The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-09-26
NO DANGER OF AN EPIDEMIC
/ Times Correspondent Writes Of tho
Yellow Fever in New Orleans.
QUARANTINE OFFICERS VERY STRICT.
The Newspapers Making a Tempest In n
Teapot Now. bat During the Great
soourge OF 1873 They Were silent.
business Badly Crippled.

efal-"Caught as a rat in trap" said
a fellow-passengcr, as we were approach
,ng New Orleans. and quarantine OIL
GERS passed through the train at shorter
intervals it was my first experience III
running this gauntlet. and it was enough
10 make nervous traveller ill from
fright.
II IS a week ago since 1 left Montgom-
,rv Ala The train was to leave on
t,mc-lO.5O A. M.-and two coaches were
ready. , So. q. ,,os
north instead Of south, and few miles
above the city we were transferred 10
fho through train from New York. NOW,
didn't. and do not, understand th' az
all. Did Montgomery quarantine against
New York or any intermediate poihlS'
WHY ln the name Of common SENSE
could not that train enter montgomery ~
take up or drop passengers as tne case
might be- and leave without making a"
thie unnecessary fuss? 1 mention TINS
for reasons which will bc apparent
OF coureo we were late. To add 70 the
DELAYS iuscparable from frequent inspec-
tlons. there was q freight wreck WIllCh
detained as for two hours at IreenVino'
Ala Impaticnce under such cIIculn-
stances only aggravatesi SO loohins upon
every adverse incident with an inc phI-
loaopbv 10 was possible 90 muster we
reached the vicinity OF Mobile Ala.' az
dark Here the inQuisiion began An
omcial presented each of us with a fOr-
rnidable document. which proved 20 De
a series Of questions IN the FORM OF IN
amdavit Where did ] get on boaroG
Had ] been, within the past thlIly Gays,
at any OF the alleged infected summer
reyorts7 Where had I been during that
time? Had ]. 20 my knowledge or be
lief. been exposed to infection2< Would
prouIse. if 1 should be allowed 70 STOP
ot Mobile. 10 register within three hours
nt tho office OF the Chief OF PoliceY
These questions duly and briefly an
swered. and placing my signature ID the
appointed space. / returned the document
to tho officer who then took his depart
urc.
eNu We were detained for a considera-
HE time The tralnmen seemed 70 think
that under tho circumstances time was
no object. so ! procured a MopHe paper
and read
What? Nothing but yellow-fever.
ALMOST A SCARE.
Either there. was gross misapprchen-
eiou somewhere, or the epidemic OF 1910
had returned. According 10 this paper
people were fleeing for their lives from
aussissippi was reported as stating that
mo person should enter or leave the state
while the epidemic lasts" Now was
right I'm continuing my journey
thought so.
AS YOUR CORES spondent IS unwilling 10
pose as q hero where no herolsm was re-
ouired. let me be allowed to state that
the verv fact of the local press devotng
its columns 90 the dread disease saus-
ned me that there was little In IT. IL
there were real danger Of an epidemic
these papers would hide or minimize H.
80 as not TO ruin their patrons me
Fuace which they devote 10 ll proves thd1'
while cases OF yollOw-iever nave appear
cd. they are SO few and of such q nature
that the editors feel confident that the
disease can be stamped out Later IN
Neetirations. ass j shall show, proved that
these surmises were correct.
AT the Mississippi State line another
band of inquisitors appeared. In justice
TO all these officials % must be SAID thal
they used as little red tape as posslDle'
and did not feel sensitive as TO their dlg-
,,ifv They let us of easily, which was
the more commendable as IT was get
ling late. The Louisiana officers ap-
reared as soon ass we had left Mississippi
ana we stopped at Rigolets, where sus-
uicious charactcrs-not suspected or wee
or crime. but of harbOrng yeAow-IeVer
germs-are detained.
What am ab0minable spotl The train
had scarcely come TO stop when we took
ON hoard am army of dead-heads. IN the
khapc OF mosquitoes. bred in the stag
uant uOOls of this swamp. Don mehllon
New jersey That State is not IN IL win
Ricolcts la. where mosquitoes are coH-
cerned. These harpies are the most per
severlug. insinuating. bloody -minuea
wretches imaginable. Nothing snort OF
-armor win prove defense against tnem
Thev picrce through coat. vest ana the
other paraphcrnalia of mans attlre WIN
apparent facility and accomplish thelr
nendis % purpose. ] speak from experience
when / say. Save us from lugolets.
Between the railroad and the river are
swamps or mud-hats, where the houses
i believe there is a house-must be built
on posts. Not tree is in sight, but here
and there a dclectahle pool OF staenant
water. and rushes as such places will
produce a lovely spot for q detention
staUoni I'm my opinion. five years az nara
labor would be about the equivalent OF
five days detention here
NOTHING UNUSUAL
Haf am hour after midnight and we
arrive at New Orleans. over four hours
latei The next question win DE how
90 get out of 10, and its solution looks
more and more difficult as time pro-
grcsses.
have not been idle during the days
have been here. ] have walked through
the city at am hours Of the day and
night. and 90 my eyes there is no sign
Of am epidemic on of an abnormal state
OF affairs. ] admit that q native OF New
Orleans might detect very percepuble
difference. and I admit also that the IA
nous hostciry. where 7 have my quarters
s. almost deserted. But the 50. Charles
S. not board.ne-house. but essentially
n hotel for tourists and travellers and
the absence of guests demonstrates that
visitors avoid the city.
But there is mo- sign state 90 distinctly.
that am epidemic prevails. I have been
through cholera and smallpox scourres.
and have seen rich and poor alike cast
IN trench no private funeral being per-
mltted And here upon my word I have
not seen one single funeral, and the
people 60 about their business. stores.
churches and theatres are opcn and are
well attended. III this is am epidemic. I
see no sign of iN
lis 10 really yellow fcver2 There seems
20 De "a disagreement among the mem-
hors OF the medical profession as 90 the
nature OF the disease hut the majority
OF them have answered the question IN
the Affirmative. and by rs answer we
must abide SO. taking this for granted
tho fact remains that 70 is OF very mild
sync Here is the exact condition up 10