The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-09-14
ALARM OVER CHOLERA
Reason to Think the Disease
Epidemic at Honolulu.
THlRTY-FIve CASES IN A DAY.
Six Men on the warship Bennington
Stricken-san Francisco Takes Pre-
cautions Against Infection.

San Francisco, Sept. I3-Dr. Rupert
Blue. OF the United States marine service
In this city, received two letters this morn
ing from MS brother. Victor Blue. who IL
an ensign on hoard the United states snip
Bennington. now stationed at Honolulu
In one letter. bearing date Of August =,
Ensign Blue states that cholera broke out
IN the islands two weeks previously. and
that It was constantly on the increase
The death rate daily was six, and OF ali
who contracted the dread disease only
one escaped with his life. On September
g. two days before the sailing OF the Mari
posa, Ensign Blue wrote again. He stat
ed that SIX men were down with the DIS
ease on board the Bennington. and that
one sailor had died. The other men were
doing well. but the ships surgeon feared
that the epidemic had scarcely begun lie
had made a careful microscopic eXamina-
ton or the excreta of sick patients. aud
pronounced the disease TO be a yirulent
type OF Asiatic cholera.
We feel very blue ar the prospect,
writes Ensign Blue. The excitement
here is intense, and this IS not 10 be Won
dered at. for the disease is spreading with
alarming rapidly. The Bennington has
left her anchorage of Honolulu and gone
southwark 100 miles. We will return IN
one week after mail and orders. In one
day thirty-five cases were reported al Hon
olulu, and nearly every one resulted Ia
tally. ] hope 10 be able TO give you bet
ter news when next l write. but / fear
that l viii not be so fortunate.
DR.. Blue states that the United States
authorities VIII assist the state and local
officers in preventing the entrance OF the
disease into this country. He thought
this could be accomplished by exercising
due diligence.
There is general indignation at the ac-
ton OF the quarantine officers In permit
ting the steamer Australia TO come along
side a city dock half an hour after her
arrival from an infected port. NotHlth-
standing the report that the vessel was
in quarantine five days before she left
Honolulu. the public does not believe that
the quarantine officers had any right TO
order the snip 10 land her passengers. II
is claimed that the proper precautions
were not taken, although medical author
tiles hold that the life Of a cholera germ
is only five days. The state haroor officials
do not like the idea OF having the Austria
LA alongside a city wharf but OF course
they are in no way responsible for the
acts Of the quarantine doctors. Laxity or
quarantine regulations caused the spread
OF the smallpox epidemic in 1861 and 1868.
The general opinion about town this morn
Ing was that the Australia should have
been sent to the quarantine station and
fumigated. but the quarantine officers ex-
plain that such action was entirely unnec-
essary.
The board of health held special meet
ing in the mayors Office today To consider
the cholera epidemic in the Hawaiian ISL
ands Mayor Sutro presided and the full
board and the quarantine officers were
present. The subject of the dread disease
being introduced into California was thor
oughly gone into, and vigorous measures
to keep it-ogt were advocated. Honolulu
was declared an infected port. and all
vessels coming from that or any other port
in Hawaii Will be quarantined until the
passengers, crew and baggage have been
fum!gated. The state board of health is
to be communicated with and its members
summoned for a conference in the mayors
office next Tuesday. At that meeting steps
viii be taken TO guard all ports in Cali
fornia, and the rules in San Diego, San
Pedro and other ports Will be strictly en-
forced, as they Will he in San Francisco.
Washington City, Sept. 13.-Dr. Wyman.
surgeon general of the marine hospital ser
vice. speaking of the cholera in Honolulu,
said today that the quarantine service on
the Pacific coast is in very good condition.
Every port of entry has been inspected by
a regular marine hospital officer, and com
pliance with the treasury regulations as
sured. The marine hospital service has
quarantine establishments al Port Towns
end and San Diego. and a complete plant
at San Francisco, with regular officers Of
the service in charge. At Grays Harbor
Wash, there is a sanitary Inspector of tho
marine hospital service, and one at EN-
pire city, Or. The Columbia river. which
includes the ports Of Portland and Astoria.
is in charge OF state officers acting under
instructions issued by the marine hospital
service. At Eureka, Cal, there is a regu-
lar sanitary inspector. Special regulations
have been issued regarding the disinfection
of all baggage from all ports Of the Orient
including Hawaii The nited States con-
sui at Yokohama has physician 10 assist
him in the inspection of vessels. Dr. WV
man wrote 10 the chief quarantine officer
OF Canada 70 inquire what had been done
regarding protecting the northern frontier
from immigrants coming by way Of Brit
sh Columbia. lie was informed that the
Canadian authorities had been forestalled
by the steamship companies, who as long
ago as July refused 10 bring Japanese i'm
migrants because OF fear of detention Of
vessels.