The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-02-26
FIGHTING TYPH US IN A JAIL.
Queens Comfy at Last Sets to Work (
Erect Pest Houaes.

Erect Pest Houses.
Contractors began yesterday to erect three
post houses In the rear OF the Queens county
Jail In Long Island CITY. It Is believed by the
city physicians that 1t will be a simple matter
to check the spread OF typhus in the county
jail. at least as soon as the buildings are com.
pletsd. which will probably be to-day. They
will be mere pavilions. There are ut present
five developed cases Of typhus in the Jail and
seven suspected cases. There have been no
new cases for thirty-six hours. and 30 far there
has been but one death. that Of Edward Green.
which was reported in The Sun yesterday.
Tho Queens county jail is In the rear OF the
County Court House and a part OF tho same
building. In this building. besides tho courts
are the offices OF the Sheriff. tho Surrogate.
and the County Treasurer. The building is
about 200 yards from the City Hall. The main
entrance is through tho Court House.
Tho cells are arranged In tiers. Those in
which prisoners convicted OF grave offences
are confined are below. and the upper tiers are
minor offences. On the top floor Is n large
room whore warrants are confined. THERE'S
constatbiss with a fee Tor Zach .ew vacrsH Ste1 9hey
arrest: and Justices get a fee for each one
This law. perhaps. is responsible for n large
part OF tho collection OF Migrants. that are
always on hand in tho county lail. Tho room
% VIZ tcl i'OA 10 6Nu0idlS lllIcu, CSDSClaIlY
during the winter. 1t was among the prison
ers in this room that typhus was discovered.
and only Migrants have so far been victims.
1t Is not known with certainty how tho dis
ease got into the Jail. but 1t is thought it was
brought there by n MIN named Hurley who is
believed to have carried tho disense in his
clothes from = Bowsry lodging house.
th huaiey was COMMITTEE to tho Jail early in
served his time and came to New York. IS
was here about a month. week ago Friday
he again went to Newtown. and was arrested
and com mitted a second tins for tveniv 6ovs
Shortly after he was put in. Jail he complained
OF being sick. Tho next dry he was we'll. but
ahalf dozen Of the other prisoners we're taken
stcE. and their disease proved to no typhus.
York. ""
The developed cases and the SUSPECTS were
neps as iar away from the other prisoners as
offended by Or. Barry, Once each day. under
the supervision Of the doctor. the jail has been
inmi9ated BY burning sulphur and with other
q Supervisors thu doctor has reported that
the erection of pest houses for the better isola.
tlon OF patients Was an absolute necessity.
Yesterday the building Committee Of the
William Smith and samuel Berastrnusssr. and
With them and Q gang OF, carpenters went to
the lail and pointed out the sites for the three
In the mean time. while the disease is in the
jail. the county seat Of Queens county is prao.
tically In. Jamaica. The courts, the Sheriff.
and all the officials have established tenn.
rested and committed are confined in the
Town Hall Jail ut Jamaica. Guards stand
city night and day. and no one is permitted to
some talk OF deserting tho City Hal! because
OF It's nearness t. the infected building, but il
Is not likely that this will be done.