The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1897-04-13
SMALL P0x HERE
Three Cases Among Immigrants at
Quarantine Station.
CASES SHROUDED IN MYSTERY
Fraud Practiced by Agents
in Japan.
Men and Women in Bad Condition.
Concealed on Ship Board

CONSERVATION filled the breasts of
terday when it was discovered that
two of the Japanese immigrants by the
Kinai Maru, which arrived on Satur-
day, had smallpox. The discovery
was made by Jack McVeigh when he
made his rounds yesterday morning.
incidentally, it may be said that this
is the sixth time since Mr.. McVeigh
has been at the station that he has
found this dread disease among i'm
migrants.
The first discovery, yesterday, was
made at $50 in the morning, when
Mr.. McVeigh was making the first in
spection for the day, which began at
o'clock. DR.. Day was called, and
confirmed Mr. McVeigh's report. At
noon he discovered another case, equal
in every respect to the others. The
patients were promptly removed to the
hospital and additional guards sent out
to keep the healthy immigrants from
going near the hospital. 1t is not ex-
pected that any more cases will occur
for two or three days, and as none of
the immigrants arriving by the Kinai
Maru have left the station. it is not
thought that the disease will make its
appearance anywhere in the city.
The circumstances connection with
this outbreak of smallpox battles the
theorists as we'll as the physicians,
and is contrary to all the reports re-
garding period of incubation, provid-
ed, however, the reports of the officers
of the vessel are correct The period
of quarantine in Honolulu is set at Is
days, or two days more than the max
imum limit of incubation, the average
time being from 10 to II days.
According to the consular reports
the immigrants were in quarantine
IA days before leaving Japan and the
vessel was 20 days en- route, making
it in all % days from the time the
steamer left an infected port until
the disease made its appearance The
ships papers show that there was no
sickness on the steamer after she left
Japan, and the number of passengers
corresponds with the list. with one eX-
ception, that of man who is reported
as having been killed by falling down
a hatch. striking on the back of his
head
There was a suspicion yesterday
that this man had died of smallpox
and the fact concealed. This suspicion
was strengthened when the third case
was discovered and the facts concern
ing a mysterious disappearance case
NJ raoa1Io1 VVba,,
the passengers for that steamer were
examined by the Customs authorities, |
it was learned from a number of them |
that on the voyage a woman and child |
were taken sick and removed by the |
ships doctor to a staterOom on deck, |
by one of the petty officers |
japanese who saw the people before
they were removed swore that the |
disease was small pOx and that the |
sick people were never seen again on
the steamer nor could they be found |
among the immigrants at the quaran-
tine station.
The Customs authorities had two
theories to offer; one that the people |
had died and their bodies thrown over |
board and two of the Japanese crew
pressed into service to take their |
places and make the list agree with |
-liC AuiiDNA VI pdSSSllSSEl > dStudliS Ch |
board the steamer. Another theory
was that the cases were light and the |
two passengers were in some way |
ashore when the steamer |
reached Honolulu. In either case
there was grave danger hanging over
the heads of the people of Honolulu !
for the captain presented a clean bill |
Of health, and the remaining passen- |
gers passed satisfactory physical ey-
Agent McVeigh is not satisfied re- |
garding the cause of death of the man |
nm the Kinai Narn. he questioned a |