The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1894-04-19
Death Caused by Black Smallpox
in Chicago.
DIED SITTING IN HIS CHAIR
Benson Sherman Dies Within Three Hours
After Being Locked In Harrison
Street Police Station Cell.


case of the most vlrulent type of black
smallpox was discovered in the station
In the afternoon, necessitating the re-
moval of all the prisoners and the thor
ough fumga:ion of the building Pris.
one's and policemen we're also vaccin.
ated. The vic i'm, Benson Sherman, is
now in the morgue at the isolated hos
pital He died an hour after the doctor
had diagnosed his case.
Attaches Of the health department
say there Is no danger of the malady
spreading, but the police are not so
sanguine Up to late hour last night
the Harrison street officers were unable
to learn where Sherman had been
staying, but 1t was thought he lodged at
some one of the cheap lodging houses
In the levee district. Many persons
whom the health officers have been I'M
able to reach have undoubtedly been
exposed to the disease aud extraordinary
efforts will be made today to vaccinate
every one who came in contact with
Sherman.
AT ago O'Clock yesterday afternoon
Sherman reeled into the Harrison street
station AID asked permission to lie
down. He showed signs of drink and
the desk sergeant told him To 60 down
stairs. His face did not present the
appearance of a person afflicted with
mallpox and the sergeant thought it
was an ordinary CO sc of drunkenness.
Handing the man slip of paper on
which was written eLet bearer sleep off
his drunk" the desk sergeant pointed
to the door leading downstairs and the
victim of black smallpox staggered
away from the desk
Lookup Keeper John King was eating
his luncheon when Sherman pounded on
the barred door for admittance. King
walked leisurely across the stone floor,
twirling big key in his hand Sherman
showed the note he had received from
the desk sergeant through the grating
OF the door, and after glancing at it the
lookup keeper admitted him.
''Why didn't you go and sleep off your
drunk where you got III" asked Oncer
King. The man with black smallpox
made no reply. After writing his name,
occupation aud age in book the lookup
keeper said: "Follow me, Casey"
Sherman was put in cell next to that
occupied by a man who imagined he
owned the Board of Trade. Assistant
City Physician Warren had been notified
/ n q all n
crazy man.
DR.. Warren arrived at the station
about $40 o'clock. He was shown the
cell In which the supposed insane man
was locked up Sherman was standing
up at his cell door when DR.. Warren
passed along the corridor. He asked
for drink of water and complained of
being sick. There was something in the
mans appearance that caused DR.. War
rem to halt and listen to his appeal. He
talked with him a few minutes and then
decided to have him taken from the cell
The light was dim In the corridor and
DR.. Warren had him taken to the room
where prisoners are searched before be-
ing locked up.
sherman dropped into a chair and the
physician began to ask him questions.
lie felt the mans pulse, looked at his
tongue and said lmpulslvely:
"fou're very sick man. You've got
various hemorrhagicus" or something
thae sounded like that.
whats that, dockln asked the man
In weak voice.
"Black So a n e." was the sententious
reply.
HAN an h nr later Sherman died sit
ting In the chair. The pesthouse amin.
lance had been called to remove the
patient, but before its arrival he was
dead
DR.. Gum of the health department
fastened to the station as soon as he
got the message, and arrangements
were quickly made for the removal of
the body. Within an hour from the time
Sherman died his body was on the road
to the morgue. Secretary Mccarthy of
the health department and his assist
ants, Drs. Potter, Reilly and Mcdonald
came hurrying to the station from their
homes. They brought vaccine points
and big sack of fumigating powder.
About sixty prisoners were in The sta
ton, few of the number being women
All we're vaccinated whether they liked
1t or not. dozen or fifteen police OH
GERS who had been exposed were also
vaccinated. Patrol wagons were called
from several stations to remove the
prisoners, as the station could not be
fumigated while they were In 1t. One
load was taken to Desplaines street, an
other to Cottage Grove avenue and the !
rest to the Twentv-second street sta
tion. All prisoners arrested during the /
night In the Central and Harrison street |
districts were taken to the Desplaine,
street and East Chicago avenue stations.
Secretary Mccarthy said the station
could be used today without any danger
and police court will be held there this
morning
In reply TO the questions of the lockup
keeper, sherman said he was a laborer
Ind 81 years old He had - .,.,.t-