River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1890-03-13
VICTIMS OF A scouReE.

Frightfui Ravages of Diphtheria In Zanes.
Vile. O.-Sixteen Deaths from the Dread
Disease-Many Persons Sick-How the
Epidemic Originated.
EVANSVILLE, o., March IL. Diph-
liberia seems to Turk in the air one
breathes, at least in part OF this inter
esting city. That dread disease is Great
ing sad havoc in the ranks OF the chill
dren. 1t has become quite an epidemic.
Forty-five cases are reported TO the
Board OF Health. and of that number
sixteen have died. With the exception
Of three cases all those i'll or who have
died are residents of what was until re-
Gently known as the village of Putnam,
but which section now forms the Ninth
ward of GAINESVILLE.
The introduction of the disease in it's
dreadful form dates back to the night
Of Sunday, December s. On that night
about 10 o'clock Undertaken George w.
Brenholtz removed the body Of Ethel
c. Tuttle from the Baltimore & Ohio
railroad station to the home Of Thomas
Gibbons, travelling salesman who
lives with his family on Higham
avenue in the Ninth ward. Ethel was
the eldest daughter of Harry futile, a
brother-in-law of Mr.. Gibbons. Her
father is also travelling man, having
been for a number of years connected
with firm of this city. He removed
with his family to Chicago, however, and
it was there that Ethel died. The under
taker gave the BODY but little attention
other than to see it carefully removed
to the Gibbons home, from where the
funeral was TO take place. The next
day at noon the undertaken met Health
Officer ii. Il. Sutton. and turned over to
him the permit that had accompanied
the remains, also the doctors certificate
as to the cause of the death. The papers
we're badly soiled. DIR. Sutton was on
his way 60 his Office at the time,
and without examining the papers
placed them in his inside coat pocket.
Brenholtzs who lives just opposite the
Office, in parting informed the physician
that he would call at o'clock that
evening for the burial permit. When
he called at that hour the papers he
had turned over to DIR. Sutton had been
mislaid. They could not be found and
nothing was left to tell the real
cause of the death, even had the permit
of the Chicago health commissioner
stated just what had caused the taking
away of the child. 1t was after
ward learned that Ethers death
was due to diphtheria of the
most malignant form. Friends
crowded the home where the re-
mains rested all day Monday and Mon
day night. Since then diphtheria has
appeared in the family of almost every
person who presented himself there, and
has spread out to families who were not
present, but who afterward came in con
tact with those who carried away the
disease.
There is no question among the au
thorities and those in position to know
as to the origin of all these deaths. DIR.
Sutton, who is one of the brightest ply
sicians in this section, does not hesitate
in accrediting all to the bringing to
GAINESVILLE of the remains of Ethel Tut
tie and the exposing of them to view.
Among the deaths are those Of Johr
c. McGregor, reading clerk of the OhiC
House of Representatives, his wife,
his sister and his three children.
There is great deal of worrimen
and no little excitement over the cpl
demic that has settled down upon 81
many here. Every day adds other vic
tins, the weather at present being de
cidedly Of disadvantage to physician:
in handling the cases.