The Portland daily press., 1892-05-14
BURIED At SEA.
The Death Of Captain Guptill Of the
Bark Samuel B. Hale.
SHE SAILED FROM SANTOS, THE
BRAZILIAN FEVER HOLE.

Men Die There Neglected in the Street
Nearly Thousand Vessels Whose
Crews Have Surrendered to Yellow
Jack Lie in the Harbor-The Hale
Was Kept Eight Months in This Plague
Spot.
PHILADELPHIA, Pa, May 13.-Yellow
fever, contracted while ashore at Santos.
caused the death of Captain C. B. Cup
till, of the American bark Samuel B.
Hale, which arrived in port yesterday
from Brazil. Captain Guptill belonged
IN Portland, Me. A rumored report that
fever was still on board caused some ex-
cltement yesterday along the wharves,
but this was allayed after the port physi-
clan had made his visit to her shortly af-
ter she dropped anchor in the stream,
when, finding all hands well and the YES
sci IN first-class condition, he allowed her
to come to her wharf and discharge her
cargo. The Hale sailed from Santos on
March Tth for Philadelphia, with 1890
bags OF coffee. She had been out but
few days when Captain Guptill was
taken sick with the dreaded disease. On
March 10Th he died and was buried at
sea. As precaution against any further
outbreak his effects, together with the
cabin furniture, were thrown overheard.
while the cabin was secured and painted
and the whole vessel thoroughly fumi-
gated.
Chief Mate Westerberg, when seen
yesterday, told some gruesome tales of
the ravages of the disease at Santos. Ly-
ing in the harbor, waiting to discharge
OF load, are nearly Thousand vessels.
whose crews are thinned out by the dis
ease. On some the entire crew have
DIED. while on others it was nothing un
usual to see them carry off their dead
each night. For nearly eight months the
Hale was obliged to stay at Santos. una
BILE to unload her cargo, owing to the
large number of vessels in the harbor be-
fore her arrival, who were awaiting their
turn to discharge. This was slow work,
as but four vessels are able to get along
side the wharf at one time, and to un-
ioad the large fleet in portwhen the Hale
lett will take a couple of years.
Santos said Mate Westerberc, 'sis a
disgustingly dirty place; no attention
seems to be paid to sanitary arrange
ments, while the worst place by all odds
is down at the railroad wharf.' A sea
wall is being built and the mud is being
thrown around. This, as it dries, eives
out a fearful stencil, especially after
nightfall, while it is common occur
renee to see dead animals of all kinds
floating about the harDor until they fair
ly rot.
"on the streets of santos,'' continued
the seaman, 'smen could be seen drop
ping with fever. In most cases they
were allowed to lie where they fell. no
one paying the slightest attention to
them or giving them any htlp whatever
There they would remain until the dead
wagon, as it is called, came around and
being hastily thrown into the cart thev
would be carried off to the common burial
ground, where thev would be thrown in
to trench and covered with earth.''
Nothing will induce the crew of the
Hale to tempt fate by making another
trip to this fever-stricken spot. To regu-
lar habits and but few visits to the shore
the crew owe their escape from the dis
ease.
The death of Captain Guptill during
the passage of the Estella Belle Marquis,
from Santos to Philadelphia, was report
ed in yesterdays Press. He had resi-
dence on Beckett street, but has not
been in Portland since last April, owing
to the experience of unexpected delays
during the journey, this last trip lasting
63 days. He was only AZ years of age,
and leaves widow and child. The YES
sci was the property of E. Manuel Bel
marco of Santos, but twas formerly owned
by Il. Lewis of this city, and bore the
name of Samuel B. Hale.
Kennebec W. G. T. U.
GApDr,rrD No. 10 rrLo z:lL