Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-01-13
IN A QUANDARY.
THE HEALTH AUTBCRlIIES 6AVG 4 SMALL
P0X CASE.
Counsiion al the City Ball YCsteTday-Ihs Pa
tent sent to the Peninsula Cemetery
and Housed IN TsLt

4 case Of smallpox, discovered in this
city yesterday, caused an air Of hustle
and animation to permeate city health
circles, as well - representatives
of the County and State Boards and the
resident government officials in that
line. during the day, and there was more
scurrying about at the custom house
and City Hall than has been observed
Tor quite a while past.
At one time there was something akin
10 excitement about the Public Build
ing. and stampede seemed imminent.
Officials would Saunter up TO the lit
tie group about the door OF Health OH
Ger Garrison's office, casually enquire
what was going on, find out, and-iiy.
Strangers would start up stairs where
the patient was temporarily confined,
be collared by an officer, have the Situa-
ton hurriedly explained, and would
then turn pale and skip for "llttle
whisky, please" TO brace up on, without
stopping 10 say "thank YOU" or - in
wife the crowd to go along. IL was 4
I lively scene for awhile.
The cause OF all this cOmmotiOn was
| William williamson, aged fifteen, resi-
dent Of SardiS, o., and an employe on
the steamboat Matt +. Allen, who was
landed at this port early yesterday al
/ ternoon suffering from 4 mild case oil
genuine smallpox. The patient report
ed AT the Office of Surveyor Joseph n.
FariS. az the custom house, and was by
that official referred 10 DIR. c. +. Ulrich,
one OF the resident marine surgeons OF
the government, Clerk Smith max
ing out the papers in the case, to which
Williamson was entitled by reason OF his
having served more than two months IN
the steamboat service. DR.. Ulrich could
not procure Williams admittance TO the
Marine Hospital, in North Wheeling,
for obvious reasons, and the patient,
who had gone up town In a streel
ear. came back down town, and
was taken to the office OF DIR. Harrison
AT the City Hall. Meanwhile DR.. Ulrich
who had diagnosed the case as one Of
smallpox, telephoned TO DR.. Garrison
and as soon A. that official saw Williams
he confirmed the conclusion OF Or
Ulrich.
The situation by this time was Inter
IeSting. DR.. Garrison had patient OF
his hands afflicted with smallpox, will
no place 10 send him, and whose pres
Ience was extremely undesirable in the
Public Building aud equally so upoI
the streets or anywhere else where h'
would be liable 10 come into contact Will
people. In his dilemma DR.. Garrison
telephoned to Mayor Seabrigh
and President Cruise OF the Board Of
Commissioners, and both these Oflicial
soon arrived, the patient in the mean
time being sent To the top Of the stair
way i'm the third story of the Public
Building, and police officer pu
on guard al the foot to keep people gu
of the way. At first it was proposed 4
mt the patient in the vacant room
opening of the library, in the THIRD
story Of the building, but Judge Camp
bell, when asked about it, entered
veto. Soon Sheriff Stecnrod, suryey0
Faris. Mayor Seabright, PreSiden
Cruise and other officials were engaged
in consultation. and "a a result Il tele
gram was sent 10 Surgeon Genera
Hammond. OF the Army, to Washing
ton, explaining the situation, stating
that the patient was marine, AM
asking what should be done. In tn
meantime night was drawing ON, AM
the problem Of what to do with vii
.liamS was still unSOlycd. The city pes
house was not in condition to be used
and the old Sections house at the PENN
sula cemetery, which might have an
swered the purpose, had been tori
: down.
In this dilemma, it was determined t
procure tent, take it out to the PENN
Sula cemetery, pitch it in a corner, pro
vide stove, a guard, make food ar
engagements, etc, and pnt Williamson ii
lit-thiS at the suggestion OF newSpa
per man. This plan waS carried out
and about eight o'clock last night, thl
tent having been rugged mp in goo'
shape, the patient was transferred to
in the patrol wagon and made comfort
able with bed, blankets, etc,
There was . good deal OF indignation
against the Matt +. Allen people, ant
last night County Health Ohlcer Myer
quarantined against the boat, and ais
autographed the ParkerSburg and Pitts
burg health authorities.