The morning call., 1892-12-29
WANT HIM MOVED.
Citizens Hold a Smallpox
Convention.
TROUBLE AT TURK AND HYDE.
A Stricken Sea Captain i'm That Vicinity
Is Blocking the Wheels of
Commerce.

That part of the Western Addition. IL it
may be called such, in the neighborhood OF
Turk and hyde streets. is objecting
strongly on account of the attitude of the
Board OF Health in the matter of the small
pox cases in its midst
There was a meeting of the residents OF
that section yesterday afternoon at 8 o'clock
in the back room Of W. II. McCain's grocery
store, on the southwest corner of Turk and
Hyde streets.
Among those who had q violent kick to
register were w. II. Mccain. who of1iciated
as chairman, and J. II. Ranken. who did
consider able of the talking.
The latter gentleman is the proprietor OF
the grocery-store at 404 Turk street, on the
northwest corner of Hyde. and the griev-
ances he aired were shared by his listeners.
The subject Of the discussion was small
pox in our neighb0rhood."
1t so occurs that a man named Merrill
was stricken with that contagious disease
over one month ago, and the Board OF
Health carefully tackled up the regulation
yellow sign on the door warning people
away from the place, and placed three
watchmen on the sidewalk, TO relieve each
other every eight hours. Their duties con-
sisted mainly in preventing people from
approaching the place, or In other words to
establish thorough quarantine on the In
fected house.
Merrill could not be removed to the Pest
house on account OF a lack OF room in that
sanitarium. He appears 10 be getting well
and il is expected he will be able TO leave
his house in few days.
But just when the entire neighborhood
was congratulating itself that MeTrilPs case
was passing over without further damage,
another one broke out at 305 Turk street.
A sea captain was stricken with the NAL
ady nearly week ago, and in his delirium
he had the bad taste to break the straps that
held him fast to his bed and attempt 10 hurl
himself out Of the front window.
A score of people, including the watch
men, went 10 the TeScue without thinking
of the seriousness of his disease. They
pulled the captain back into the room and
tucked bin warmly into has bed. They are
now all frightened lest they have lain them
selves liable 10 smallpox.
1t IS 10 avoid q Tecurren ce of similar
kind that brought about the meeting OF
prOperiy-owners and residents in the neigh
borh0od yesterday afternoon.
4 bert Konisthoft, the baker at 337 Turk
street, backed by +. Franceschini. the veg
etable-dealer on the northwest corner of
Turk and Hyde, proposed that committee
of sufficient numbers 10 carry weight be
delegated to call oD Mayor SandersOn and
Health Officer keeney and ask them to re-
lieve the neigh borhood of the smallpox case
at No 305 They were willing to stand the
other case at No. 33l. but their business had
fallen eff to almost nothing on account of the
publicity given TO the sea captains antics
and complaint.
Mccain said he was losing $50 per day.
Ranken was sure his sales were less by S25
each day, aud the people only bought canned
and sealed goods.
Konisthnft, the baker, had lost the trade
OF hundred OF more school children who
dropped in daily 10 buy cakes and he was
sure $40 daily would hardly covers his losses.
John Augustini, the butcher at 3l5 Turk
street, had been notified by telephone that
twenty OF his customers would cease trad
irg with him until further orders.
Sambella Il Co., at No. 325. almost next
door 10 one Of The smallpox cases, had not
sold s. worth of goods in two weeks
l.. +. Hackett, the statoner at 80 Turk
street, was also loser
II was clear from the remarks Of those
who spoke that the neigh borhoOd was
doomed to wreck and ruin unless the festive
and pitted captain was removed TO a safe
distance away from the quarters he is occu-
pylng.
After considerable discussion it was de-
cided that the people present would go down
into their pockets and pay for a suita BILE
house in the suburbs OF the city, In which
they would give the diseased captain as
many rooms as he would require. The
sense of the meeting also was that doctor
and sufficient nurses could be furnished all
providing the Mayor or the Board of Health
would have the sick man removed immedi-
ately, or as soon as possible.
Eighteen able-bOdied citizens visited the
City Hall for the purpose OF explaining the
case. The Mayor was sick and his son, who
Is acting in the capacity of a secretary,
received the delegation.
Mr.. Sgnders0n Jr. evidently did not strain
point to assist his visitors, for they have
nothing Of cheerful nature to utter regard
ing him.
Or. Keeney, the Health Officer, decla red
that it had been the battle of his term to get
proper pesthouse, but he had been unable
to succeed.
What are you going to do about it ?" he
asked them, blandly knocking the ashes
from his cigar.
The committee explained exactly how It
felt on the subject and the doctor listened.
That's all he could do or would do. He did
not feel justified in giving permission to his
visitors 20 go and haul out the sick man
from his home and take him into ne W
habitation. He declared t would be neces-
sary to get the Mayor TO call a special meet
ing OF the Board of Health and something
then might be done.
II was evident that the committee could
get no Immediate redress, so il marched
back TO The Indignation meeting in MeCain's S
grocery-store and reported.
This afternoon the new City Hall officials
Supervisors and every one else, will be in
tervlewed and asked for assistance in re-
moving the smallpox patient and il is safe
TO predict that the unfortunate sick captain
will be put through some speedy handling
peTfOrce should the authorities not act
speedily in the matter. The people
about Turk and Hyde streets are getting
very weary waiting. and they declare they
will not stand it any longer.