The Columbus journal., 1894-06-20
BLACK PLAGUE IN CHINA
Deaths Averaged Five Hundred
Daily In Canton.
HEAVY RAINS PROVE A BLESSING,

outlEeO At S0tgnOn and SingapOre-PO-
lice Meet With Dinicultiss In Inspecting
HOuses-Plasue Spreading to the Coun-
try Districts-Cannibals Ate Three Men.
WASHINGTON, June 19.-The steamer
Belgic arrived Monday with fuller de-
tails of the black plague, now raging at
Hong Kong. When the vessel cleared,
the scare, the result of the first disclos-
ures of the epidemic's progress, had sub
sided considerably and it was vainly
hoped the disease would soon be stamped
out. The mortality statistics, however,
revealed the terrible character of the
disease. Despite the operations of the
sanitary staff and the police, assisted BY
the army medical staff corps and SOL
diers from the Sharpshire regiment,
about 500 new c"ScS had been reported
within week and there had been 400
deaths. Heavy rains about the middle
of May Were hailed as a great blessing.
The water supply had bt en- nearly ex-
hausted. The drains of Hong Kong
We're filed with poisonous gases, the
plague had been spreading in the most
densely populated part Of the city and,
to cap the climax, an outbreak of small
pcx was dreaded.
i; House to House Visitation.
For day or two the people thought
the epidemic was losing its virulence.
Another favorable indication appeared to
be the cooperation of the Chinese who
were said to be assisting in the detection
of cases and the removal of patients to
the hospital. The rate of mortality
dropped temporarily. The sanitary au-
thorities gained encouragement and
while the raiIwater washed ont some
were scattered abcut and infected houses
were cleaned and whitewashad. The
Chinese supplemented the sanitary pre-
cautions with a vast amount of cracker
firing, which they calculated would have
a salutary effect by driving ont the evil
spirits, whom they regarded as response
BILE for the visitation Of the plague.
House to house visitation in search of
victims of the plague We're kept up by
the police, bat they We're unable to get
through the crowded houses of the in
fected district with sufficient celebrity to
overtake all the cases. Soldiers were
detailed to assist in the un
pleasant task. Increased vigilance re-
vealed Il greater number Of patients.
Vessels From Hong Kong 0uarantiued.
The prevalence of the disease created
q good deal of alarm in the different
shipping quarters in communication
with the port. Saignon and other
ports of the French colonies 4uarantined
all vessels arriving from Hong Kong.
Singapore followed suit and the aspect
for the shipping interests Were becoming
serious, The increased virulence and
the discovery of Il greater number of
cases aroused the enmity of the Chinese.
who had for short time appeared will
ing to cooperate with the authorities on
the bringing to light all known cases of
the plague. This willingness dimished,
probably OH account of the heavy pro-
portion of mortality which accompanies |
the disease. Attempts We're made to
svade the inspection. Sick persons We're |
removed from house to house at the ap- |
prOach of the police. houses Were barri |
caded and in few cases the officers |
were stoned by the infuriatei Chinese.
Owing to these difficulties the epidemic
gained renewed violence The rumOrs
that the plague had appeared in Japan
is unfounded.
Five Hundred Deaths Daily.
News from Canton, where the plague
started, states that the deaths now aver
lge 200 day. During March and April
hey averaged 800 daily. Although the
,act that the s'black death was raging in
Canton became known only about month
ago, it appears that the disease started
Is long ago as last February, and has
,een epidemic ever since. The plague is
'preading to the country districts about
Canton and to neighboring cities. About
he only measures taken in Canton to
tay the progress of the disease are those
ldOpte1 by the priests, who march
through the streets chanting incantations
md sprinkling holy water. A huge
mass, representing a dragons head, is
lIso carried about the city, accompanied
~ prodisious beating Of gongs and
lrums.