The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-10-05
THEIR DEFENSE.
The Attitude of Jackson Refugees.
In Protecting Themselves They As
sisted the Health Officers.
Report That They Resorted to vi
olence Untrue.
They Did Not Resort to Shotgun
Intimidation.
The People of the Camps Entertaining
the Kindliest Feelings for the
Plague Fighters in the
City.

At a mass meeting Of the citizens OF
Kinds county, Miss, b. W. Grit.
fifth was called to the chair and
s. Livingston requested to act as
secretary. A committee, appointed
to give history OF the establishment of
the citizens quarantine and the various
events that have occurred in connection
Herewith, reported as follows
When on the afternoon of the Goth OF
September, the Health Board and the ply
sicians announced the existence Of yellow
fever in Jackson, Miss, and warned the
residents TO leave the city instanter, four.
fiiths OF the white and small number Of
the colored population obeyed without
standing on the order Of their going. Many
left by the first trains, and much larger
number took refuge in the country directly
surrounding, the same night and the en-
suing morning. The people Of the country
received them with open doors, and made
such provisions for their accommodation
as the short notice allowed. Every house
in the immediate vicinity was crowded
with the fleeing populace who had acted
upon the warning Of the health authori-
ties. Large numbers secured quarters in
the country south, west and north
Of Jackson penetrated by the four
railroads, and the various dirt
roads leading from the city. As pru-
dental measure in the state OF utter
confusion in which the community was
suddenly thrown by the unexpected warn
ing, the people Immediately met at con-
yenient points and organized themselves
for quarantine and police duties, to protect
the neighborhood and prevent the intro
duction and spread OF the disease, until
the health authorities had adopted rules
and regulations and effected a reliable
quarantine. Their organization was thirty.
six hOurs in advance OF the establishment
OF the quarantine lines Of the latter, and
was conducted without friction or disturb
ance, rs all seemed 10 realize tine gravity
OF the situation ms announced by the State
board OF health. Their organization for
temporary services stood not only between
the pestience aud the lives OF the people
OF the immediate vicinity but Of the coun-
try back OF IL. The awful pestilence which
devastated southwestern Kinds in 1873,
extending from house 10 house, was re-
membcred, and the object OF the organi
zation was 10 prevent a recurrence Of the
calamity.
On Saturday, the 29d, two days after the
board Of health had declared the existence
OF the fever and Of non-iniercounse be-
tween Il and the surrounding country, no
little alarm was created in the Clinton
road ncghborhood by the removal Of per-
sons or families from jackson on an en-
CINE OF the Nicksburg 4 Meridian railroad,
four miles west Of town. The ncighbor.
hood was thickly settled and full of rciu-
gees On the next day the alarm and sur.
prise were itcnsihcd by the running Of the
same engine with passengers 10 the same
place from the heart Of the infected dis
irict. The call TO 'halt" by the citizens
guard was not respected. On the same
day the county health officer, Dr. Todd.
Informed Il. I. Lyon, n well known citi-
zen, who was serving ~ guard on the Gin
ton road. OF a case OF yellow fever at Mr..
Tnplcy's in the same neighborhood. This
information increased the prevailing ex-
element
During this time the health authorities
had established their quarantine lines
around the city, but In several instances
unauthorized persons from the infected dis
trict had passed their scntrics aud had been
turned back by the citizens guard. Tho
health authorities were promptly notified
Of these occurrences, which induced the
citizens 20 believe that they could not with
r'saicly abandon their organization. During
all this time the citizens VI the Clinton
road community, through their rcpruscn-
tatiyc, T.. liarksdalc whom they had placed
In charge Of their organization, had dill
gently sought interviews with the county
health officer 20 nCquaint him with the sit
untion a. Il came under his observation
outside the city, and especially 90 get In.
formation II the rules aud regulations
adopted by the authorities touching the
running Of engines or trains In their midst,
aud other matters pertaining 10 the dis
case The law (Scction 500, Article -,
code OF 1851 requires that the public
should be- Informed Of the rules and rcgu.
lations Of the sanitary authorities. other
wise obedience could not be- reasonably
expected. Pending the application for
this information, parties, presumably
30 avoid the running aud stopping Of the
engine by unauthorized persons ON their own
business or pleasure, from the infected 10.
cali,y, placed distractions on the Nicks.
burg 4 Meridian railroad truck, Of which,
a. prevent accident, the railroad official.
Meft promptly uuNutus bu lhluTuAluu
from the latter that no trains would be- run
without further notice, the distractions
were removed by instruction Of the person
In charge Of that division Of the citizens
organization. hut ON the same day the
25thl the same engine was run out crowded
with people. About half dozen citizens
speedily assembled at their quarantine sta
ton on the railroad, but with instructions
not 10 modest the engine on lis return.
Mai Barksdalc fastened to communicate
the facts 10 the county health officer by
telephone, but found the wire cut, lie
nOxt cnicayofcd 10 communicate with him
through q messenger from the station
which that officer had established, but
was refused. lie then went 10 the rail
road aud was fortunate enough 30 inter.
ccpi the returning engine. lie here met
the county health officer, Dr. Todd, him.
self. Who was aboard the engine, and
g. whom he made known his object
IN seeking the interview. Or. Todd
stated that the engine would be-
sent ont from Jackson iorfanitary purposes
only, under strict guard, with orders that
no person should leave the engine or tho
iii gs..f WsHmt.f uWftUuFts.I f.hWat.