The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1894-06-19
DEATHS BIG HARVEST
The Black Plague in China Working
Prlshtlul Havoc.
ABOUT FIVE HUNDRED A DAY
The Mongollans Rely Upon Outra-
geous Religious RItes to Drive
the Disease From the
Land.

SAN Francisco, June ls.-Thc steamer
Beigic arrived to-day with fuller details OF
the black plague now raging at Hong
Kong. When the vessel cleared, the scare,
tho result OF the first disclosures of the
epidemic's progress, had subsidized con-
sdernbly and IL was vainly hoped tho
disease would sooa be stamped out. The
mortality statistics, however. revealed
the terribly fatal character of the disease.
Despite the operations of the sanitary staN
and police, assisted by the army medical
staff corps. and the soldiers from the
Shropshire regiment, about 800 new cases
have been reported within a week aud
there had been icO deaths.
The heavy rains about the middle of the
day were hailed as a great blessing. The
water supply had been nearly exhausted.
The drains OF Hong Kong were filed with
poisonous gases and the plague had been
spreading in the most dcnsely populated
part of the city, and, To cap the climax, an
outbreak of smallpox was dreaded.
For a day or two the people thought the
epidemic was losing its vrnlencc. An
other favorable indication appeared TO be
the cooperation of the Chinese, who were
said TO be assisting in tho detection of
cases and the removal of the patients to
the hospital. The rate OF mortality
dropped temporarily.
The sanitary authorities gained encour-
agement and, while the rain water washed
out some public house drains, disinfect-
ants were scattered about and the infected
houses were cleaned and whitewashcd
The Chinese supplemented the sanitary
precautions with vast amount of cracker
| firing, which they calculated would have
a salutatory elect by driving out the evil
| spirits, whom they regarded as RESPONSE
| bic for the visitation of the plague.
house to house visitation IN search OF
the victims OF the plague was kept up by
the police, but they were unable TO get
through the crowded houses of the infected
| districts with sufficient celebrity To over
| take all the cases. The soldiers were con-
| sequently detailed 10 assist in the unpleas-
ant task. The increased vigilance re-
ycaled greater number OF patients.
The prevalence of the disease created a
good deal of alarm in the different ship
ping centcrs in communication with the
port. Saignon and tho other ports OF the
French colonies and Manila imposed a
| quarantine upon all the vessels arriving
from Hong Kong. Singapore followed
suit, and the aspects of the shipping inter
| ests were becoming serious.
| The increased viruleuce and tho discoy-
cry of a greater number OF cases aroused
the enmity of the Chinese, who had for a
| short time appeared willing to cooperate
with the authorities in bringing TO light all
the known cases. This willingness dimin.
| ished, probably, on account Of the heavy
proportional mortality which accompanies
| the disease.
Attempts were made TO evadc inspec-
tion. Sick persons were removed from
house 10 house at the approach of the po'
| lice, the houses were barrcaded. and, in q
few cases, the officers engaged in the dis
agreeable duty we're stoned by tho infuri
ated Chinese. Owing 10 these difficulties
the epidemic gained renewed virulencc.
Rumors that the plague had appeared
| in Japan prove 10 bo unfounded.
Tho news from Canton. where III,
plague started, states that the deaths nov
average 2O0 day. During March aut
| April they averaged 800 daily. Although
the fact that tho "black death was rag
ing in Canton became known only abou
a month ago, IL appears the dlscast
started as long ago as last February, ant
has been epidemic ever since. The plague
is spreading 10 the country districts abuu
Canton and TO tho ncighboring cities
About tho only measures taken in Cantor
10 stay the progress OF the disease ar,
those adopted by the priests, who marcl
through the streets chanting iucantationi
and sprinklIng holy water. A huge mask
representing dragons head, is also car
ried about the city accompanied 10y pro
digious beating of gongs and drums.