The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-11-13
Residents of Uncle Sans Domain
Warned to Beware Enlisting in
President Peixoto's Service.
REBEL GUNS MINOR DANGERS
Yellow Fever and Other Deadly
Diseases More to Be Feared.
Strangers Hurried Into Collins Long
Before Life Is Extinct-Money Vam-
pires of the Republic.

NEW YORK, Nov. IAN American who
has only recently returned from Brazil
after a long residence in that country was
visited by an Associated Press reporter for
the purpose of ~eliciting his views upon the
civil war at present in operation in the re-
public Of South America The gentleman.
when questioned, insisted upon it that his
name should not be used in any way, as
his present large interests in the country
in question might suffer were he known TO
have any decided views affecting any OF
the factions which are at present engaged
in a struggle for supremacy. On first be-
ing questioned he very emphatically re-
fused to talk at all, but was finally pre-
vailed on to speak when interrogated on
the subject Of the risks being taken by
Americans who were enlisting for service
on the Brazilian fleet now being fitted out
at this port by the agents of Peixoto.
"It seems to me-" said he, that it is an
outrage to enlist men at this season Of the
year to go down to Brazilian ports. even
If Peixoto was reigning there The yellow
fever season begins at just about this sea-
son, and a month hence it will be raging
throughout the section where the fighting
is going on / venture to predict that at
least 80 per cent. of the men going down on
the Brazilian fleet will never return alive,
even should they be SO fortunate as to eS-
cape the bullets and the torpedoes of the
insurgent feet. AS our Northern winter
approaches the sun becomes hotter and
hotter in the advanced summer season
south Of the equator. Even in times Of
peace, in Rio de Janeiro or Santos, Amer
cans going ashore during the months from
November to March inclusive cannot, as a
general thing, withstand the intense trop-
ical heat. Besides the heat, the sickening
sights one meets daily in the very thor
oughfares Of these two cities are calcu-
lated to turn the stomach Of a stranger, as
it even does mine to recall them. The
funerals of the victims of yellow fever,
smallpox and berri-berri, a species of Afri-
can leprosy, are seen at the turning of al
most every street 1 have frequently seen
new arrivals among my own countrymen.
in the full vigor of youth and health, pass
away almost between the rising and the
setting Of the sun 1 walked to them one
day, and, on inquiring for them a day or
two afterwards, learned that they were
dead and buried.
1T is not the climate and the prevailing
epidemic, however, that are mostly to be
feared. The most painful and narrowing
"reminiscences in my mind consist Of what
1 have seen of the brutality OF the Brazil
ian authorities towards foreigners. They ap-
pear to have an especial pleasure in exer-
cising this unprecedented brutality upon
Americans, for the reason that there is a
lack of cooperation among the Americans
in Rio, whereas, the English, French. Ger
mans, and other European colonies are
generally united. These latter colonies have
been so long established in the country that
they foresee what will happen during each
years epidemic, and are prepared to take
the very best care Of the new arrivals In
their own respective communities. We are
not so we'll prepared, and the result is that
when an American falls sick in a Brazilian
boarding house or hotel he has no special
does not realize what his sickness is until
the health officers are notified.
BRUTALITY OF HEALTH OFFICERS.
'"These brutal health officers are so accus-
toned to witness the sufferings of stran-
gers who become victims TO the climate
and filth Of the cities Of the country that
it is sure death to fall into their hands.
The true stories of what foreigners on the
soil OF Brazil have suffered at the hands
OF these inhuman; brutaliZed men of au-
thority in the ports of Brazil would seem
incredible. Anyone, however, who has ever
passed through an epidemic can bear wit
ness to the truth of what 1 am saying.
When strangers become III with smallpox
it is no unusual thing--in fact, the general
thing-that their cases are pronounced yell
low fever, despite all appeal and protest TO
the contrary. They are carted off to an
ov~ercrowded, filthy yellow fever hospital.
there TO be thrust into beds, the linen and
mattresses of which have not been changed
since their former occupants had left them
/ in roOSf If NOT in all pacac for fhair onf-
fins. I have personal knowledge of the fact
that two American employees Of a
firm of manufacturers, who were
sent to Brazil on business for their
company, met their death through the I'M
scrupulous and inhuman neglect OF the Bra
lillian health authorities. These men were
taken Ill, packed off TO one Of the foul hos
pitfalls as yellow fever patients, when IT was
not known or inquired whether they were
suffering from either smallpox or yellow
fever. Their cases were pronounced hope
less, and they were thrust, against all en-
treaty into their collins. and buried before
life had become extinct. These are only two
instances out of an almost daily list Of
similar occurrences. The attendants at the
hospitals are frequently so lazy and thought
less. and so accustomed TO suffering, that
such scenes are not given any thought They
DccODlc 50 ndIQGilGd an1 tie liAdl AnEy
rush human beings alive into their collins.
linking that il does not make much diff
ference If their patients are FASTENED 10
the end a few hours before their time-and
then it saves time and trouble TO get rid OF
them. Then it is observed to be more pleas
ing TO them to smoke their cigarettes than
to change the bed linen or make any sort
OF decent preparation for the newcomers.
In the years that have gone by doubtless
thousands OF useful lives might have been
saved in Rio de Janeiro alone. had any
kind of proper treatment been secured for
those who become Ill. IL might well be
written over the entering pier OF Rio de
Janeiro: 'Abando all hope, We who enter
here
Knowing all these facts from an actual
residence in the country makes me feel
sick at heart when 1 read in the papers OF
so many hundreds OF American citizens en-
listing for service down there. IL any OF
those brave fellows had the slightest idea
Of what was ahead OF them 1 do not be-
lieve they would be so eager In their de-
sire to accompany the Brazilian feet int