The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-10-25
RuMoRS OF FEVER PLENTIFUL.
HEALTH OFFICIALS KEPT Busy
WATCHING THE QUARANTINE.

A RumOr of Fever in Americas
Proves TO BE UnfOunded-A News
hoy on Georgia and Alabama
Train Put on at MeIdrim-NOthinE
the Matter With Him, Health Off
Ger LeHardy Says-NayOr Meldrim
Talks of Quarantine-Fever Re
ported in Atlanta.
The cool weather yesterday was receiv-
ed with general satisfaction and the hope
was generally expressed that the Their
mometer would fall low enough to permit
of frost in order that all fear of yellow
fever might be dissipated. In spite of the
lateness of the season there is still feel
ing Of une8siness.
There have been reports during
the last day or two that the
disease had appeared in Macon and Amer
icus. as well as Albany. II is not believed
that there Is any ground for the report so
far as it affects the two first named places
and even that concerning Albany is doubt
ful.
Mayor Meldrim said yesterday that the
only information he had from Albany was
an official denial of the existence of the
fever there. The rumor that there was
case of fever in Americas was very
promptly Investigated by Health Officer
IeHardy and an equally prompt denial
was received. The report about Macon
was simply a street rumor. It was also
reported that there were four cases OF
fever at Scotia, Ala, small town short
distance this side of Montgomery.
The nearest Savannah has come to hav>
ing a suspicious case or, rather, the
nearest a supposed suspicious case has
gotten TO Savannah, was at Meldrim Sat
urday night when a newsboy on the Geor-
eia and Alabama train was put off by or
der Of the mayor. The boy was seized
with a vomiting spell on the trip to Sa-
vannah and was unable 10 do any work.
1t was reported on the train that the boy
had been into Montgomery, and Mayor
Meldrim was telegraphed Of the circum-
stances. He promptly communicated with
the officials of the Georgia and Alabama
railway, who at once communicated with
the officials at the other end of the line.
A prompt and positive answer was re-
ceived, that the boy had not been in
Montgomery. In order 10 be entirely on
the safe side, however Mayor Meldrim
ordered that the boy be removed from the
train at Meldrim, which was done. Health
officer LeIIardy vent to Neldrim yester-
day by instruction of the mayor and in
vestigated the case. He reported that
there was nothing whatever the matter
with the boy who was walking around
Meldrim. He was not allowed TO come
into the city, however, 50 that no ground
might be given for rumOrs which would
very Likely have been set on foot by
Jhoughtless people.
A good many complaints as to the inef-
fectiveness of the quarantine are still to
be heard, and it is frequently asserted that
anybody can come into the city that wants
TO. Mayor AIeldrim when spoken to on this
subject, said: THE first man I meet when
ever / go out on the street is likely to tell
me that the quarantine is not worth
tinker's -, and that anybody can get
into the city that wants to. The next man
that approaches me is likely 20 tell me
that our rigid quarantine system is ruin
ing the commerce Of the city, and that the
manner Of enforcing it is senseless and
unreasonable. 1 hear both comp aints many
times each day. OF the twenty complaints
of laxity on the part of the quarantine in
spectors which have been investigated by
the sanitary board, there was only one
instance where it was found that they had
failed in the strict performance of their
duty, and that was an oversight. Two in
spectors were at work in the same car
and each supposed that the other had in
spected certain passengers who were
thereby allowed to enter the city without
being called upon for their health certifi-
Gates. Our operations have been conduct
ed with regard both for the health of the
city, and its commerce and so far we have
been very successful in preserving both"