The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-04-21
TWO TRAMPs GUARANTEED.
One Came from q Chicago Smallpox
NeighborhoOd and Is HI.


Neighborhood and Is HI.
Yesterday afternoon, about $50 o'clock,
patrolman Leppert found two tramps,
Frank Steel and John King, loaffng in the
barrel houses on West Washington street.
He arrested them on charges of vagrancy
and summoned the patrol wagon. While
awaiting it's arrival Steel told the officer
that his back panied him and that he was
feverish. He added that he had been in the
city but few days, and had come from
Chicago, where he had lived in the neigh
borhood of several smallpox cases. King
did not complain of feeling i'll, but said
that he had been loafing with Steel all day.
The men were put into the patrol wagon
and hauled to the county Jail. AS soon
as Turnkey Collins was informed that the
prisoners were possibly afflicted with small
pox he refused to admit them, stating
that he was acting under orders not to re-
ceive suspects. Admission to the police sta
ton was next attempted, but the quaran-
tined officers were heartless and refused
to open the doors. The police surgeon was
summoned and after an investigation
stated that If the men had the disease it
had not developed sufficiently to show it
self. DR.. Wagner was called, but he, too,
could form no opinion The city ambulance
was then called and Steel and King were
removed to a tent on the ground west of
Major" Higgins and David Stahlcup which
had been placed there by Captain Quigley
according TO the Instructions of Superinten-
dent Powell The City Hospital physicians
administered to King and Steel last night,
and this morning they, together with DR..
Wagner and Police Surgeon Kahlo, will In
quire into the condition of the men. If they
find fully developed smallpox their tent will
be placed near those occupied by Higgins
and Stahlcup, while an additional tent will
be placed at some distance away for suS-
poets.
Superintendent Powell stated last night
that possibly the smallpox racket was be-
ing worked by shrewd trampS for a nights
lodging and food. The tramps know that
they will not be placed in a position where
they Will be likely to contract the disease.
Then they might hope TO be allowed TO go
at liberty or escape with light workhouse
sentence The Superintendent says that
some place for the housing of the tramp
element over night is needed, now that the
bum room at the police station is shut
for the tramps who feigned to be i'll with
smallpox in order to get lodging. Possibly
to-day arrangements will be made to erect
q large tent near the City Hospital, where
all suspects will be held until their exact
condition is known.
Higgins and Stahlcup continued about
the same yesterday. Stahlcups home No.
40 Eddy street, is now under full quaran-
tine. Nineteen persons of all descriptions
are within the house, which is an abode
of filth. The police are keeping a strict sur
veillance over the place in order that none
no danger that outside persons will attempt
TO effect an entrance to the house. Yester-
day. afternoon patrolman Tickle captured
and quarantined Evans, the man who was
known to have lived with Stahlcup, but
who escaped the vigilance of the health off,