The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-09-10
A YELLOW FEVER SCARE
CASES REPORTED AT A MISSIS.
SIPPI SUMMER RESORT

Several Deaths From This Disease at Ocean
Springs-State Health Of Officers Make In
v~esttgation and Declare it Yellow Fever,
One Person, Returned From This Place.
Dies of the Disease in New Orleans-En
forcing Quarantine Regulations-No Dan
ger Of 1t Spreading
Jackson, Miss, September Ga tele-
gram from Edwards, Miss, about thir-
ty miles west Of here, states that Hon.
S.. s. Champion, a prominent politician,
died there yesterday evening from
what was supposed to be yellow fever.
A family of nine persons named An
derson, living near Edwards, had been
sojOurning at Ocean Springs. After
their return seven of the family were
taken sick and Mr.. Champion visited
the family to inquire after their health.
Two or three days afterwards Mr..
Champion was taken sick land died
yesterday. The attending physician
~onounce the case one of yellow
fever.
Governor McLaurin "a received the
following telegram from the two mem
bNIo VI liz q o1I III 'dlL VIZ
went to Ocean Springs, Miss, to in
vestigate the yellow fever scare:
AFTER a most thorough investigation
in every conceivable light it is the
unanimous opinion of the representa-
tiVes of Louisiana, and Mis-
sissippi state boards Of health and the
marine hospital service, that the fever
now prevailing in Ocean Springs is yell
low fever.
[Signedl H. Fl. HARRELSON.
J. F. HUNTER.
New Orleans, September 6.-President
Oliphant, Of the Louisiana board of
health sent a telegram to that board
here confirming the report that the
physicians at Ocean Springs had de-
clared the prevailing sickness un-
doubtedly yellow fever. The doctors
of the state came to this conclusion
after holding an autopsy on the body of
a person who died yesterday. Quar-
antine will be declared against Ocean
Springs at once.
There is little or no alarm here, but
sojOurners on the coast are returning
to the city and will spend the balance
of the hot weather at home.
The fever has been prevalent at
Ocean Springs for some time. TWO
weeks ago, after careful investigation,
the Louisiana authorities declared the
O1SpdSe 10 bt tISut "hlII II plco-
ably was at that time, the disease be-
ing mild and the death rate trifling.
During the past week, however, the
disease has become more virulent and
has developed into yellow jack.
The state board Of health has decided
to enforce a rigid quar- antine against
Biloxi and Ocean Springs. Quarantine
will also be enforced against the other
watering places on the gulf coast until
President Oliphant returns and more
light is obtained OF the situation.
Guards are to be put on the trains and
at the stations, all baggage is to be
fumigated and every precaution is to
be taken to keep the disease out Of the
city. The Louisville and Nashville
trains have been ordered not to stop
at either Biloxi or Ocean Springs. The
houses of all people who nave returned
to New Orleans in the past two days
are to be thoroughly fumigated.
Raoul Gelpi, who had been spending
the summer at Ocean Springs and was
brought to this city Thursday, died this
morning.
DR.. Warmsley, acting president of
the board of health, after an autopsy,
announced that Gelpi had died OF yell
low fever. The board of health has
taken charge of the house which will
be thoroughly fumigated and will take
all steps to prevent spread of disease.
CicagO, September 6.-Dr. w. F. Reil-
ly, of the health department, says there
is absolutely no danger of the yellow
fever epidemic now threatening the
south coming as far north as Chicago.
There must be a sustained mean tenn
perature Of 70 degrees for the propaga-
ton Of yellow fever" said he. with
cooler weather than that it simply dies
out. Dur average maximum tempera-
ture so far in September is about IS
degrees"
Austin. Tex. September Estate
Health Officer S~wearington, this morn
ing issued iron-clad quarantine against
Ocean Springs, Miss, and all other
points now affected or likely to be af-
fected by yellow fever. 1t will go into
immediate effect and last indefinitely.
Reports from the gulf coast are to the
effect that the inhabitants are badly
frightened at the prospects Of yellow
fever entering the state and some of
them are talking Of ~reorganizing their
shotgun quarantine force which
\ patrOlled the gulf shore some twelve
years & to keep out all persons and
thereby prevent the disease from en-
tering the state.
Washington, September 6.-The ma
rine hospital service is investigating
the fever at Ocean Springs. Miss. and
800
them to the belief that the disease is
not yellow fever. though conclusive in
formation is not yet at hand. Surgeon
General Wyman Is absent from the
city. He is attending the British Med
zeal Association meeting at Montreal.
During his absence Surgeon B~ailbache
is in charge. The cases at Ocean
Springs were first called to the atten-
ton of Mr.. Bailbache last Friday in a
telegram from Assistant Surgeon Was
din. who is stationed at Mobile, asking
permission to accompany the board of
health to Ocean Springs to Investigate
the fever. DR.. Wasdin was directed to
proceed. Yesterday morning he tele-
gTaphed as follows:
"Of five or six hundred cases here,
| have seen five: an epidemic Infection,
spread by carriage: mostly white: nom
paroXysmal; disproportionate in pulse:
p p~rOStratiOp. Insisted or and made
first autopsy on adult of 60 years. said
to be a typical case of fever. Matter
under advisement. Doctors Oliphant.
HarrelSOn. Saunders and others will