The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-09-12
Resenting the Sale Of Fire Island to
the Health Department.
CHOLERA PATIENTS NOT VENTED.
In Attempt to Land Passengers FFcm the Plague
Stricken Ships Resisted Successfully BY The
People Of IsIip and Babylon.
Special TO THE MORNING CALI.

SURF HOTEL. FIRE ISLAND, n. Y. Sept.
n.-There has been more excitement in the
last twelve hours al Fire Island than at any
time during the whole summer season. The
sale of the place TO the State for quarantine
purposes has created a great hnbbub among
the people Of the towns of Islip and Baby
Ion, who predict all kinds Of dire calamities
as the result of landing passengers from the
vessels affected with cholera upon the beach,.
Last night at a mass-meeting a committee
consisting Of Supervisor Young, Justices
Clarke, StudIey, 0'BrieD and Howell. Dr.
W. A. Baker and J. s. Gilbert, constituting
the Board OF Health, was appointed to go
90 Fire Island with twenty deputy con-
stables to protest against the use Of the
Island for quarantine purposes and resist the
landing of passengers. They left in sail
boats late tonight. arriving there in the
morning aud the deputies were placed on
guard. When President Charles W. Wilson
aud DR.. Cyrus Edison of the New York
Board of Health, who came TO Babylon by
special train. arrived in a sailbOat at 3
o'clock In the morning they were quickly
surrounded by the deputies, who made
demonstrations against d. 5. 5. Samms, the
owner of Fire Island, making all kinds of
threats against him for selling il.
No attention was paid TO this. however,
aud President Wilson informed Sammis
that Governor Flower had authorized the
purchase Of the island for S21O000, and he
had a certified check for $4,000 to pay as
soon as the papers we're signed. Sammis then
turned il over To President Wilson, as the
representative of Health Officer jenkins,
all tie guests aud most Of the servants hay
ing left yesterday afternoon.
After this transaction, when President
Wilson appeared at about 10 O'clock
this morning after breakfast the local
from the main land, mostly boys and men,
made demonstrations, using threats against
the State, MT. Sammis and every body con-
cerned. At II o'ciock President Wilson
met the Board of Health and explained
ali the circumstances of the purchase and
the intended use Of the island.
Supervisor 7 Young and DR.. Baker stated
that il would ruin the property and indus
tTies and endanger the health Of the adj0in-
Ing communities, and asserted that the
local Boards jurisdiction was paramount to
that of the State Board, and that lit
would resist any attempt to land passengers.
At the time of sending this dispatch
affairs are assuming a serious aspect at Fire
Island. Although il is only O'clock IN the
evening. this will likely be the last word
sent tonight, as il nas been given out that
She sympathiZeTs with the local Board of
Health are considering the feasibility OF
cutting of all telegraphie communication
between Fire Island and New York City.
The men from Islip aud other points on
the main shore appear 10 have decided to
bid defiance both to the order Of Governor
Flower and 10 the instructions Of the State
Board Of Health. They seem to have be-
come utterly Iawiess, as we'll as reckless.
As it grew dark tile men who had been
concealed in the shadow Of the outbuildlngs
began to move about more freely, as If they
were certain Of concealiBg their identity.
pickets were posted and regular system Of
signals as arranged.
There is no telling the number OF men en-
gagged on the island, but there certainly
could Dot have been fewer than fifty, and
there may have been double that number.
A taste OF the temper and cunning OF
these fellows has already been afforded
President Wilson and his associates. a
search being deemed adVisa bic, piles OF Ia
fammable materials were found heaped UP
against either end of the rGmshackle hotel.
which, II lighted, would have destroyed the
building in a very short time, for, being old
and dry, it would lave burned like tinder.
When the Vaccinations Of the enemy were
fully understood Mr.. Wilson promptly
divided his associates OF the health depart
ment and the newspaper men into watches
Of six men each, who should patrol the
building thr0pghOu the night, each watch
being on duty three hours at a stretch.
Even President Wilson stood his tHrn with
the rest, and when lthis arrangement Ihad
been effected all hands felt more comfort
able.