Evening journal., 1897-07-03
HAD YELLOW FEVER.
City OF Para's Passengers Tell a
Startling Tale.
MANY DEATHS OCCUR ON THE TRIP.
Three-fourths of the Passengers said to
Have Been Attacked by the Dis
case Facts Were Hidden
by the Omcers.

New York. July 3.-Passengers who
have just arrived here on the steamship
Allianca tell a narrowing story Of their
experience aboard the Pacific Mail
steamer City of Para, which left Pana-
ma for San Francisco on May % last
1t seems that two days after clearing
the isthmus yellow fever broke out
among the crew and passengers Of the
big Pacific liner, which caused panic
on board and resulted in the death of
the commander of the vessel Captain
Martensen.
Three-fourths of the passengers, 1t is
said, were attacked by the dread con-
tagion, and at least dozen of them
found watery graves in the Pacific
ocean. When the vessel finally reached
San Francisco, the facts of the terrible
voyage were suppressed, and the sick
ness and death were attributed to trop-
ical dysentery.
But the passengers who came here say
that there was no mistahng the symp-
toms, which were plainly those Of yel-
low fever.
Raging on the Isthmus.
The contagion was raging on the
isthmus. but when the passengers went
on board the City OF Para they were
told by the officers that they need not
have any fear. There was no effort at
fumigatlon, and Mrs Captain Mitchell.
the wife of an Englishman commanding
one of the vessels of the Chilean line,
made her appearance on the City of
Para heavily veiled. There was no un-
easiness. Three days out she died from
the so-called tropical dysentery." She
was buried at sea, and the next to be
taken down was Captain Martensen of
the City Of Para. Before he died the
fever had spread all over the ship.
In the first class cabin and steerage
alike the yellow death dealer went, and
how many were Frustrated win proba-
bly, never be known. The officers sup
pressed every scrap Of news they could
and DR.. REM insisted on his Original
diagnosis. At Punta Arenas the Eche-
veria family, one of the richest in Cos
ia Rica, took passage on the City OF
Para, not knowing that yellow jack wa:
raging on board.
Discovered Too Late.
They were not long in finding 1t out
however, but by that time the vesse
had weighed anchor and was proceed
ing on its voyage. Up the coast Their
were two or three funerals day, an'
those who were not affected were pani
stricken at their danger.
After much pleading. Mrs. Holt, who's
husband is in the pig iron business il
this city, Mr.. and Mrs. Zeyss and thei
daughter, owners of a coffee plantation
at Matagulpa, Nicaragua, were pu
ashore at Corinto. and at San Jose d
Guatemala several members Of tn
Echeveria family were landed. Seno
Echeveria, however, remained on tn
City of Para, and reached San Fran
cisco all right
It is alleged that the officers Of tn
vessel supplied the passengers wit
spoiled meat before San Jose de Qua
temala was reached, and this bad FOO
Is believed to have added additional i'm
petus to the yellow fever's course. A
San Salvador a band bound for the ex
position at San Jose de Guatemal
came aboard. and while the passenger
were sick and dying around them tn
musicians gave five hour concerts daily
There were several Americans on boar
and they also landed with the Echeve
rias. Some of them returned to Pana
ma and crossing to Colon came bac
to this city, arriving here on the Al
iianca.