Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1897-09-08
DREADED YELLOW JACK.
Disease Has Made Its Appearance
at Ocean Springs, Miss
Rigid Quarantine.

New Orleans. La. Sept. 6.-President
Oliphant of the Louisiana board of
health sent n telegram to that board
here at 10 o'clock confirming the report
that the physicians at Ocean Springs
had declared the prevailing sickness I'M
doubtedly yellow fever. The doctors of
three states came to this conclusion aft
er holding an autopsy on the body of
Il person who died yesterday.
CourierS are now SkirmiShing around
the city for sufficient members to make
up a quorum of the state board of health
in order to declare quarantine against
Ocean Springs. which is about 100 miles
from this city. Rigid precautions will
be taken to absolutely isolate the
Springs. and it is confidently hoped here
By leading physicians that the precau-
lions Will be successful in keeping the
disease from spreading to this place. A
case in point is that of Biloxi several
years ago, when there was an epidemic
of yellow fever. Biloxi is closer to New
Orleans than Ocean Springs, but the
medical men were successful in cOntin-
ing the sickness to that city.
There is little or no alarm here. but So
journerS on the coast are returning to the
city and will spend the balance of the
summer at home. The result of the quar-
antine will probably be the taking off of the
excursion and regular trains which run
and which touch at the various resorts
along the Mississippi sound
The fever has been prevalent at Ocean
Springs for some time. Two weeks ago,
after Il careful investigation the Louisiana
authorities declared the disease to be
dengue, which it probably was at that
time the disease being mild and the death
rate being trifling. During the past week,
however, the disease has become more
virulent and has probably developed into
yellow jack.
The state board of health has decided to
enforce Il rigid quarantine against Biloxi
and Ocean Springs. Quarantine will also
be enforced against the other watering
places on the gulf coast until President
Oliphant returns and more light is OBJ
tanned on the situation. Guards are to be
put on the trains and ut the stations, all
baggage is to be fumigated and every pre-
caution is to be taken to keep the disease
out of the city. The Louisville x Nash
vile trains have been ordered not to stop
at either Biloxi or Ocean Springs. The
houses of all people who have returned to
New Orleans i'll the past two days are to
be thoroughly fumigated.
Jackson. Miss. Sept. Gov. Nc
Laurin has just received the following
telegram from the two members of the
state board of health who went to Ocean
Springs. Miss. yesterday to inve>tig;i Ie
lI6 AtllON lever SCuIt
After most thorough investigation in
every conceivable light it is the unanimous
opinion of representatives of louisiana
Alabama and Mississippi state boards of
health and the marine hospital service. that
the fever now prevailing in Ocean Springs
is yellow fever. Fl. II. HarranSon,
j. f. Hunter.
A telegram from Edwards. Miss.
about thirty miles west of here, states
that :. :. Champion. member of the
state Legislature since 1890. and Il
prominent politician. died there yester-
day evening from what was supposed
to be yellow fever
A family of nine persons. named An
dersOn. living near Edwards. had been
sojOurning at Ocean Springs. After their
return seven of the family were taken
sick and Mr.. Champion visited the fam
lily to inquire after their health Two
or three days afterwards Mr.. Champion
WAS taken sick. and died yesterday
The attending physician pronounced the
case one of yellow fever.
Revive shotgun Quarantine.
Austin. Tex, Sept. 6.-State Health
Officer Swearingen this morning issued
ironclad quarantine against Ocean Springs
Miss, and all other points now affected or
likely TO be affected by yellow fever 1t
Will go into immediate effect and last in
definitely. Reports from the gulf coast
are to the effect that the inhabitants are
badly frightened ut the prospects of yellow
fever entering the state and some of them
are talking of recognizing their shot
gun quarantine force which patrolled the
gulf shore some twelve years ago to keep
out all persons and thereby prevent the
disease from entering the state.