The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-09-12
Babylonians Oppose Landing of
Cholera Vessels Passengers.
HEALTH OFFICERS THREATENED.
Surf Hotel Surrounded With Piles of
FagOts and Inflammables.
Pilot Intimidated and Steamer Cepheus
Cannot Cross Bar to Laud-Dr. Jen-
kins Reports Conditions at Ouaran.
tine to Gov. Flower.

SURF HOTEL. FIRE ISLAND, Sept. IL
There has been more excitement in the
last twelve hours at Fire island than dur
ing the whole summer season. The sale
OF the place TO the state for quarantine
purposes created q great hubbub among
the people of the towns of Islip and
Babylon, who predict all kinds of dire
calamities as a result of landing the
passengers from vessels infected with
cholera upon the beach. Last night at n
mass-meeting a committee, consisting of
Supervisor Young, Justice Clark, 5. She'd
ley. J. O'Brien. G. S. Howell, DR.. w. A.
Baker and J. s. Gilbert, constituting the
board of health, were appointed to go to
Fire island with twenty deputy constables
to protest against the use of the island for
quarantine purposes and to resist
the landing of passengers. They
lett In sailboats late at night. ar
irving there in the morning, and the
deputies were placed on guard. When
President Charles w. Wilson and DR..
Cyrus Edison, of the New York board of
health. who came to Babylon by special
train, arrived in a saiiboat at O'Clock in
the morning, they were quickly sur
rounded by the deputies, who made DEM
onstrations against ID. S. S. Sammis,
owner of Fire island, making all kinds of
threats against him for selling it. Presi-
dent Wilson informed Sammis that Gov.
Flower had authorized the purchase of the
island for $2l0,000, and he had certified
check for $4,000 to pay as soon as the
papers were signed. Sammis then turned
the property over to President Wilson as
the representative of Health Officer
Jenkins, all the guests and most of the
servants having left yesterday afternoon.
When President Wilson appeared about
10 O'Clock this morning the local board of
health and hundred Others from the
mainland. mostly boys and men, made
demonstrations, using threats against the
state, Mr.. Sammis and everybody con-
cerned. At IL o'clock President Wilson
met the board of health, explained all
the circumstances of the purchase and in
tended use of the island Supervisor
Young and DR.. Baker stated that it would
ruin property and industries and en-
danger the health of adjoining communi-
ties. and asserted that the local board
had jurisdiction paramount to the state
board, and would resist any attempt to
land passengers. at the sending of this
dispatch affdirs are assuming a serious
aspect at Fire island. Although only 7:30
O'Clock in the evening, this will likely be
the last word sent tonight, as it has trans
pired that the sympathizers of the
local board of health are considering the
feasibility of cutting off all telegraphic
communication between Fire island and
the city. Men from Islip and other points
on the main shore appear to have decided
to bid defiance both to the bidding of the
governor and the instructions of the state
board of health. they seem to have be-
come utterly lawless, as well as reckless
AS it grew dark men who had been con-
cealed in the shadows OF outbuilding began
to move about more freely, as if they were
certain of concealing their identity Pick
cts were posted and regular system of
signals arranged.
There is no telling the number of men
engaged on the island, but there certainly
could not be any fewer than fifty, maybe
double that number. A taste of the tenn
per and cunning of these fellows has al
ready been afforded President Wilson and
his associates. A search being deemed adj
vsable, piles of inhammable material were
found heaped up against either end of the
ramshackle hotel, which if ignited would
have destroyed it in a short time, for be-
ing dry il would burn like tinder When
the Vaccinations of the enemy were fully
understood Mr.. Wilson promptly di-
vided the associates of the health
department and newspaper men in
the hotel were divided into watches of six
men each to patrol the building through
ont the night, each watch being on duty
three hours at a stretch. Even President
Wilson stood his turn. This arrangement
effected. all hands felt more comfortable.
The first news of the Cepheus was
received little after 5 o'clock,
when a dispatch came saying an
iron steamboat was Off Point
Lookout with 267 cabin passengers on
board. This was a great surprise and an
noyance to Mr.. Wilson, who had sent
special orders to the Cepheus TO arrive at
Fire island as near noon as possible, and
in no event to leave quarantine later than
the noon hour. Mr.. Wilson had already
arranged with Capt. Charles Wickes. OF
the Fire island life-saving station, TO pilot
the Cepheus across the bay. At first Capt.
Wickes demurred and finally told Mr..
Wilson frankly that Superintendent DOM
my had threatened him with loss of his
place If he brought the steamboat in. Mr..
Wilson then promised him a place which
would pay 81, 200 year in case ne lost the
$3.50 position he already held for
bringing the Cepheus over the
bar. Wickes agreed to this, but when
the Cepheus appeared off the bar
at $40 he had not turned up. When it
was quite dark he appeared and said it
was impossible for him To bring in the
Cepheus, or even go out and explain the
situation. In spite of his protestations it
was evident that Capt. Wickes had been
intimidated. An hour later word came
from Fire island observatory saying that
the Cepheus' lights were disappearing and
she had evidently put back toward New
York. Meantime the watchers concealed in
the shadows about the hotel were keeping
up their vigilance, while Wilson, after
sending appeals 10 New York for special
men TO be sent down on an extra train,
had fire buckets placed at hand on the piaz-
IA. and the watch arrangement for the
night began.
AFFAIRS AT QUARANTINE.