The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1893-04-11
ASTORIES SMALLPOX SCARE
Louis Olsen Develops a Case Of Yer
iOl0id.
GUARANTEED HIM ON TIDE LAND
Better Accommodations should Be Pro.
vided for Those Who Are Unfortunate
Iy Found Sick Here.

Va NAAAO WY IA aAAA WASA ~ ~
known that a sure case Of smallpox
had been found here.
Following is a history of the case
The name Of the unfortunate patien
is Louis Olsen, a Swede. He ha
been a resident Of this city for fou
years, generally as a fisherman.
About two weeks g he shipped a
a deckhand on the Steamer Haytiai
Republic. then on her way to Victoria
B. c. Thissteamship is n of the Mer
chant Steamship, Company's line, ant
does a considerable business on tina
route.
Olsen went on the vessel to vancou'
yer and returned, finishing one round
trip, arriving here on April Sd.
When the Haytian Republic arrived
in port she was Immediately boarded
by Deputy State Health Officer DR.,
M. M. Walker. The DR.. made a thor
ough examination of the vessel and also
OF every individual aboard and found
no sign Of any infectious disease. He
dCCOIulllBiy 6dNC ICA ~ ClCal Olt VI
health and she proceeded on her way
to Portland.
On Tuesday Olsen was employed dis
charging freight from the vessel and
quit work complaining that they were
working him too hard. Tuesday even
ing he went aboard the steamer Potter
to return to this city, arriving here
Wednesday morning. He at nee went
to lodgings over the Sunnyside saloon
where he remained not feeling well.
On Sunday he was broken out some
and feeling badly he went to st. Mary's
Hospital but was refused admlttance
He sought other medical advice and
was finally taken by Chief of Police
Loughery, to DR.. Walkers office, there
being at the time no city physician.
When the news became generally
known, there were as usual some who
wanted the matter kept quiet, for
fear 1t would injure the town. But q
policy 80 suicidal has not been followed
and Dr.. Walker hung out a yellow flag
at the building where the ease was
quartered.
DR.. Alfred Kinney, the state health
officer. has no authority as a city
health officer. his duties being solely to
inspect vessels arriving in this port.
and to quarantine them IL necessary.
The board of health had a meeting
yesterday morning and appointed DR..
M. M. Walker city physician, who took
immediate steps to protect the public
and prevent the disease from spread
ing.
At the time the Haytian Republic
was examined by DR.. Walker as dep
uty for State Health officer DIR. AL
fred Kinney, there could have been no
manifest symptoms of the disease In
Olsen. And a day later when the ves-
sci was examined In Portland by the
resident health officer no sign of the
disease was reported, 30 there can bt
no charge OF carelessness made against
DIR. Walker for not having discovered
evidences Of the disease at the time he
gave the Haytian Republic a clean bill.
OF health.
The Chinese passengers were nearly
all merchants, who came over from
the Orient on the last trip Of the EN-
press. They were destined to widely
separate sections In this country, some
being for San Francisco and interior
points on this coast, while others were
for Philadelphia.
Sunday afternoon DIR. Walker and
Captain Of Police Hallock went around
to the pest house on Young's river
where a man had gone to make
some repairs on the building to At II
for occupation. When the residents OF
that neighborhood found that a small
pox patient was about to be brought
there, there was a loud and determined
protest, In which they were Joined by
the workmen who r employed on the
government barge that is beached there
for repairs. The barge Is lacked up,
there Is no way to remove her at pres
ent and the men refused 10 ia work on
her II the smallpox nan was brought
there beside them. DR.. Walker found II
useless to think Of taking his patient
there. as threats were made to burn
the building II the attempt was made
Arrangements were then made to rent
a building at the mouth Of the Lewis
and Clarke belonging to J.. c. Trulling-
er, and sips were Immediately taken to
put II In order.
When all was ready TO transfer OIL
sen from his lodgings to the boat that
was to take him to the pest house, po-
lIcemen were stationed to prevent peo-
Pile from passing &c as TO be exposed to
infection. The wind was fresh from
the west and consequently there was a
dense crowd OF curious gazers on the
windward side. while on the other side
there was a clear field. Olsen was as
sisted into al express wagon; the driv-
er did not climb into the seat as us
ual, but led his horse by the bride
while the procession moved to Fishers
dock.
Considerable merriment was caused
by two men who tumbled over one
another in a frantic attempt to set
out OF the smallpox breeze.
The board Of health held a meeting
yesterday afternoon TO consider the
propriety OF removing Olsen from the
pest house at the mouth Of Lewis and
Clarke to the house over the hlii on
Young's river. 1t Is stated that where
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