Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1892-09-07
A PLAGUE SHIP.
Cholera-1nfe cted Steamer Arrives at Nov
York.

Cholera Infe cted steamer Arrives at Now
York.
New York, Aug. 31.-The steamship
Moravia, of the neutrality-suspicious.
Line, from Hamburg, had twenty-five
deaths on board during the passage,
which the ships doctor says were
from cholerine. Twenty were Of
children and two of adults.
Thirteen were natives of Poland,
five of Prussia, one of Austria and
three of Hesse. All were buried at sea.
The first death took place August 10
and the last on August 20. The steamer
Moravia has been ordered down to the
lower bay.
The health officers who made the in
Bpection of the Moravia's passengers
pronounce the cause of death in the
stricken cases as true Asiatic cholera.
All the emigrants on the steamship are
being transferred to Hoffman Island
this afternoon. The vessel and the
cargo will be thoroughly disinfected
while lying in the lower bay.
The Storage passengers of the Mora
via were carefully inspected and were
all found to be in good health ex cept
In& IL IL
measles.
1t was impossible to get any but
meager facts this afternoon regard
ing the MOravia's condition. DIR.
jenkins was summoned from the shore
when his deputy, who first went aboard
of her, learned the condition of affairs
and he personally interviewed the
ships physician and officers regard
ing the disease aboard the ship.
The surgeon Of the Moravia de-
clared that the twenty-five passengers
of the ship had Undoubtedly died from
cholerlne. and DR.. jenkins Immediately
ordered the steamer off shore, giving
Capt. Thiele, her commander, irstruc-
tons to anchor off Hoffman Island and
to remain there until he received fur
ther orders.
After the doctors left the steamer she
weighed anchor and Immediately left
for the lower bay, q yellow flag, show
ing that she had cCntagion on board,
flying from her foremasthead. On
landing at the quarantine wharf
DR.. Jenkins and DR.. Talmadg4, his CHIEF
deputy, went at once to the formers
house on the bluff overlooking the bay,
and were in consultation for some time.
1t was at first given out that the
Moravia bad clean bill Of health and
that the doctors had been surprised at
the clean and healthy condition Of the
vessel. The return Of the steam
er to the lower bay Gre
ated no surprise or suspicion,
as 1t WAS believed that the immigrant
passengers on board were to be treated
to bath at Hoffman Island, and then
landed for the fumigation of the ship
and their clothing. 1t was not till after
noon that the facts began to gain circula-
ton. Then there was panic among the
people who had flocked down 10 the
shore to witness the operations of the
doctors on the vessel. The story was at
first discredited, but Or. Talmadge soon
confirmed it. Those whose business did
not detain them at the spot Immediate
ly hurried away from the station.
Should Swinburne Island be required
for the care of cholera patients, the hair
mattresses now IN use there VIII be dis
pensed with and wire mattresses sub
stituted. The quarantine commissioners
yesterday filed an order for a
number of soft wire pillows. These are
easier cleaned, and are less liable to re-
tain any germs Of disease should they be
used with contagious patients.