The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-09-15

for tho passenger lists of al vessels that
have arrived here since Aug. 2a Every eff
fort will be made TO trace the passenger
:sd 'r tn. insoe Pssss,oaOis Which osa:sa aS:sa
tho cholera TO break out here
must have come through some quarantine
1t may have been caused BIZ some infected
baggage or clothing, or some passenger who
came ashore may have communicated tho
germs The source of the infection is be-
ing investigated very carefully.
The Board of Education this afternoon
passed the following resolutions:
Resolved. That the Board OF Education re-
quest the several boards of trustees. and through
the trustees directs the principal ianitor and all
others concerned, TO see that every part of every
school is thoroughly cleaned and is kept clean.
and that every suspicious case OF sickness Is
promptly reported to the Board OF Health.
Resolved, That the Board of Education re-
quests the Board OF Health to have the plumb
Ing, drainage and ventilation or every school In
spected, and al defects discovered immediately
reported for the prompt attention OF this board.
In an interview after the close of the
meeting President Hunt said that If choi-
era should become epidemic IN the city he
would take such action as he deemed best
for the good of the city schools and the
safety of the children. II the situation
should become serious enough the schools
would be closed.
WHY 1T WAS MADE PUBLIC.
Mayor Grant had o conference tonight
with President Wilson, of the Health De-
partment, and President Porter, of the De-
partment of Charities and Correction. The
facts in relation to the cholera cases had
been made public under the advice
of the Mayor, with the idea
that 1t was best that the public
should be kept fully informed. Tho off,
cials who are dealing with the questions
that arise in the emergency caused by the
danger of cholera, took the view that, as
servants of the public, the best serv-
public Informed, The .unex expected danger
Is always the greatest The Mayor found
that the Department of Charities and Cor
rection is fully prepared. Should ST. Johns
Guild prove inadequate for the reception.
treatment and isolation of tho cholera pa
tients. there are five other places that can
be ready within q few hours notice for
that purpose. Until the result of the bac-
THEOLOGICAL examination was made public
il was considered unwise to declare that
there had been cholera cases in the city.
Ono of the doctors formerly belonging to
the Board of Health, in speaking of the
probability OF the spread of cholera in this
city, said tonight: The present indica-
tions point to an epidemic of cholera
which will require the most stringent
measures on the part of the authorities to
prevent it from assuming large proportions.
The fact that tho history of the cases are
so far unknown makes the danger all the
greater, as tho points of distribution of
centers OF infection known measures might
be taken to destroy the germs and guard
against the further spread. As the
situation Is at present the health au-
thOrities can only act In each case as il ap-
pears, while the diseaseis perhaps secretly
spreading and injecting tho crowded tene-
ment districts of tho city. The fact that
five cases occurred within such a short
period of time is strong proof
tacKs of Asiatio cholera. but were
of the true epidemic character. There
can be but one question as to its entrance
within the city; it mnst have come by the
way of some of the many steamships ar
irving at this port from Europe. 1t is DOS
sible that it came from some of the Euro
Tean ports lot declared to be infected. 1t is
probable that the germs were carried in the
clothing or baggage of some of the passen.
era-stricken districts of Europe. This can
only be determined by tracing up the his
tory of those who died from the disease.
IAN epidemic Will not result In such q
large mortality as in the past history of
the plague when sanitary science was in
crude state. With the present knowledg ge
of the laws Of sanitation and the
facilities gwen to the health au-
thorities in conjunction with the best
boa aSyes E. .neen in A%srSa Snsn the nna
control. The city is in fairly good sanitary
condition and the Board of Health is well
equipped in point of money and men to
deal with the scourge under ordinary cir
cnmstahces. Should the cholera get into
some of the crowded tenements on
the lower East Side of town. it would
he difficult matter to check the
ravaaes of the disease. The Board of
Health would find itself inadequate, as it
Ia at present constituted. in the face of
cf, at< t<ua 70, ha nj
'In the face of such a calamity threaten
ing the city it is necessary for the welfare
of the country that all political considera-
ti0n should be put aside. The cooperation
Of the eminent medical men of the city
should be sought and given. In this
emergency all should work together
with a single purpose-the welfare of the
community"
SUSPICIOUS CASE.
There is q suspicion that Max Vitkaft,
who was stricken with symptoms of chol-
era on Tuesday night and was removed to
Bellevue Hospital ana died this morning.
was really afflicted by the plague. If such
proves to be the case. the infection has
doubtless found q good breeding spot
in tho ch ea lodglng-house on the Bowery
where Vitkaft had q room. The man was
stricken with vomiting and diarrhea while
walking along Mercer street. and when ta-
ken to Bellevue Hospital the physi clans
supposed that his was only an aggravated
case of cholera morbus. Since the announce
ment of the deaths from Asiatio cholera in
this city an autopsy has been made on Wit
kaft's body and portions of the intestipes
taken away for examination. He was o
German. tweDty-eig y6ars old.
The iron steamboat Pegasus, having on
board 275 members of the naval reserve
and two companies of the Sixty-nInth
Regiment. returned to this city to-day.
The Pegasus while out did not make land
twenty-four hours on the water.
The story of the journey as told by
Lieutenapt-commapder Mailer is as fol-
lows: I'VE had a hard time OF il. There
was head wind and high sea all the way
down. This kept us ont until after dark.
and it was 7:30 o'clock before we reached
the Fire island inlet. We then found
us to land; the wind was too
high and there was heavy
sea; added to that it was pitch dark. Yet
/ question If we could have landed had we
reached there in daylight. As there was
not enough coal on board to last another
day we decided to 60 back and put IN at
Communipaw. It was q dreadful night.
guards. driven by O heavy gale from the
southeast. A section of the pilot-box and
portions of the fore and aft guards were
washed away. At 1890 o'clock we reached
Cummunipaw. where advlccs were receiv ed
from Governor Flower instructing the re-
turn Of the troops. 80 0welmmediately started
back. We did ell we possibly could: every
body was anxious to land. and the boys
are all willing to 60 back to Fire Island
whenever needed"
ANOTHER CHOLERA SHIP.