The Indianapolis journal., 1897-01-24
ALARM Is GENERAL.
Europeans Preparing to Keep Ont the
P1ague-SituatiOn at Bombay

Copyright 1897, by the Associated Press)
LONDON, Jan. 2S.-The plague news from
Bombay is not reassuring. The government
sanitary commissioner has reported on the
situation, but Englishmen regard the
chances of the plague getting a foothold in
Great Britain as being remote, owing TO
the excellent sanitary conditions But on
the continent the feeling of alarm has
clearly increased during the past week. and
the continental press demands the most
rigorous inspection of everything imported
from India.
Some excitement was caused in Paris dur
ing the week by the stopping of a small
steamer, bound from London to Paris, AT
Bougeval, village on the Seine about
four miles north of Versailles. a rumol
spread that the steamer was infected with
the plague and il transpired that she hao
on board bedding from India. 1t developed
later it had been stored in London for the
past six months. and the authorities al
lowed her to proceed.
Along the unsanitary ports of the Medi-
terranean grave fears are expressed that
the plague will be introduced by the steam
coming from India, and the French min
lister of the interior, NJ. Barthu, has ordered
large quantities of anti-plague serum to be
prepared and sent to the French ports.
AT meeting of the Council OF Public As
sistance in Paris IL note of alarm WAS
struck in a remark that infected Indian
carpets may already have been brought into
the French capital. Dr. Brouardel stated
that the danger OF the plague reaching Eu-
rope was imminent; that the preventive
means OF France only existed in rudimen-
tary form; that France could do nothing TO
prevent the entrance of the plague and
could Qnmh1r
remarks from DIR. Brouardel have created a
deep impression. and at the cabinet council
held at the Elysee Palace to-day the min
lister for foreign affairs, NJ. Hatonaux, and
the minister for the interior. communicate ted
to their colleagues and TO the President
the sanitary measures adopted by the gov
ernment. These include forbdding pilgr ms
from leaving French territory for Mecca
this year, and President Faure has signed
a decree imposing severe penalties on the
import of merchandise from the infected
parts of India through other ports that
MarSeilles, Paufllac, st. Nazaire, HaVre.
Dunkirk and AlgierS.
The Italian Sanitary Council has consid-
cred the situation and il is understood that
1t advises against the project for a general
and inefficacious.
In Germany the plague is reviewed
through Anglophobe glasses and Great
Britain is attacked for allowing herself to
be lulled into feeling of false security by
Indian authorities and the Bombay press
which IS charged with trying TO conceal the
real danger existing.
A dispatch from Bombay to the Daily
Mail says: Fifty doctors of the India med
zeal service will arrive here shortly. There
are now 4.OcJ people engaged in cleansing
and purifying the town. The panic here is
as great as ever. The appalling suddenness
of death from the plague drives the natives
wild with fear No further cases have oc-
CURED at the government house. owing TO
the speedy burning of the servants GUAR
ters, and this is taken as a strong argu-
ment in favor of similar measure on a
large scale.
n special dispatch from Milan saws that
upon the arrival from Brindisi of a railway
train one of the second-class carriages was
sealed by the Italian government. An Eng
lishman from Bombay. who was in the car
riage. was refused permit to cross the
frontier. The carriage was finally shunte,l
10 siding. where IL remains. pending gov
ernment Instructions.