New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-01-12
THE FEVER-SHIP YANTIC.
LIEUT.. MILLS IN A DANGEROUS STATE.

HER OTHER PATIENTS CoNvALEscENT-AN
OFFICERS STORY OF THE voYAGE-How
WAS THE DISEASE ooNTRAcrEDa-No
NEWS OF THE HAYTIAN
REBELLION
As stated in The Tribune yesterday the United
States sloop-of-war Yantic arrived at Quarantine
late Thursday night She is anchored in the
Narrows, about half way between Fort Wads-
worth and Fort Hamilton with the ominous yel-
low flag flying from her mast Indicative of the
presence on board of yellow fever. Direct COM
munication with the vessel and it's occupants is
impossible, no one being allowed to board her or
even 90 alongside, save the Health Officer and his
assistants, who are kept busy going to and fro
examining the patients and dsinfecting the vessel.
OF the three cases Of yellow fever now on board,
that Of Lieutenant Charles Richard Miles is by far
the most serious, and Health Officer Smith is as yet
unable l.. say whether he will recover.
"He is a very sick man." said the doctor, and
It is as yet soon to sag what result the disease
will hayes Up to about o'clock yesterday
evening" DR.. Smith had been twice upon the
Yantic during the day, and found no change in the
precarious condition of the officer. Lieutenant
Miles is q married man, thirty-two years old, who
lives in Brooklyn, though his wife is at present
u
City. Cadet Mark Lambert Bristol and the
equipment yeoman H. l. Kellar, are convalescent
and It is believed now that they will ultimately
recover. They were not removed from the boat
as was reported. Lieutenant Miles was first
affected with symptoms Of the disease on Decem-
Der 2s, after the Yantics arrival at Port-au-
Prince The surgeons examination soon con-
frmed the suspicion of yellow fever How it
was contracted is uncertain as the greatest pos
sible care was taken on board the vessel to pre-
vent the possibility OF the contagion. 1t is
evident however, that IL was contracted wien
the boat was az Santiago.
There was a general desire to leave the Haytian
harbor when the surgeons opinion became known.
The departure wns postponed, however, and on
December 30 II. l. Kellar, the equipment-yeo-
man, fell victim to the scourge On the fol
lowing day, which was Sunday, Cadet Bristol
was attacked with similar symptoms which soon
became alarming On Monday the fourth patient
Charles William Rowe, took to his bed with
the same disease. The fourth case and the
dire possibilities Of more induced the commander
TO start for New-Yorlx, where IL was hoped the
cold climate would be beneficial TO the sufferers
and effectually prevent the spreading of the
disease. Since the departure from Hayti no
new cases have developed The spirits Of the
crew and officers grew more buoyunt the boat
approached northern waters. But last Monday
Charles William Rowe breathed his last, and was
buried at sea with full naval honors. No new
cases are likely 10 occur, but the Yantic will
remain OF Quarantine for some time
THE STORY TOLD BY AN OFFICER
When asked in regard to his trip to Hayti and
his experiences upon the i1nric, Passed Assistant
Engineer jefferson Brown said: =" We left New
York on December 2 and arrived at Port-au-
Prince on December 30 at a. m, in company
with .he Gaena The latter bat anchored in
the outer hnrbor and the Yantic stopped only long
enough u lake Admiral Luce on board, and then
proceeded TO the inner harbor, clearing the ship
for action and going to general quarters as she
proceeded. We then ran alongside the Hay
ten Republic and anchored at a. m, sending n
line 10 the captured steamer which was made
fast 70 her cable. The steam launch then went
ashore and brought of the American Minister,
Mr. Thompson After an exchange OF diplomatic
correspondence with the authorities Of llayti,
they refused TO give up the American boat Ad-
miral Luce, however, gave them until p. m. TO
come 10 terms, or he would take her out by force.
The Haytians then agreed TO submit but later
changed their opinion, finally deciding to COM
ply, under protest. and tow the boat out 10 sea
themselves
There was no steam on the lIaytien Republic,
and her owner, Morse, and her captain, Compton,
offered little or no assistance; Inc boat WAS In
need OF repairs, the manhole pate 3eing
of the boilers The chain cable had TO
be cut because the donkey engine could
not be worked After this was done
small steamboat belonging 10 Mr.. Riviere, ana
chartered by the HDtian Government. towcd the
Ilaytien Republic out. The lawscr parted. OF was
cut as soon as the srain was placed upon H. Dut
being repaired again the boat was towed to the
outer harbor. where 10 was made fast 10 other
vessels riding at aIrhor near the Galend; Inc
Yantic, when attempting 10 follow, grounded Dc
cause of the low water ana was forced TO remain
in that position all night. She cleared however,
on tie following morning and went iurther ouU
ION December 81 We were ordered in agnin TO
pick up II buoycd anchor and chain. when we
planted near the iIaytien Republic. AT o'clock a
on the evening OF December % we started ior
Santiago for coal arriving there DecemoSr "a ae
8 D. m We sailed again md arrived at rort-au, .
Prince second time on December 2S NO one
left the vessel TO 90 ashore at Port-au-prince eA-
cept those on duty aud at santiago orders We're
not 10 leave the boat after sundown Ihefe "as ss
no fever there. so far as we heard; we Doughhiy
no provisions at Port-au-Prince. and in fact held
no communication with the shore. The resident
doctor reported that there mad been no ieyer III III
the port for twenty days Ihe Officers d. UNI iie nd
were overworked in the hot sun on the 2Vth anu
2ls and on the 22d IL rained very hard, some 1l
the crew getting very wet. The Haytien hepu9, .s,
lie Is said 10 have had case oil ieyer anu asau,
crew After the capture our men went on
board and remained there. but no one was t. taken
sick The cause of the fever WAS no doups
over-exertion, and possibly came from hnndllng
the muddy anchor and chain. The HayMan Gov
ernment reserves the night TO bring SUIT Tor nc,
covcry The owners claim $3.50, 900 for the vessei %
and their injured feelings Morse can get slvv, -
600 at any time as IL Is rendy, but, strange 70
say, he will not accept We lett the fiay eich
Republic in Port-au-Prince'
NOTHING NEW ABOUT THE REBELIhoN'
Commander Oscar f. lIeyerman said that ne
had no reports fIom the north OF the island Do
tween December % and January |, and that he
had heard no definite statement that President
Legitime contemplated leaving the city. On ane
day that the Yonrc sailed from Poitau-frlncO
the Haytian gunboats Dcssalines Touissant,
Belize and Grand Riviere were all in the haroor
lying at anchor or sieaming otout The Piquantc,
a small gnnboat of I,ooitmes, had not been heard
Of and was probably maintaining the blockade
with the help OF the hlancel; :, .,.,,o5e
continued the commander. am ntaDe ,;nie 20 s't IL