The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-09-28
QUARANTINE IN GEORGIA
THE EXPERIENCE OF A TRAv-
ELER FROM SAVANNAH.

Ellen FROM SAVANN All,
Some of the humorous Aspects of the
Enforcement of the Regulations
Many Towns Where it is Rasy te
Give the Inspectors the Slip-Sorn.
Tips for Savannah.
ALBANY, GA, Sept. 27.-The object O
t Ms article is to point out some of the veal
spots in the different guarantees, and Incl
dentally to preserve some of the humorou.
features of the situation.
Leaving Savannah for trip to Albany.
via Savannah, Florida and Western railway
we encounter the first quarantine at JeSuD
Little evidence of it is seen, however. by the
outward traveller from Savannah, and there
is no trouble in getting out at that point
Blackshear is the next point where a quar-
antine is in force, and the quarantine there
is very mild and inoffensive, aud not calcu.
lated to trouble any one disposed to do any
lodging The good people of Blackshear
do not seem to be alarmed at the prospect
of yellow jack invading their pretty little
town. The Bauantyne episode did
not disturb them very greatly. 1t
is true that Savannah and other
and for time Blackshear was nominally
shut out from the world. say nominally.
because the said quar- ntine was by no
means effective or complete. 1t now an
pears that while no trains were allowed 10
stop there, and no mails were taken from
there for several days, yet the Blackshear
folks managed to worry through" it all
very successfully. Every morning during
the quarantine messengers were sent up t.
Exeter, five miles distant, in the direction of
Waycross, and all letters were posted there.
the postmaster there was accommodating
and generously handled their mail matter
without any fumigation or imposing re-
strictions, whatever.
All persons desiring to take the train sim
ply rode down to Patterson, nine miles be-
low, and got on board the cars there The
town livery stable did a thriving business
for several days.
AT WAYCROSS.
At Waycross, the gateway to Florida, ~
the quarantine is strict, but not quite as
strict as 1T was a month ago, Just after the
fever broke out. On two occasions lately
the writer has visited Waycross and left the
cars without being called upon to show any
papers.
A gentleman in Blackshear states that. a
few days ago, ttey expelled peddler from
Florida) who had gotten into that town
and who had no papers which were salts
factory. Before going, he admitted that
he had gotten into Brunswick the week
before, but was duly shown outside the
limits by the officers. He then went to
Waycross, got in all right, and remained
two days, during which time 10 one called
on him to show his papers. He then went
60 Blackshear, with the result stated.
Dupont, thirty-tour miles above Way
cross, has no quarantine AS the cars roll
into the beautiful town of Valdosta the
conductor and brakemen lock the doors of
the coaches until the train comes to q full
stop Then the doors at one end are uu-
locked, and the passengers for Valdosta are
confronted by the marshal, who examines
the certificates and let's them out one at
time, until all have made their exit. He
then retires from the scene, and the out
going passengers board the train and secure
their seats. The car doors are left open and
unlock d, and tie passengers for other
ponts) are at liberty to walk out and take
lew of the town. There isn't much
trouble i'll running the block at Naldosta.
FROM certain observations taken by the
wiiter, all that the quarantine "dodger'
has to do at certain towns is to remain
quietly in his seat until the inspection is
ovT at the front of the car, and the quar-
antne officials have dispersed peaceably to
Their homes,n then Just as the train is about
to move off come out quietly and naturally
anhstep to the ground, with an air of sur
prise, as though he had just discovered that
that was his station.
Quitman, seventeen miles above Valdosta.
has a, similar quarantine in force From
what have heard, however, Quitman has
much more reason to put a quarantine ON
some Of the public roads leading into that
town from Florida, the line of which state is
only a few miles distant. 1t is in that
direction that the danger lies, and several
instances have occurred since the epidemic
broke out where refugees have come into
Quitman across the country in private con-
veyances, finding no trouble in securing &C
cess to the town. 1t is well enough to
watch the trains, but the country roads
the interstate avenues-should be looked
after also.
At Boston we find the citizsns alive to the
situation, and (as at Quitman) their quar-
antine officials watch the trains like hawks
and pounce upon any one who shows any
disposition to place foot on terra trnld
there. Boston is in the same danger a,
Quitman, viz. From refugees coming across
the country from Florlda-the state line be-
ing very near the town.
The train now approaches Thomasvile
Here we encounter the Strictest quarantine
in Georgia. For the Thomasville qaaran-
tine may fairly be stated as quarantine
with horns on it,"
AT TOWNSVILLE.
The Thomasville official boards the trains
coming from Savannah and Waycross at
the 1873 mile-post, two miles below the city.
Every passenger is required to exhibit his
or her health certificate, and Il may add
the certificates are closely examined, and If
not exactly Irregular" or if there is the
least reason to suspect that that the passen-
ger has come from or been in Florida, he is
politely, but firmly, told by the inspector
that he will not be allowed to get out of
the cars at Townsville, but must go on
through. This rule is strictly enforced,
and the cars are kept closely guarded
when the train arrives at the city. Even
the residents of Thomasville are subjected
10 rigid inspection when they return to
their homes from trips out of town, and
several of them have had 10 serve out
Fifteen days sentence" at the quarantine
stations before being allowed to re-enter the
city.
Not content with watching the railroad
trains, the Townsville authorities have
placed shotgun patrol on the roads lead
ng into the city from Florida. A good
lnany refugees have been turned back on
these roads, who otherwise would have got
ten into the city and perhaps brought the
fever As an additional precaution, Thorn
asville has detectives employed who watch
the streets and keep n surveillance ON the
hotels and the depot grounds, and occa-
Slonally Suspect" is walked out TO the
city limits and told to Ego hence" The