The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-10-12
pie who deliberately threw away a priceless
heritage, thereby consigning to the grave great
and glorious empire
THE CHOLERA IN SICILY.
Breaking Out Of the Disease In Palermo-A
Disgraceful Scene.

Breaking Out Of the Disease In Palermo-A
Disgraceful Scene.
Palermo Letter in New York Herald.
Early on the morning of Monday, Sept. 7, the
news spread all over Palermo that cholera had
made its appearance in the city. The municipal
authorities, accompanied by two doctors, at once
proceeded to the place where a fatal case was
said to have occurred and found that young
girl Of sixteen. had died of the disease after q
few hours illness On investigation it was
learned that the girl had attended mass on the
previous morning in apparently good health, and
was seized with vomiting and purging in the
course of the afternoon. No doctor was called
in to attend her. and she died that night 1t was
suggested by the authorities that post-mortem
examination should be made. but the doctors
declined to conduct one, owing to the risk Of
such an operation, there being every appearance
OF Asiatic cholera being the cause of death The
Gordon was established, round the premises
where the girl died so as TO prevent people who
had been in contact with her from going out and
spreading the disease
The case occurred in a court whose only en-
trance faces the harbor and opens on the Via
Borgo, which is one Of the principal business
thoroughfares of Palermo. Inside the court are
number OF dirty little novels tenanted by the
families OF sailors and workingmen. Standing
outside, on the Via Borgo, could see the So
called prisoners" guarded by the Gordon of SOL
diers who were stationed there night and day
Some OF these people seemed happy enough. but
the majority looked pale and wan. AS the SOL
dlers refused at first to let into the court it
was only after considerable difficulty that /
managed to get any information. 1t seems that
about eighty families lived in the court but as a
number of the men had gone to work at the
time (about A. NJ. when the Gordon was posted
they were not allowed in on their return and
were compelled to sleep out on the quay.
The municipal authorities supplied the poor
prisoners with food, giving them each half a
pound of bread and cheese for their breakfast
and three ounces of raw beef and quart of wine
at night The men employed in serving the
food were let in and out of the court as freely as
II there were no danger of their spreading the
disease, but there can be no doubt that the cases
which occurred in other parts of the city were
due to this carelessness on the part of the au-
thorities. The latter are also to blame for the
want of energy they displayed at the commence
ment of the outbreak of the disease and for their
lack of system as every other person seemed to
think he had a right to issue orders as he
pleased.
saw disgraceful scene few DAYS ago. A
small steamer and sailing vessel, the New
York, OF 600 tons, were chartered by the author
tiles for cholera hospitals and were moored
within the breakwater of the new port. A poor
woman, stricken down with cholera was dragged
along the street from her home to the place of
embarkatlon-a distance of about 800 yards-by
some men attached to the municipality, who
were accompanied by guards. She was scream
ing at the top of her voice, and, even had she
not fallen q victim to the disease, fright would
have killed her Such an exhibition could not
but have bad effect on such an excitable peo-
pie as the Sicilians are Fortunately, however,
no panic has yet taken place, but, on Sept. H. q
demonstration was made against the abrogation
ofduarantlne, and was successful.
Among the raDOrtqd that Of Mr.
Shiro, consular agent for the United States at
Carlni. His condition last night was alarming.
All the other cases were confined to the lower
classes.