The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-04-18

commerce 1Or months at time, he mas
cooped up the inhabitants of these cities
within the lines of his Gordon militaire'
Shotgun quarantne), vainly hoping to
prevent the spread of the fever; but while
the germs of yellow fever, which float in
the air, found their way across this dead
line" in every instance, our good people
were made to believe that this cruel farce
Qand quarantine), was success
In 1882 yellow fever being epidemic at
Brownsville, Tex, a Gordon militaire was
spread along the Rio Grande at thirty
three different places, with a full number
of guards, mounted and unmounted, pa
trolling on boats, etc, besides inspectors,
regulation acting assistant surgeons, etc,
but yellow Jack could not be checked. 1t
did just as around Memphis in 1879, select
ing by preference the filthy and undrain
ed towns, villages and ranches. The cor
don" failed at Pensacola that year, and
it has failed and will continue to fail
when and where yellow fever is epidemic.
While the people of Jacksonville were
cooped up in their town, the disease ap-
peared all about in that section, spread
ing where the conditions were most fav-
orable, as in Gainesville or dying out
where the sanitary conditions were better,
as in several places in Florida and in
Georgia, where a few sporadic cases oc-
CURED, and where refugees already with
the fever managed to find a resting place.
Our people have seen, without a muir
muir, under the belief that this Gordon was
a sure protection against a disease they
had been taught to dread, the inhabitants
of their personal liberty and
fed upon public charity because
one case of yellow fever had been brought
there and another had occurred there.
They have witnessed Pensacola being
placed under quarantine, with the regula-
ion
cause two cases of fever, said to be yell
low fever, had occurred, and they have
seen Tampa subjected to the same ordeal
because OF the occurrence Of case sus-
pected to be yellow fever. but which hap
pened to be one of bilious fever.
With the 81 10000 that was appropriated
by congress for the prevention of epidem-
les the quarantine chief, under the slight
est pretense of an epidemic along the
southern coast and adjoining territory,
has appointed numbers of civilians as as
sistant surgeons, giving them liberal pay
and securing thus their good will and as
sistance; has brought yellow fever ex-
perts from other places, regardless of
cost, for the same purpose, "a letter from
one of these tells me 1 must not use the
information he imparts); has subsidized
an army Of guards for his cordons, and
nurses and stewards without end for his
camps of detention and probation, for hos
pitfalls; also inspectors, fumigators, letter
punchers, etc, etc. He has furnished lib
eral rations to the lazy negroes and poor
"Buckra," enabling them to enjoy the
"far-niente" of their prediction, thus Sc
curing for his institution the good will of
all that class Of people.
with such an example given by officers
of the United States government, the con-
duct of some of our boards of health, city
officials and local health officers is not
surprising
The following will show what was done
in Savannah:
About midday, Aug. r., 1893 tele-
gram was received here from Health Off
Ger Dunwoody of Brunswick, stating that
the marine hospital service quarantine
surgeon had yellow fever, and the follow
ing telegram was at once forwarded to
the supervising surgeon general, marine
hospital service. Washington, d. c. "Sa-
vannah, Aug. u. 1898, Dunwoody wires
Branham has yellow fever. Precautions
are being taken. w. II. Drummer, health
officer.
Inspectors were placed upon all outgo-
ing and incoming trains, and all persons
coming from, or suspected of coming from
Brunswick, were prevented from reaching
this city. This was done several days be-
fore the diagnosis of yellow fever was
confirmed by the marine hospital service
expert, Dr. John Guiteras, nine days be-
fore the second case, and more than
month before a third case was found. Per-
sons coming, or suspected of coming from
Brunswick were made either to leave the
cars or go to the pest house, where they
were forced to boil there clothes, being de-
tanned ten days, or longer, at the option of
the health officer. Waycross and Jesup
were also placed under these quarantine
restrictions. Quarantine was declared
nd Inc -
deaths from fever suspected Of being yell
low fever Later on, personal and COM
mercial intercourse with Tampa was sew
cred on account of a case of fever which
afterwards proved to be bilious fever.
Persons leaving Savannah, whether for
business or pleasure. were required TO
carry pass signed by the health officer,
else they were subjected to various de-
lays and annoyances before being per-
mitted to re-enter this city. Persons from
any part Of the world were required to
present well authenticated passport be-
fore being allowed TO come to the city.
Young ladies', as well as old ladies' were
made to leave the cars, sometimes in the
pine woods, where there was no shelter,
because they had not the documents re-
quired by our sanitary authorities
on the 21st of August. 1898, long before
there was any reason for apprehending an
epidemic at Brunswick or elsewhere. the
following telegram was sent to the chief
OF the quarantine bureau:
Resolution sanitary board as follows:
That surgeon general marine hospital
service be earnestly requested to establish
camp OF detention for refugees from
Brunswick; also camps for refugees from
other infected points. We further recon-
mend that mails from such points be
thoroughly fumigatod.
wv. II. Drummer. II. o."
And on the next day the following was
sent; "Will cooperate with (surgeon) Ma
gruder IN every way; do not hesitate to
call on Savannah II anything Is needed
w. II. Drummer, Health officer"
There were no places infected by yellow
fever az that time, and all this only shows
what people VIII submit 90 when under
the influence Of fear. j. 6. Leiiardy