The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-08-18
DIR. THORNTON REPORTS
REFUGEES HAD BETTER GIVE TEN
NEssEE A WIDE BERTH.
Heavy Penalties for Ignoring the State
Quarantine Restrictions - Inspector
Perry's Find-Railroad Employees Co
operating--A Denial.

ySotOiuty' Ills ulbSlOu W tlldl CITY WIS W
attend a meeting OF the State board of
health, called TO meet the exigencies Of
the yellow fever prevalence in Florida. A
report of the boards action, establishing
quarantine at Cleveland, Chattanooga,
Milan, Jackson and Memphis, appeared in
THE APPEAL yesterday.
A reporter was present when DR.. Thorn
ton made his report to President Haddon.
1t was, in substance, that guarantees at
the points named was at his request, as
he wrote the order himself Other points
than those enumerated could be added
when necessary, Us could also the places
quarantined against. To his mind, the
greatest danger Of infection through refu-
gees and their effects existed at Atlanta,
where any and all were received with open
arms. Being nearest 10 Jacksonville,
it was reasonable TO suppose there were
hundreds OF people taking advantage OF
the harbor. Should the fever appear in
that city, no time would be lost in adding
it to the list of points from which people
or goods could not enter Memphis. The
State board members felt no great alarm
over the situation, but he learned that
strong and deep anxiety existed at Cleve-
land, where the first change of cars from
Jacksonville occurs. The application OF
the State quarantine law carries with IL
the usual heavy penalties OF $500 fine
and imprisonment in the county jail.
Power to impose these penalties is lodged
in either Dr. Thornton or President Had
| den, and refugees may bear in mind that
/ ,,stth Ia
spectors for the State board were con-
templatcd, and DR.. Thornton named DR..
| Peter Il. Ford. Gov. Taylor promised To
provide the sinews OF war for these pre-
Cautionary measures, question which
troubled the board greatly ior awhile.
When the doctor had conclu,Sl his re-
port President lladden remarked that he
was glad this action was taken. II would
have the effect Of showing the importance
OF remaining alive 10 such exigencies as
now exist. Tho Legislature would no
doubt in future amply provide for them.
Dr. Thornton then submitted his report
from railroad inspectors. Only one con-
tanned anything important IL came from
! Officer Perry, who guards the Memphis X
| Charleston road, and was TO this effect:
On the train which arrived at o'clock
yesterday morning the inspector found a
man named j, s. Alexander and wife.
They held tickets from Jacksonville 10
Memphis. The refugees stated that they
were bound for the homo OF relatives 8,
somewhere near Bartlett, IN reach which
they had 10 take a Louisville & Nashville
train. That was their only object in COM
ing 10 Memphis, and they merely intended
| 10 pass through a. hurriedly n pos
sible. Mr.. Perry's first inclination
was to put them OF at Moscow,
but on second thought they were
permitted TO proceed as far rs
Germantown, from which point they could
| 90 through the country 20 Bartlett. To
this the parties made no objection, and
when Germantown was reached they left the
train. Dr. Thornton instructed Mr.. Perry
| 10 furnish the police with an accurate de-
scription Of Mr.. Alexander and wife, and
In the event OF their appearance in Mem
| phis before the danger period Is passed
they will bo arrested.
"Ill tell you, the railroad conductors
and baggagemen should be highly eulo-
gizcl for their earnest cooperation with
US in keeping refugees out OF Memphis, +"
said Inspector Pat Mahan 20 an APPEAL
reporter yesterday afternoon. Mr.. Mahan
looks after the Mississippi 4 Tennessee
road. With him was Mr. r. l.. Tidwtll,
who inspccts trains on tho Mississippi
4 Tennessee railroad aud hc heartily
echoed the sentiments Of his com
panion. Said Mr. 1idwcll, M he ex
Inhibited letter from General Mana
ger Jas. NJ. Edwards 20 the conductors
ON his road, instructing them 10 render
every assistance and courtesy possible
10 the Inspector "Whcn Mr.. Edwards
gave me that letter ho remarked, Il want
You 10 report every case OF failure on their
part will hold them responsible for IL.
We don't want any fever here. Mr..
l Mahan said that while ho had no letter,
he yet had ample assurance that cunduc-
tons and bagagcmcn understood what
was required OF them, and chccnnlly rc-
spOnded. lie never received morc hearty
corporation from men In any undertake
ing.
Reports from inspectors on the other
roads arr equally gratifying. aud this fact
will serve 10 reassuro the citizens that
nothing short OF an unavoidable accident
will enable any refugee from the infected
districts TO enter Memphis.
The following correspondence requires
no explanatory Introduction:
| To the Editor Of The Appeal
/ sfNhalAN AtiN alhAAt w NUuI IiAlitI VI illlN
morning, signed II. II. Ililliard, In regard
TO an engineer on the Memphis Il Charles
ton railroad spreading report OF yellow
fever being Ia Memphis, will aay that Mr..
| Il. &. Franklin was engineer on the train
referred to, and upon his return 30 Mem
phis had him report 10 me for the pur-
/ pose Of explaining the matter, and he ns-
scr,s most positively that the whole thing
| IL AN abaoluto falsahOol and dusiraa thar
you will publish his statement herewith
attached. ! am satisfied Mr. Franklin is
not the author Of any such report. Yours
truly. r. u. PEoRAN,
Superintendent
Memphis, Tenn, Aug. II, lSSS.
| To the Editor Of The Appeal
In regard 10 the statement OF II. II. Hill
lard, which appears In TuE MEMPHIS Ar.
rEAL Of this date, | will say that | was tho
engineer OF the passenger tmin on the
Memphis 4 Charleston railroad, which
left here ON the morning Of the 18th Of
August, and ] had no conversation with
anybody at Middleton, which IA the juno
ton point OF the Memphis 4 Charleston
railroad and the Ripley railroad, and was
occupied with my engine during the stop
there. did not even sec the engineer OF
the Ripley road. much lees speak TO him,
and state positively that tho statement
that | Said there were thirteen cases Of vel.
low foyer in Memphis "a false In every par.
ticular. lours truly
PC. FRAKLiS,
Engineer NJ. & q. X r.
Memphis, Tenn, Aug. IL, 1883.
VOICE OF THE PEOPLE