Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-08-11
YELLOW FEVER
The Latest Reports From the Sus.
poets at Pensacola.
SURGEON GENERAL WYMAN'S WORK
Prompt Orders to Isolate a Gov.
eminent Reservation.
NO NEW CASES REPORTED.

Surgeon General Wyman Of the United
States marine hospital service IL taking
prompt and vigorous steps In the matter OF
the yellow fever outbreak at Pensacola
Fla. At present his action is confined to
cooperation with the state board Of health
to prevent the spread Of the disease and to
rigid survey Of the situation by officers of
the marine hospital service. In the case OF
state like Florida, possessing a regularly
organized and active board of health. the
government does not assert paramount au-
thority until the contagion seems to be be-
yond the efforts Of the local authorities to
suppress and when the safety of neighbor-
ing states renders interposition necessary
upon the part Of the government
The First Notification.
Surgeon General Wyman received his nrst
notification Of the presence Of yellow fever
in Florida in a telegram Wednesday night
from DR.. r. w. Hargis. president Of the
Pensacola board Of health, stating that
there had been two deaths from the fever
In that town. DR.. Wyman Immediately
telegraphed DR.. Harg1s that the marine
hospital service would cooperate with the
local and state authorities in every way.
AS a practical method Of cooperation to
begin with DR.. Wyman suggested that II
operations immediately the marine hospital
bureau will furnish It, That's the kind OF
q co-operator DR.. Wyman is.
DR.. Wyman then ordered three marine
hospital surgeons to proceed to the scene
with all haste. Surgeon Magruder at New
Orleans was the nearest at hand. and he
Murray at Key West, having arrived from
the Dry Tortugas, left Immediately, ana
will be in Pensacola today. Surgeon II: II.
Carter. who had just returned to Wasning-
national quarantine at Brunswick. Ca,
where yellow fever had landed. was ordered
to Pensacola, and left last night
An Expert Wanted.
A telegram was received from the pres
ident Of a committee of public safety. or
ganized at Pensacola last night. stating
that there was some dispute as to whether
the cases were really yellow fever and ask
ing that q yellow fever expert from the
marine hospital service be sent to make
an investigation. DR.. Wymsn replied that
the surgeons he had ordered there would
make a thorough examination. All OF
these surgeons have had previous expert
ence in yellow fever epidemics. The health
authorities Of Tennessee and GeorRta have
made anxious inquiries Of the bureau ~
.S what steps are being taken e Rresscl
been advised Of the action of the bursaS
Dr. ]. 7. Porter, the state health officer
OF Florida, is now in Pensacola and u In
charge of matters. The yellow fever sus-
poets will be isolated and the neighborhood
disnfected. The local policy: In fact. for
population. for recommendations will be
made that all those who are able to leave
the city Of Pensacola should do so. In the
meantime the government surgeons are
to keep close watch upon the situation and
notify headquarters Of all developments.
This Is the extent OF the action Of the bu-
reau as far as Pensacola is concerned
A Reservation Isolated.
There Is another interest at stake. how
ever, In that locality and DR.. Wyman has
taken vigorous measures to protect It. Ad-
joining Pensacola is the naval reservation.
government property. whereon are located
about $500 people. By orders issued last
night the reservation has been entirely
isolated from Pensacola and military
Gordon has been thrown around the whole
reservation to prevent communication be-
tween the city and residents OF the tract.
Supplies will be landed at a float anchored
In the waterway and then carried on the
steam launch to the landing. These meas
ures Of precaution were decided upon yes
terday afternoon at conference held in
the office of the Secretary Of the Navy.
Twice before has a similar Gordon sur
rounded the reservation. once when the
fever appeared on the reservation and the
city protected itself and another time when
the reservation defended itself against the
city.
No new cases had appeared in Pensacola
up to last night, but DR.. Wyman said this
morning to Star reporter that this fact
should not be taken to mean that all dan
ger Is past Yellow fever epidemics are
always preceded by just such doubt and
uncertainty as at present exists and the
authorities are not deluded into feeling
Of security by such a temporary lull.
Surgeon w. H. H. Hutton, who was
in charge Of the famous Camp Perry dur
Ing the great epidemic of 1885, has volun-
teered his services and has been ordered
to Washington from Detroit to hold him
self In readiness for duty II necessary.
Troops Transferred.
In consequence Of the appearance of
yellow fever at Pensacola, Fla. Gen. Scho-
field yesterday directed the transfer OF
the troops at Fort Barrancas, Fla. to Fort
Mcpherson, Atlanta. Ga. These troops in
clude two batteries Of the third artillery
ana an indian company of the ninth in
fantry. The artillery troops were formerly
stationed at the Washington barracks. A
guard will be left at Fort Barrancas suffi-
cient for the protection Of public property.
In case of a spread OF the epidemic It will
be necessary to transfer the troops sta
toned at New Orleans, Key West and other
posts along the southern coast.