The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1895-09-14

SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 19.-Dr. Ru-
pert Blue. of the United States marine
service of this city, received two letters
this morning from his brother, Victor
Blue, who is an ensign on board the
U. s. S. Bennington, now stationed at
Honolulu.
In one letter, bearing date of August
90, Ensign Blue states that cholera
broke out in the islands two weeks
previously, and that it was considera-
bly, on the increase. The death rate
daily was six and of all who contract
ed the dread disease only one escaped
with his life.
On September 8, two days before the
sailing of the Mariposa, Ensign Blue
wrote again. He stated that six men
were down with the disease on board
the Bennington, and that one sailor
had died The other men were doing
we'll, but the ships surgeon feared
that the epidemic had scarcely begun.
He had made a careful microscopical
examination of the excreta of the sick
patients, and pronounced it to be a
virulent type of Asiatic cholera.
All Feel BIue.
eve all feel very blue at the pros
pect," writes Ensign Blue. 1.-The ex-
element here is intense, and this is
not to be wondered at, for the disease
is spreading with alarming rapidity.
The Bennington has left her anchorage
off Honolulu, and gone southwark one
hundred miles. We will return once
week after mail orders. In one day
thirty-f1ve cases were reported at Hon
olulu, and nearly every one resulted
fatally. l hope to be able to give you
better news when next [ write, but
fear that 1 will not be so Fortunate"
DR.. Blue states that the United States
authorities will assist the state and To-
cal officers in preventing the bringing
of the disease into this country He
thought this would be accomplished
by exercising due diligence. There is
general Indignation at the action of the
quarantine authorities in permitting the
steamer Australia to come alongside
city dock half an hour after her ar
rival from an infected port.
Quarantine Regulations.
The state harbor officials do not like
the idea of having the Australia along
side city wharf, but Of course they
are in no way responsible for the acts
of the quarantine doctors.
LaXity of quarantine regulations
caused the spread of the small pox
epidemic in 1867 and 1868. The general
opinion about town this morning was
that the Australia should have been
sent to quarantine station and fumi-
gated, but the quarantine officers ex-
plain that such action ives entirely
The board of health held a, special
in no
morning, to consider the cholera cpl
demic now raging in the Hawaiian
islands. Mayor Sutro presided, and the
full board and. the quarantine officer
were present The subject of the dread
disease being introduced into Califor-
MIA was thoroughly gone into and
vigorous measures to keep it out were
advocated. Honolulu was declared an
injected port, and all vessels coming
from that or any other port in Hawaii
VIII be quarantined until the passen-
gers. crew and baggage have been
The state board of health is to be
communicated with and its membars
summoned for conference in the
Office next Tuesday. At thai
meeting, steps Will be taken to guard
all the ports in California. and tbe
rules in San Diego, San Pedro and
y eheL ports VIII be strictly enforced.
as they will be in San Francisco, 49,
The Rio de Janeiro is expected to ar
rive from Honolulu next Sunday and
the quarantine officer was insfructad
TO pay especial attention to her. She
VIII be guaranteed until a thoroneh
examination is made and all the pas-
more particularly ali tha
chlnese, will be fumigated before he
ing allowed to land.