Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-11-19
PANIC AT CITY HALL.
The Allegheny Municipal Building
Used as a Pest House.
OFFICIALS ARE BADLY SCARED.
A Smallpox ratient Promenades Through
the Offices
HE CALLED ON CHIEF ELLIOT ALSO

Charles Probert, afflicted with a we'll
developed case OF smallpox, walked through
several of the Offices to Allegheny City
Hall yesterday afternoon and terrorized the
officials Previous to this he had paid
visit to the Pittsburg Department OF Charl-
ties and left the people there in an uneasy
frame of mind.
Probert is about 20 years of age, and his
father lives on Shady avenue, Allegheny.
He has not been at home for a number of
years, but has spent his time knocking
about the world. Yesterday afternoon ne
turned up at the Pittsburg Department OF
Charities. He said he was very sick, with
out money and wanted aid. Mr.. Hoffman
found that the man belonged in Allegheny,
and he sent him over There were some OF
the symptoms of smallpox about the fellow,
but Chief Elliot and his men thought the
man was suffering from another disease.
Probert went directly to Allegheny. He
entered the health Office and passed through
it, Superintendent Muth's and Mayor Ken
nedy's Offices, and then upstairs to the Chari-
ty Department. Chief Grubb thought the
man was suffering from severe attack of
chickenpox, or possibly smallpox. He had
him removed to the hospital department of
Central station, and sent for City Physician
Hazard. The doctor was horrifed when
he caught sight of the man. A hasty ex-
animation showed that Probert's face and
entire body was covered with pox marks.
He ordered him sent to the pest house at
once.
The introduction of this horrible disease
into the municipal offices came near driving
every one out. The offices probert had
passed through on his way to Chief Grubbs'
room were all well-filled and each person
was afraid they would catch the disease.
DR.. Hazard at once ordered the whole dis
infected, but even this did not allay the
fears of the ffiocials. There were a number
of people near the fellow for several min
utes.
''The public health offices of Allegheny
should be removed" said Superintendent
Muth last night. ''This smallpox case
proves my claim. Probert walked through
my Office this afternoon where seven or
eight people were congregated and l nor
any of the rest had the least idea that the
man had the disease. / am not particularly
afraid of catching the malady, but 1 do not
care to unnecessarily come in contact with
person who is suffering from it. None of
us may take the disease and we may all take
it. The Health Department should be
isolated from all other public departments,
and steps should be taken at once to secure
a proper location for it.
II understand that the medical fraternity
Of the two cities expect an epidemic of
smallpox this winter and if this be true
something should be done at once to remove
the Health Department as far from City Hall
as possible. So many people of both sexes
come here every day and night, that with
the Health Department located where it is,
smallpox or any other contagious diseases
would spread from here easier than from
any other part of the city. believe in act
ing at once in this NATTER