Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1896-03-26
M INITA'S SMALLPOX furry is

M INITA'S SMALLPOX furry is
II practically ended. No new cases
have been learned Of since cur report
last week and all the sick are rapidly
getting well-in fact all are up. The
patients in town are of course still in
quarantine and will remain until ev
cry possibility Of communicating the
disease has disappeared. Mr.. Shana-
han was in from the country day or
two since and states that the family
on his farm-the Joslyns-are most all
up and doing nicely. 1t was at first
feared that possibly the country might
have been contaminated but the lapse
Of time has now been sufficient to say
definitely that the extent of the dis
ease is known. There were two other
deaths last week, the young man at
the pest house and the Infant child of
Eugene Hall, both of which cases were
mentioned last week. This is the sit
uation exactly as it exists and it may
well be understood that this is a much
pleasanter announcement than we
were compelled to make last week.
AS anticipated, our report was gener-
ally accredited throughout the coun-
try and adjacent towns though in some
instances feeling was manifested
that perhaps all was not told or made
as strong as it should have been.
Whether this idea arose from knowl-
edge of the usual custom OF under
stating the gravity of such visitations,
or whether from the attempt to get
relief measure through council, it has
done and is doing our town and people
an injustice. No attempt has been or
will.be made to deceive our readers in
either direction. Q We have it directly
from the board OF health that the last
case, girl at Green's hotel, is entirely
recovered and was able to wash her
own clothing Tuesday. So it is stated
on authority of the board that there is
absolutely no smallpox in Vinita. The
quarantine will be raised and the yell
low flags taken down when the author
tiles think it absolutely safe or when
the time elapses when danger is past,
which will.be in a day or two. Farm
ers are coming,toitown and business is
rapidly resuming its usual activity.
The board of health announces that
quarantine will be raised Saturday.
The CHIKFTAIN extends thanks to
the press of the country for neighbor
ly assistance and for fair treatment
throughout.
Joseph Welch, three miles south of
Bluejacket, died Saturday evening
with a severe case OF smallpox-the
fourth death. 1t is reported that a
large scope of country was exposed to
the disease from this case but we trust
there will be no new cases develop.
Services are to be held in the
churches Sunday and the schools will
open next day, the doctors having
stated that it is perfectly safe. In
fact, a member of the health board
stated Monday that there was no Occa-
sion for the schools to have been closed
in the first place, if the people could
have been made to understand it.
The young man taken to the pest
house died Friday, about noon. His
name was Thomas Taylor and his
folks are said to live..near Galena, Kan.
He came to this place some two months
ago and worked at the Vinita hotel
where he contracted the disease.
A good sized number of stray dogs
have been poisoned to prevent the
likelihood of their circulating the pest.
1t is reported that Chelsea has quar-
antined against the surrounding coun-
try and no one is permitted to come to
town to trade.
All the surrounding towns have
heard of Vinita's smallpox and some
how they never forget to pass the word
around and seldom make the number
of cases any less than they are.
1t is not SO much the probability of
contracting the disease which makes
it dreaded as the high per centage of
fatality and its loathsomeness. 1t is
not so easily taken as several other
diseases.
The people at the hotel where the
smallpox first manifested itself have
never been able to locate the source of
the disease. 1t is supposed some tran
sient guest just recovered must have
occupied one Of the rooms, whence it
was contracted by the chamber maid.
Claremore is said to be cutting up
scandalous' about smallpox at Vinita
refused to let through passenger
get off the cars there and he had to
come back on the return train. A
Fairland hotel man also went out
there and was pursued 10y a couple Of
guards but beat them to cover.
A lady came in on the Frisco and de-
sired to go to Adair on the local freight
train by which arrangement she was
in town twenty minutes and never left
the railroad platform. Enquiry by
wire brought the answer that she
could not go there, even though her
folks were in town to take her right
out. She got off at Perry and came
back to where her people lived, be-
tween the two towns.
t{}HE BODY of Henry Cook, the