Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-01-05
"a FEVER SHIP.o
The Greatest Calamity that Can Befall
Naval Vessel.


Perhaps no greater calamity can come to Q
vessel than that which has befallen the Z. s. 8.
Yantic; that is, the infection Of yellow fever
on board. Not only does it make her a de-
cidedly unpleasant berth for her present Off
GERS and crew, but TO some extent il DESTROYS
her usefulness forever. As soon as possible
after the discovery of the disease on board .
ship she is headed north, for a cooler atmos-
phere, and usually the rayages Of the fever
thus cut short; but in the case Of q ship like
the Yantic, wooden built this is by no means
the end. The germs of the disease find lodge
ment in the pores Of the wood; they seek, and
usually discover, coy nests in the rotten beams
down in the hold, where the water is
constantly gnawing. Thus they sleep while
the ship is in cold climates. She is fumigated,
cleaned, Quilted, steamed, frozen, but the fever
microbes are securely hidden within the pores
of the wood, where the fumes Of the disnfect-
ants, the heat of steam, or the cold Of the win
ter air cannot reach them. All seems well
when the vessel is put into commission; neces-
sity compels her orders to the south, and she
sails without a suspicion of infection about
her. Soon there comes a cablegram from her
at some port in the tropics that yellow fever
appeared on board while at sea. The intense
heat has awakened the sleeping germs and
they impregnate the atmosphere Of the ship
with their deadly influences before the vessel
has evensighted land.
Thus a man-of-war gets reputation OF being
a"fever-ship." When il is proposed 20 equip
her for a cruise available officers begin 20 write
letters, backed by influences, to the Secretary
of the Navy, asking that they be sent on some
other duty, or begging of from assignment 20
the vessel. II is almost impossible 70 select
a complement Of officers without disregarding
the wishes of nearly all of them, but some have
to 60, and they embark with the feeling that
they are taking their lives in their hands with
more than the usual chances that viii they
lose them.
So it is that ship loses great portion Of
her usefulness, for, with the faint Of the fever
upon her, the powers at the department are
humanity loath to send her to regions where
the germs are liable to be developed Win
the Boston, the ship that took the fever re-
Gently while at Port-au-Prince. the case u
thought to be different She is built entirely OF
steel and iron, and, il is thought, she can con-
sequently be effectively fumigated by the use
of steam and other appliances, for there no
chance in her for the germs TO hide themselves
in rotten wood away from the influences OF the
disinfectants II remains 10 be seen, however,
when the vessel makes her next tropical trip
whether these conditions save her from the
danger Of becoming .'fever-shlp.
The samoan Troubles.
A CONSULAR REPORT FROM rHs SOUTH PACIFIC.
The State department has made public re-
mort from yice-Consul- General Blackjack at
Apia. Samoa, on the situation Of affairs In that
island, being a record of eveats, written in the
form of Q diary, between November and De-
cember 2. In all of the fighting, considerable
of which occurred in that period, the forces OK
King Mataafa had . decided advantage over
King Tamasese, the protege OF the Germans.
An Interesting and Ineligible account OF the
samoan troubles 10 given elsewhere IN IHn
STAR. The fighting all occurred on American
and Euelisb territory. meeting Of British
and German consuls was held, at when
Mr.. Blackjack attended by invitation
He suggested 70 them that they, % the repre-.
sentatives of the three governmenta, should
order both parties 10 return 70 their none,
0ermanv. Great Britain and the United States
10 decide on Q plan Of government Tor me
natives. The British consul promgay sgreeo
20 L. but The German consul would NOT nssee
- tSe propositiou. and aid that be must con-
tiuue % recognise Tamasese - the king. incre.
upon the Hrifinh consul issusd proclamsnoe
20 the British mbjects, making shen smsnsoS
ealy 70 his jurisdictica.
Ebsr v~nt 10 he scene Of conflict and warned
Na4nsfs thaS Tsnassse wss on 0erDen serIs.
tory, and q hey were st>acksd ne hosr voeae
opon II guns On Ma1aafA-
On Deesnbsr q whsn The report Va sent
&c oonditjoo 81 aGai1 was cooooereo very
ssrious, snd Il ~ UNDERWOOD thas more Ger.
nan nsn-ol-wur wsFe sxpecesd
h rspers slse $4,000 2 CO. S Sn,easSs
ns1ifvi1r m 1RsS 1hrss-aastsd Ansrtoaa
vssrS ~ - dsshsd . pssess end snrHhsr
s6roSasd g Apeiane. Naas q former vsDsl
= nkn0un, Su1 I'D ergo shat Indicated her
= o De- fkilaAslPhkA nvss ~ known y
~ Uov eseepe4