Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-03-06
A DOUGHTY CARPENTER.
He Resents Objections to His Bill Of
Health and Deflcs the Authorities.

He heSents objections to HIS BIZ OF
Health and Defies the Authorities.
The helplessness of the average citizen to
protect himself from exposure to conta-
gious diseases under our present health
laws was nicely demonstrated yesterday IN
an incident which occurred at the War Rec
ords Office, at the corner of 18th and G
streets. The building belongs to Col. Hop
kins of the War Department, who engaged
a carpenter named H. T. Walker to go
there yesterday and repair the shutters
When Walker appeared woman clerk
recognized him one of her neighbors.
and told Capt. Fuller, the United States
army officer VINO is in charge of the room,
that there was scarlet fever in Walkers
family, and that a warning card was nailed
up on his house, and that his presence was
dangerous to the twenty women clerks
present.
Capt. Fuller went to Walker and asked
him If there was scarlet fever in his house
and the man said that there had been, but
he had certificate from his doctor saying
that there was no danger, and his children
had gone back to school. He refused to
leave the building when the captain Told
MIN to go, and message was sent to the
War Department stating the facts and
asking for authority to remove him. Capt.
Davis sent back word to Capt. Fuller to
put the man out. This was easier said
than done, as the officer he said after
ward, did not wish to create scene in a
government office and subject himself to
criticism, and the carpenter, swearing up
and down that he would not go, went on
with his work. The police department vas
telephoned to and the health Office appeal
ed to, but no aid came from either. The
health office said that If he had a certifi-
cate no one there had authority to inter-
fere. Finally patrol wagon came up and
the man consented to go with the police.
In about an hour he came back with his
certificate from his doctor that further
quarantine Of his house and inmates was
m iOnr 1clN T.GS n6
The clerks continued to complain and
Capt. Fuller again asked the man to go
away, and, if possible, send some one else
In his place or postpone his work to
a time when it would be safe for him to
come there. But Walker was still as OBJ
durate as bulldog, and kept on with his
work. In spite of the captain and the ladies',
VINO now and then made remarks not at all
complimentary to Mr.. Walker. Appeals
Were made again to the War Department
and tc the health department, without any
that the sign had been torn down from
Walkers house, which was against the
law, and man had been sent up there
to put 1t back. but as to getting him cut
OF the war Records Office they had no
power to do that.
Walker kept at work until o'clock, when
Capt Fuller told him he wanted to lock
the office. and as he did rot pronose to
lock MN in with the valuable records kept
there, lie must go. But even then Walker
declined to bulge. and kept on with his
work The captain teephoned for the Do
lice, and in the course of half an hour
after telephone messages had been sent to
the District building, the health office and
the War Department, the patrol drove I'D
with three policemen: AS the officers got
cut of the wagon Walker emerged from
the building, with his coat buttoned I'D
and ready to go home to supper He had
oehed all manner of authority ali day, kept
siteaolIy at his work, finished in his own
time ard pleasure. and went away srnil-
ing Today the lady clerks have been l. ok
ing at each other anNiously and feeling each
otaers pulse for symptoms O. the dreaded
disease.