The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-08-01
NAY SC0URCE THE WORLD
The Course Followed by the Chol-
era Epidemic in Asia
and Africa.
Ravages India In the South and
Attacks Russia on the
North.
How IT,. Contagion IL preventod-0uar'
Antine Against 1t throughout
tho World.
TWrittep for rur INpEpENprNr.l

49H1 II 40 INV = wv Lao ANSI AAA
ar cholera first made it's appearance q
4 Diami, an n~nimportant place on tht
frontier line between Afghanistsn and
Persia. and the little fame OF apprehension
then kindled has since spread to a degree
that has filled all Europe With alarm. The
possible danger to which the United Statel
has thus become exposed through the
channels OF immigration that discharge
their currents within its borders creates a
natural and widespread American interest
in tho subject. In spite of all efforts made
to stem the danger. at the present writing
II has assumed md retains a more formida'
BILE aspect than ever before. The extension
OF the trouble nto Russia, whore 1t first
took root and which we must now consider
the most prolific source of danger to our
selves, at once suggests the importance OF
our getting the Russian version of the mat
ter in preference to those necessarily
parbled accounts which filter into our
newspapers through English sources.
The truth is that We must seek for the
birthplace Of the cholera epidemic within
the confines Of British India or at least in
those sections of the Indian empire which
are practically under British control. In
Russia a grave suspicion exists that the
English resident at Cabul, in Afghanistan.
knows more of the true inwardness OF the
difficulty than he or his superiors have ever
been willing to admit. As early rs the goth
Of April last several cases of cholera were
reported in the valley of the Helnund. .
river that flows between Kandahar and the
Persian frontier.
d" Thu Rritiah NaayJort hooptp.y ~ Eho ont.
break. sent q cipher dispatch to the govern
ment officials at Calcutta. whence instruc-
tions were forwarded to Lahore directing
the shipment of disinfsotants in quantities
to the Anglo-Afghan border. No public
explanation was made Tor this action, a. II
was considered advisable to keep matters
quiet. Meanwhile the Russian governor OF
Samarkand. Count Rostofsll, received in
formation which gave him reasonable
cause to form the conclusion that at the
instance of the Indian government cholera
patients we're being quietly carted over on
Persian territory from Afghanistan n
there left to shift for themselves.
In seeking to trace tho origin of the
trouble it must fairly be admitted that the
Transcaspian railway, Notwithstanding its
manifest advRntages, has from the start
favored the dissemination Of disease. 1t
traverses . desert region which before its
VI ! ~
Russia and Asia, effectaally shutting off the
possibility OF transmitting disease. Now
shat the railroad il al accomplished fact,
connecting the central Asian and Euro
pean provinces OF Russia, it 10 perfectly
easy for infection to be carried to and fro.
.BukuA the great pott on the eastern side of
the Caspian soa, has proved in she present
instance the first etaps of the contagion.
Being the western terminus of the Trans
caspian railroad system. it is the entrepot
of between Asiatie and Euro
pean Russia. and its malign influence ms a
center Of infection can scarcely be undsrss-
timated.
The writer's knowledge of the town sug.
gests some interesting details, which are
especially timely. 1t IL a populous city,
containing q distinctly floating popula-
ton. They come and 90, successfully
seeking. finding and abandoning the ON
plovment which is there o%btainabls in con-
nection with the great petroleum springs
and the railroad freight sheds. They are
mostly composed OF Persians, Bokk arites,
khivans, Turcomans and the most repul-,
sive description of low class Hebrews.
The prevailing racial characteristic there
is Asiatic, and it ID superfluous to say that
it carries with it the inevitable accompani-
ment of uncleanliness. There is thus con-
fronting the observer Of social conditions
in Baku q state of affairs which, apart
from its individual interest. supplies q gem
eral key to the position Russia occupies
toward other nations in the face of the
present cholera crisis. Here VIC find a con-
grepation of human souls which
herds amid almost indescribably horrible