The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1893-05-12
CANADA AND THE CHoLERA.

Many people in the United States have
felt that the chief danger of the intro
duction of cholera into this country lay
in the laXity with which the Canadian
quarantine regulations were enforced.
This sentiment may have owed its origin
IN part, to the fact that cholera made its
way into the United States in 1897 by
way of Quebec, but be this as it may, I'M
til within comparatively short time the
Canadian government has betrayed re-
markable lack of care or apprehension in
relation to its exposed condition IN the
face of possible, if not probable, APP
proach to its shores of this dreaded
scOurge. This attitude on the part of
our Northern neighbor fused not little
uneasiness among Americans, and espe-
cially those residing near the Canadian
boundary.
The Canadian authorities have now
given assurance, however, that they will
cordially cooperate with our own in all
measures deemed necessary to prevent
the introduction of cholera. They an
nounce that vigilant surveillance is be-
ing maintained at Halifax over all immi-
grants arriving at the port, and judging
from the news dispatches from that
port the statement is made in good faith.
There appears to be conflict between
the Canadian government and the city of
Halifax which has resulted in a dead
lock. The city insists that immigrants
must be disinfected at quarantine
grounds where arrangements are not
yet completed, the dllatoriness of the
government. The port heath officer
wants them brought up to the city for
distinction. The mayor has warned the
steamship agents and the port officers
that he will prevent immigrants from
landing until fumigated, if it takes the
whole police force of the city and special
constables to do so. The government
is fitting up barges with arrangements
for fumigating purposes and the present
difficulty will undoubtedly be obviated.
In addition to the precautions taken
at Halifax the Canadian government has
established a well-equipped quarantine
at Green Isle in the st. Lawrence, a short
distance below Quebec, and it has inYited
the United States Surgeon General to
station an officer at Crosse Isle, to OBJ
serve the methods OF examination, fumi-
cation, etc., employed by the Canadian
quarantine officials, so that he may give
u satisfactory certificate to immigrants
intending to enter the United States
from Canada. This will do much to
make Americans feel secure in relation
to the character of the cholera precau-
tions which are being taken by the gov
eminent which has thus covered the
ground, for while direct immigration in.
to the Dominion is by the way of Hall
fax, there is always large inward
movement by way of the st. Lawrence in
summer.
While the Canadian government is
thus guarding the introduction of chol-
era by immigrants it seems to be up to
its old tricks in dealing with suspects
who have made their way into the Do
miniOn. For instance, number of at
tempts have been made to smuggle into
the United States from Canada one of
the 400 immigrants from cholera infected
Hamburg, who landed at Halifax week
or SO ago, and customs officers at Fort
Erie and Victoria, just across the river
from Buffalo in Canada, have gotten
themselves in hot water. When the first
attempt was made to bring this immi-
grant, Julius Scheke, over by way of the
International bridge, the United States
customs fiji ers sent him back. The
next morning before daylight he was
sent over in rowboat. The officers
heard of this, and finding him at the
house of relative, John Briske, reported
him.
1t was suspected that Customs Officer
House of Canada was implicated in the
smuggling, and this suspicion became
certainty when .iske confessed that
House had come TO Buffalo and informed
him that Sci exc would be brought over
Another attempt was made later to bring
Scheke in this country by way of the
ferryboat which RUNS between Buffalo
and Fort Erie. The captain had been
instructed by the health and immigrant
officers to keep sharp lookout for inn
migrants. Late in the afternoon Capt.
Newman discovered Scheke aboard his
boat disguised, and ordered him ashore.
Then Canadian officer named O'Malley
ordered him back again and attempted
to bulldoZe Newman into taking the i'm
migrant across. The captain was firm,
however, and Scheke did not come.
Instances of this kind show how great
is the interest of the United Sta es in
having strict quarantine kept by Il Q
Canadian government at At aBtic ports;
for if immigrants suspected of haviI
been exposed to the scourge make their
way into the interior they are almost
certain to be shipped to this country.
This is one of the ways which our Cana
diau cousins have of exhibiting that
love for America which impels them 10
seek annexation.-Free Press.