Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1893-09-22
D1PHTHBR1A ON FISHERS ISLAND.
Four Deaths i'm the BrettIeboro Colony
---HeclIess Course OF the Doctors.

---Reckless Course Of the Doctors.
The body of Edward e. Estey, son of S. |
w. Estey of West Dummerston, whose
death at Fishers Island was reported last
week, was brought to Brattleboro Friday
night by the evening train over the New
London Northern road, and there being no
doubt that death was caused by diphthera,
it was taken directly to the cemetery in
West Dummerston and buried. The body
had been properly treated with dsnfect-
ants and was placed in Theoretically sealed
casket for transportation. Funeral services
were held Sunday, Fuller Battery attending
in body out of respect for one of their
comrades. The young man was the younger
of the two sons of Mr.. and Mrs. Estey, his
age being II years. He had worked at the
Estey Organ companys for some two years
past. He bore a good reputation, and was
highly esteemed by his friends. He went
to Fishers Island on visit to his brother,
Eugene E. Estey, who has charge of the
milk and butter making on the Ferguson
farms, and was seized with his fatal illness
after he had been there about ten days,
death taking place on the fourth day.
Last Friday occurred the death, after a
short illness from diphtheria, of Harry T.
Matthews, aged II, son of +. A. Matthews
]
carpenter on the island during the sum
mer. The body was wrapped in disinfect-
ants, put in a metallic casket, and brought
to Brattleboro by the evening train Satur-
day night, accompanied by the family. On
arrival the body was placed in the tomb in
the Prospect Hill cemetery, and was pri-
yately buried Sunday. A second son of
the family, - years old, who was i'll on the
way up, developed a case of diphtheria in
mild form. The family are in their house
| at Centerville, and are attended by DR..
| Webster, who, with the authorities has
taken the most careful measures for disin-
lection and for the strict isolation of the
family. The case proved not to be alarm
ing, and the boy now appears to be making
a good recovery. No further trouble from
the disease is probable in that direction.
The fourth death among the Brattleboro
colony on the island took place Wednesday,
the victim being Ed Goddard, young man
of about 20, who was employed there in
the stables. He had worked on farms in
the west part of this town, in stables in the
village, and for a short time in Puffer n
Co.'S grocery store. 1t is understood that
he has no family and the body was prob
ably buried on the island.
Last Saturday Col. Hooker, as chairman
New London, asking if he could not pre-
vent the landing at that place, and trans
portation to Brattleboro, of bodies which
threatened to spread the contagion, but no
reply was received. Yesterday Dr. Miller,
as health officer with the concurrent ad-
vice of the selectmen, wired the Vermont
board of health asking them to request the
state board of health of New York to have
Fishers Island properly quarantined. Up
to this morning no reply has been received.
The treatment of this outbreak by the
physicians at Fishers Island appears to
have been of the most reckless and even
criminal character The feeling on the is
land in regard to this is very strong. The
Estey, Barrett and other Brattleboro fami-
lies are saying that the doctors knew at
the start that the disease was diphtheTia,
but suppressed the facts on the ground
that it would 'hurt the island" Had the
real character of the disease been made
known at the start, none of these families
would have risked their children there.
Moreover the danger 10 the public from
members of the families who have travel
ed on the trains and gone about without
restraint has been very great, though Brat
tleboro, by rare good fortune, has escaped
the infection. The culpable physicians
are said to have been visitors from New
York city. They certainly deserve to be
reported to the authorities, and punished
as the New York law provides.
Nine deaths in all have occurred on the
island, and at least two or three other Wis
itors on the island died after going 20 their
homes. 1t is the belief on the island that
the disease was originally brought there by
a young man from Stamford, Conn, who
came there i'll, and died after returning
home.