with the enforcement ofsuch
sanitary regulations as the present emergen,
cy demands. The water company have
been notified to supply the borough with
pure water and not to pump water from the
Susquehanna river.