The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-04-14
A CASE OF SMALLPOX
"Major" Higgins, a Negro, Found
Suffering at Police Station.
Station House and q Number of Police
men Observation-Disclosures in a
Tent Oh Pesthouse Site.

Major Higgins, a colored tramp, and a
recent importation from Vincennes has
started a smallpox scare in this city I'M
equaled for many years. He arrived here
five days ago, as he states and on several
occasions stopped over night at the bum
room at the police station Thursday
night about 7 o'clock. Higgins asked per-
mission of Turnkey Long to sleep in this
room. The latter noticed that Higgins
walked with a numbering STEP and as If
in great pain. He questioned Higgins, but
the latter stated that he was suffering
from rheumatism. He also said he had
recently walked great distances while on
the road and that his feet and limbs were
swollen in consequence. Turnkey Long
ported the matter to Police Surgeon Kahlo
during the night. and the Doctor exam
ined Higgins yesterday morning. He found
an eruption Of the skin, and also that the
pains in the limbs had greatly increased
in addition to the man having a high
fever. DR.. Kahlo reported the matter to
DR.. Ferguson, of the City Hospital, and
the latter investigated Higgins's condition.
He at once saw that Higgins had syrnp-
toms Of smallpox. He informed DR.. Wag-
ner. who has had much experience in that
line. and the latter, too, after making an
examination, was Of the opinion that Hig-
gins was undoubtedly suffering from at
tack Of smallpox. DR.. Hodges was called
in later. but it was his opinion that Hig-
gins suffering fran q severe attack
Of the "seven-year itch" He admitted.
however. that the disease might be small
poX. The extreme dark color Of Higgins
rendered it difficult to make a thorough
investigation of the mans condition. Hig-
gins claimed, yesterday morning, that he
had not been in places where there was
any smallpox and that none of his travel
ing companions complained of having the
disease.
Police Surgeon Kahlo made another ex-
animation of the man yesterday afternoon
about o'clock, and reported to the Board
OF Health. DIR. Hays after a consultation,
during which it was deemed wise to order
that the most careful precautions be taken
to prevent a spread Of the disease should
1t be smallpox, ordered the police station
quarantined for twenty-four hours, begin
ming at o clock The following persons
connected with the police department are
now in the station, and will remain there
until the quarantine is raised: Police Ma
iron Mrs. Buchanan, Joe Richardson, Doss
liam Wheeler. Martin McGuff John Long,
Otis Balloon, Joseph Steinruck and Henry
Slate. Late in the afternoon Mayor Denny
lie lieu SAFETY and Board of Health, together
with Superintendent Powell and Police Sur
geon Kahlo, In regard to the necessary ar
engagements for handling the police work
and the caring for those Guaranteed at
the police station. All detail matter will
be reported to the police station, and from
there given out to the officers by tele-
phone. The prisoners not already confined
at the police station will be conveyed by
the patrol wagon TO the county Jail, where
there is ample room to confine them. The
morning and evening roll calls will be held
in the Council chamber. The headquarters
Of Superintendent Powell and Eugene Har-
rls. his secretary will be in the offices of
the Board of Public Safety. Those con-
fined at the police station will be fur
nished with substantial meals. The pris-
oners there will escape trial until the quar-
About $50 yesterday afternoon Higgins
was removed to q tent the land in the
rear of the City Hospital, near the banks
of Fall creek. by the city ambulance. 1t
was the opinion of the majority Of the
physicians who had made any diagnosis
of the disease that smallpox was rapidly
developing. In case this is true many per-
sons, including reporters, members OF the
police force and numbers Of other visitors
to the police station whose names were
ali taken, will be put under quarantine.
The situation at the police station is
somewhat humorous. notwithstanding the
possible grave results. The prisoners In
the cage who were unfortunate enough
to be confined when the quarantine was
ordered pace their cells full of the knowl-
edge of their possible danger Every once
in a while they call to the officers present
and ask what the trouble Is On receiving
the reply that nothing unusual, excepting
that the station is under quarantine over
a case of smallpox, they make their way
back to their hunks and swear at their
hard luck. The officers in charge are get
ting a taste of temporary enforced retire
ment from the world