Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1888-09-28
THE STRICKEN SOUTH.
Yellow Fever Grows Worse aad werse--
Pitlabls Condition Of Refugees.

P,tlabls Condition Of Refugees.
Nine weeks have passed since the first
case of yellow fever was developed at the
Grand Union hotel in Jacksonville. The
official records up to date show total OF
over l,745 cases aud nearly 800 deaths.
The daily list Of cases and deaths during
the past 10 days has been fearful in city
the size OF Jacksonville with two thirds OF
its people absent. IL IL now almost certain
that many hundred colored people have had
the fever and recovered without treatment
or physicians. The old theory that negroes
are not liable TO contract yellow fever has
been exploded. 1t has been demonstrated
that they are almost as susceptible TO attack
"a the whites but the issue Is rarely fatal
with them, probably never unless the fever
Is complicated with organic diseases.
Bad weather or good weather makes no
difference. The list OF dead swclls, and the
stricken are numbered by scores each day.
The people are in state OF ablect terror,
and the panic has spread 10 every hamlet In
the state, and gone even across the line into
other states. Jacksonville is shut out from
the world. Other cities have barricadcd
against her people, and wherever IL IL an
nounced that a Jacksonvillian has arrived
stampede follows.
Reason is banished, and fear takes its
place. What wonder that people are fright
ened and panic stricken. Refugees telling
tales which their letters bring them, 10 peo-
directions, SO the whole south is in state
of fear.
In Jacksonville great difficulty has been
experienced in supplying food and medicines
TO all the needy people, the commissary
branch being established in various quar-
tiers OF the city. The physicians have all
been provided with slips, on which TO write
orders for provisions for the needy people
whom they find on their rounds. Prescrip-
tons have been abandoned, each physician
being supplied with all the necessary drugs
and other material, which they now carry
with them and dispense as they go. Each
doctor wears yellow badge to distinguish
him, so that he may be stopped by those
who need his services. This was made
necessary by the influx of strange ply
sicians. These changes were made al the
suggestion of DR.. Porter, in command of
the government nurses.
Outside of Jacksonville confusion worse
confounded hovers overs over all. st.
Augustine and Palatka have quarantined
against each other, and Gainesville is
isolated, although there have appeared no
new cases in either place. Live Oak has
placed Gordon about herself, admitting no
one within her prec nets, and Alachua,
Brevard and Polk counties will not receive
mail from Jacksonville even. Way Cross,
Ga, has rigldly quarantned against
Gainesville, FernandIna, Wilbour and a
rigid house TO house inspection has been
instituted and the mote of warning" has
been sounded to arouse the health authori-
ties of Savannah, Brunswick and other
places.
The common council Of Chattanooga has
offered q reward of S25 for the detection
and conviction of any refugees from any in
fected district, which has had the effect of
making every man, woman and child in Chat
tanooga detective and no stranger is allow
ed 10 enter the city who has not been sub
iected TO the most rigid scrutiny. The
board of health of the city and county has
ordered absolute exclusion OF any and all
passengers or other traffic from the city,
either by rail, by dirt DIS or 'cross lots"
Any person violating said order shall pay a
fine OF not more than 81 coo or be imprlson-
ed or both in the discretion Of the court
having jurisdiction. But the mayor of
Chattanooga shall have authority TO admit
such persons, freights, trains or traffic as
IN his opinion may be free from contaGion
and infection and safe to be admitted to
Hamilton county. This order has been put
In force.
Ever town in Mississippi and West Ten
nessee is closed TO the world, and no trains
are allowed 10 stop. There is an absolute
quarantine at Memphis against all points
east Of the Mississippi, and no trains are
coming in. The governor has ordered out
the militia, and there Will be an armed
guard around the city.
Two H'ain loads Of refugees from Vicks-
burg reached Memphis Sept. %. The first
escaped quarantine, and $50 people were
scattered through the city. All the police
force set to work, arrested every suspicious
person and sent him out of town. The sec
ond train containing 500, met with doors
and windows locked, and was run through
the city at full speed.
The population of Jackson, Miss, is utter
~ demoralized. One-third Of the popula-
tion has already left. The fever there Is
supposed to have originated from germs
dormant in an old building
Decatur and adjoining towns in Alabama
are also panic stricken, and the most rigid
quarantine has been established, and in
every town in Mississippi shot gun quar-
antiue prevails.
Louisville, Ky, will not be quarantined,
but opens its doors 10 refugees.
A meeting Of the citizens sanitary asso-
citation OF Jacksonville was held the other
night, aud the following resolutions We're
adopted:
Resolved, That congress be urged TO at
once authorize and require the establish
ment of bureau in this city for the pur-
pose of conducting investigations relative
TO the introduction and progress of yellow
fever in Florida during the years 1887 and
1888; sanitary methods and other precau-
tons against the spread of the disease
| state of atmosphere at different times and
in different localities in the city, and all
other incidents and conditions relating 10
the epidemic that will be likely TO be Of
scientific and practical statistical value in
future in determining the methods Of quar-
antine, sanitation, disinfection and treat
ment OF yellow fever.
Resolved, That our senators and repre-
sentatives in congress be requested to
bring this matter before both houses, and
urge its immediate consideration. II is
desirable that the investigation shall take
a wider range than any other undertaken
In connection with yellow fever in this
country and local and other conditions con-
nected herewith