The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1897-09-30
4 RIOT IN new ORLEANS.
A yellow Fever Hospital Attacked by
a Mob.
DISPERSED BY THE POLICE

The structure Attackeo "as So~'
Building That Had Been Transformed
Into q Hospital For Yellow Fever suf'
ferers-The Edifice Partially Burned
But Saved From Total Destruction
New ORLEANS, La. Especially THE yellow
fever situation in this city assumed seri'
GUS aspect Friday. There was an increase
in the number Of fatalities, and for time
early in the morning portion OF the city
was under the control Of mob OF panic
stricken citizens.
The trouble arose over the arrangement
made by the Board OF Health to use the
Beaureyard School Building as yellow
fever hospital. Ameeting OF citizens resid'
ing in the locality Of the school building
was held Thursday night to protest against
the order of the health authorities, and al
terward a riotous crowd made an attempt
to burn the building. Two OF the aEnexes
were reduced to ashes but joint efforts OF
the police'and fire departments prevented
the destruction Of the main building.
The alarm was sounded at 12.3O a. m, o
large crowd being then in the vicinity OF
the school building. During the evening
Sister Agnes and number OF Sisters OF
Charity, together with nurses from the
hospital. had been putting the building IN
order for the reception Of yellow fever pa
tients. The School Board, in the mean
time. had removed from the building every
desk and other article OF furniture and the
hospital managers had moved into the
building cots and other necessary adluncts
for the treatment Of the sick.
At nightfall, Surgeon Bloom OF the hos
nital the sisters, and others had been
warned that they had better leave the
building. They did so, headed by Sister
Agnes, and threaded their way through q
dense mob OF excited citizens. Then small
force Of police was ordered to the scene,
but the mob outwitted the guards, and'
while the police were busily engaged IN at.
tempting to quell the riotous crowd in front
of the building, two men with five-gallon
can OF oil proceeded to the rear and quickly
had the building in flames.
An alarm was turned in, but tho hrst
engine had scarcely arrived when IFS nose
was cut. When other engines arrived theli
hose also was destroyed by the mob. Chiei
Caster and Captain Journee finally arrived
In a patrol wagon with a big squad OF ofn-
GERS who beat the mob back. Then the
fremen succeeded in preventing the total
destruction of the building.
The school house is handsome building,
entirely isolated and situated in the centre
of a large square. There was no danger OF
injection from it, and the people IN the
neiehborhood were unduly alarmed.
Mayor Flower ordered force OF police
men to guard the school house. The por.
ton of the building not burned will be used
as a hospital. A committee called on the
Mayor to protest against its use Tor that
purpose. The Mayor denounced the OUT
rage, and said that II it required all OF the
forces Of the city and State, he was deter-
mined that the eBeauregard School buildln8
should be used as temporary hospital. In
the meantime, he said. no effort or expense
would be spared to bring to justice the men
who had fred the building last night. Inc
Mayor has the support in his course OF
almost the entire community.
Thus far there have been few less than
100 yellow fever cases and fifteen deaths IN
this CITY. The death rate Is IN the neigh.
borhood of fifteen per cent. It was In 1879
sixteen per cent, 80 that up to the present
time the disease ia about as yirulent as IL
was in the last great epidemic.
The situation in the infected MlssisslpPa
towns is improved, except at EDWARDS,
where there are twenty-three new cases,
making a total Of eighty-six under treat
mont. Most Of the cases are OF mild type,
the death rate being remarkably low; put
there Is considerable distress among tne
poor families. and the number OF nurses
and doctors is insufficient to care properly
for the sick.