The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-09-24
A SHOTGUN QUARANTINE
HOW TT WORKS IN FOUR TERROR
STRICKEN SOUTHERN STATES.
Dead Lines Drawn, and Any Attempt
to Cross Is Invitation for Speedy
Violent Death.

New Orleans Dispatch in New York Herald.
A rigorous shotgun quarntine against the
dreaded scourge, yellow fever, is in full
force in two of the nearby States and in
parts of two others. To attempt the passage
of the cordons which run along the State
lines of Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana
and Texas would be to invite hasty death.
Folks of the South have had frequent ex-
periences with yellow fever and with each
visitation of the scourge they have waxed
the wiser and are becoming more and more
strict in their methods of dealing with
those who, coming from infected points, at
tempt to get beyond the reach of the plague
and into some county or parish where
naught but good things are said of the cli-
mate and sanitation generally. This fin de
steele method of dealing With the plague
scared inhabitants of infected cities and
towns may be considered barbarous and
entirely too harsh It's chief virtue is its
entire effectiveness, and that requisite per-
haps equalizes matters.
With the exception of those who are too
blind to see, or, seeing, are unwilling to
admit the proof presented to their senses,
no one will deny that the States of Ala
bama, Mississippi and Louisiana are grave
ly threatened with yellow fever. Time was
in this State, subject by the peculiar char
acter of its climate to periodical visitauons
of yellow fever, when the health authorities
were secretive as to the existence of any
contagious diseases, and in the close
mouthed policy and suppression of facts
which then obtained, the authorities were
upheld by those short-sighted people who
believed it better that the facts be kept
quiet rather than have the business inter-
ests Of the State affected. Fortunately, this
mossback policy has been abandoned and
ever since the terrible scourge of 1873 the
local authorities have readily told OF any
and all cases of malignant contagious dis
eases as soon as they were discovered.
From a business standpoint this has not
been so very good but it has at least had
the effect of restoring confidence IN the
city and State and when an official am
nouncement was made of the noneXlstence
of any diseases that statement was ac-
cepted as VeraciouS.
Aside from the brief Geographic state
ments wired day by day from this section
regarding the condition of affairs in the
three afflicted States, little of the history OF
the plague and less of the minor details has
here; it exists at Mobile. Ala; at Edwards,
Miss; at Barley, Miss; at Biloxi, Miss.
and at Ocean Springs. Miss. while one case
is dragging it's slow length along midway
between Scranton and Pascagoula, Miss.
These points are all in the southern sec
lions OF the three states, on the
gulf coast, and every effort is being made
to stamp the disease out before 1t can
spread to such alarming proportions as it
did in the still to be remembered peStl-
lences which have afflicted this section.
The methods which have been adopted are
multiple, but all are dictated by the latest
experiments successfully carried on in SAM
tation, and are inspired by the highest
medical minds of the country, who have
had extensive dealings with the dreaded
scourge. Detention camps, state lines,
guards disnfection, a close watch on rail
and water traffic and complete isolation of
suspected cases are the vogue wherever
there is the least doubt as to the character
of the disease.
INSIDIOUSLY SPREADING.
Yet, with all these precautions, it must
be admitted that the di1ease is insidiously
spreading and unless frost occurs within
the next fortnight Mississippi. Alabama
and Louisiana will be in state of cpl
Jen1ic Every city, every town, every ham
let, every settlement, with but three or four
exceptions in Texas, Mississippi, Alabama
and Louisiana, has quarantined against
the infected cities of New Orleans, Mobile,
Biloxi, Scranton, Ocean Springs, Edwards,
Parkinson and Pascagoula- Not person
from any of the points is allowed to even
run through the State of Texas. Medical
certificates do not cut any figure in the
Lone Star State. For a passenger to admit
that he comes from an infected point is
practical admission that he does not want
to go through Texas A carload of actors
who recently played in New Orleans went
to Texas to fill an engagement. They were
sdetracked, locked in their car, fed on
coffee and pie and pulled out of the state
limits as soon as an engine could be Sc
cured. Another train was stopped and
turned back because one man from New
Orleans was aboard, though he did not
want to remain in the State. but simply
asked to run through en- route to California.
Along the Texas state line armed men stand
ID,r rrl,H Il 9xR fc Ita1
by an armed posse of citizens, and no gem
tleman, no lady. no man with pull nor
the most veritable hobo can get through
the watching lines of determined men. The
men of Texas mean business, and to at
tempt to steal through the lines would be
ruinous to a mans tenure of life On the
Alabama state line the same Gordon is
yellow Hammer State men accustomed
to hunt coon 'possum and wild turkey may
be seen at any hour watchful of the in
terests of their State. But they are not so
severe as in Texas. Alabama allows
through passengers to get to points be-
yond the state confines but allows no one
to leave a train which has even pulled
through an infected point. Folks may
may quit once they get aboard.
In Mississippi practically the same plan
as exists in Alabama holds good. The State
authorities will allow through traffic, but
no local tickets are sold on railroads any,
where in the State. Mississippians are rated
as dead shots and are prone to press heav-
lily on a trigger in a moment of forgetfuI-
ness when the safety of their families
lives is at stake.
YELLOW FEVER DEAD LINE.
The Simon Pure article Of shotgun quar-
antine is best seen in Mississippi In the
tall pine tree forests of the Mississippi
coast at any hour of the day or night a
person aboard a fast whizzing train can
catch a glimpse OF a lean and lank Missis-
sippian watchful OF every passage in his
neighborhood and armed with the long,
double-barreled shotguns, with which they
are so well versed. Quiet and tractable as
rule, in times such as this the Mississip-
plan is a bad man to fool with for he de-
clares his intention of shooting anyone who
crosses the dead line, shouts if the line be
crossed and then notifies the family of the
deceased OF the accident that has befaIlen
him who rushed in where angels would fear
to tread.
Surrounding the town and headed by the
Natchez Rifles the local military command
are five hundred armed men. Day and night
the men keep watch over the town No
man, however exalted his position is AL
lowed within the town limits. 1t does not
matter whence he comes. So long as he is
OUTSIDE the town, there he remains and no
amount of persuasion, no degree of politicaI
pull no family tie or financial eonsidera-
ton can get around that blockade. and
no ons cares to venture his life sinnIv
10 ascertain the status of affairs in the
town. Folks from Natchez fear infec-
ton mostly from this city by water. but
stand more in dread of infection from
physician who was in attendance on a vel
low fever patient in Ocean Springs was re-
Gently taken i'll with fever. Since the Nat
chez quarantine went into effect not u pas