The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1897-06-23
Clemson to Close
The Exact Situation as Ex
planned to the Governor
by President Craig
head.
The State, Jace 81.

NC OtotS3 0@~S -"
The epidemic OF malarial fever at
Clemson college does not seem to be as
general as the FIRST reports indicated
but it has been CT sach character as to
cause the faculty cf the institution to
decide to close the college for the mid
summer holidays about 10 days earlier
than the appointed time.
Below is letter received yesterday
by Gov. Ellerbe from President Craig
head
CLEMSON COLLEGE, Jone 19. 1897.
Dear Sir-Some Two or three days
sipce received from Hon. w. D.
MayGeld the following telegram
wild rumors as to fever at Glen.
son. Better contradict it. -
We had had quite number Of cases
Of malarial fever, bnt the trouble seem
ed to be abating. Ou Tuesday we bad
but two new cases, and 90 Wednesday
but one Up to this time We have had
but one case of typboid-that of Cadet
Sanders, who died very suddenly yes
terday morning We DOW have SO
boys sick enough to be ic bed-oDly
two seriously ILL., We do not anticipate
serious trouble. but I have DO disposi-
tiop to hide the facts from the public.
In view of the conditions here. the anS.
iety of parents as evidenced by many
telegrams received during the past few
days, the faculty decided it would be
better to have the cadets stand at once
sucn examinations as they are prepared
for aud 60 home next Friday. some ten
days earlier than the time fixed by the
board. The sanitary conditions of tie
barracks are excellent; the water pure
but CT the cause of the fever nay
write later. There ia absolutely 20
reason for anxiety oH the part Of
parents Boys who may become at ali
ill will be permitted to &c home at once
E. B. CRA1GuEAD
There we're one or TWO Of the stu
dents 10 she city yesterday 90 their
way home. Oae of them handed The
State the following card.
TO the Editor Of The State
Being on my return from Clemson
college, aDd seeing the exaggerated ac-
counts of our condition 10 the papers. |
take pleasure in correcting several
erroneous reports. The college stu
dents are not 10 the panic which the
State papers would have the public be-
lieve The fever is purely of a maIa-
rial nature, only. one case of TYPHOID
having been contracted out Of nearly
100 cases. The sick are daily improv-
iog. abont 25 or 30 having recovered
sufficiently to attend meals. There are
only 80 students confued to their beds
to-day. aud they are 90 the road to re-
covery and receive every possible asten-
,ion
The true cause of the so called panic
is due to the newspaper reports. espe-
ciaily those Of the eastern aud northern
parts of the State. The reports mis-
our condition so successfully
thss teegrams have been coming in By
the dozens to students Of Clemson read
ing as follows: Come bone at once"
It seems that TIE parents do rot place
thai reliance on the judgment of the
faculty and president that they should,
or they would know that the cadets
would be sent home we're it necessary.
As regards Colonel Neal and his be-
nevolence to two Of our students, it is
evidently another Instance Of misrepre-
seutation. No students left college that
we're not telegraphed for by parents,
and consequently must have been sup
piled With money Sufficient to carry
them home by the presideus before
leaving Clemson What they did with
this money between there aud Colum-
bia is aootber question.
The Neal charity fund gives the i'm
preston that there is a tremendous
paDic at Clemson, while the facts are
that dozens of cadets, who have been
telegraphed for, have refused to 60,
aud are still managing TO exist iu the
Clemsonian regions
The students are greatly amused at
these reports aud several prominent
members of the higher classes were
very nearly tempted to telegraph their
eternal and everlasting gratitude to the
persoos SO generous to our lost sheep
stranded in Columia. Very truly,
CADET W. L. NJ