The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-09-09
YELLOW FEVER SCARE
-A--
PEOPLE or NEW ORLEANS RECOy-
ERING FROM THEIR FRIGHT.
-e-
The City Thoroughly Searched by
state Health Authorities and No
Suspicious Cases Found.
OCEAN SPRINGS GUARDED
NOBODY ALLOWED TO ENTER OR
LEAVE THE INFECTED RESORT.
DIR. Guiteras, the Expert, Now at the
Scene of the Outbreak-SituntiOn
at BiIOxi-Quarantines.

70
NEW ORLEANS. Sept. S.-When the
Board of Health met tonight DR.. Olliphant
had no additional cases to report to that
body as having occurred in New Orleans
and was able to say that the local situa-
ton had vastly improved and that there
were no present prospects of evil results
following the death Of the Gelpi child. The
public pulse here is vastly stronger and
New Orleans is almost ready TO declare
that it has had a scare for nothing. Dr.
Olliphant and his staff have slept but little
in the past seventy-six hours and have
fairly honeycombed the city for suspicious
cases of fever without result. Now they
are ready to render any assistance in their
power to the government and to the Mis-
sissippi authorities in bottling up whatever
fsYer exists in Ocean Springs and Biloxi
Deep interest has naturally been felt
here in the outcome of the examination by
DIR. Guiteras who arrived at Ocean Springs
this morning Under instructions from
the superintendent of the Louisville &
Nashville, DR. Guiteras was put off in the
woods a couple of miles from Ocean
Springs 1t was not long thereafter before
the doctor ran up against the quarantine
trocha and the distinguished visitor had
was permitted to run the line. On his ar
rival in Ocean Springs. DR.. Guiteras went
Immediately to work and in person investi-
gated a number of cases of the prevailing
sickness. He found only two cases. it is
said, that deserve the term doubtful or
suspicious, and in answer to an inquiry he
said he hoped to be able to wire the result
if his examination to Washington this
evening. In the meantime a correspondent
wired to the city that he had learned from
a source that could not be doubted that
DIR. Guiteras, after his examination, had
not been entirely convinced that any yell
low fever existed or does exist in Ocean
Springs. The local physicians are not pre-
pared to say what effect an opinion by DIR.
Guiteras, counter to that expressed by the
four experts who declared the cases they
investigated was yellow fever, would have.
A thorough canvass of the wards of
Ocean Springs completed late this evening
shows there has been 74S cases of the pre-
vailing fever since July s. There are now
thirty-seven sick. The total deaths have
been nine, and in several instances phys-
clans certificates show the fever was COM
plicated with other diseases. There are
believed to have been only two deaths due
to yellow jack" At the suggestion of
DR.. Cant every house where there has
been sickness or there is now is being
fumigated. DR.. Cant says whether the
prevailing disease is yellow fever or low
malaria, it is certainly contagious.
Final arrangements to handle the Biloxi
and Ocean Springs mail were completed
to-day. The railroad managers sent over
mail crane to-day and the pouches will be
taken by trains both ways after the bags
have been fumigated. After DR.. Guiteras
has completed his investigation, a quaran-
tine detention station will be established.
Those who are not III will be detained at
the station until they are considered
worthy TO be given clean bills of health
and will then be permitted to go to their
homes. There are sixty-tive residents OF
New Orleans who are tied up in Ocean
Springs anxious to get away and some flf-
teen from other points;
had in getting into the springs, quarantine
is being very strictly maintained. Fisher
when the Gordon was established have not
been permitted to return. Armed men are
posted in every direction and Ocean Springs
seems to be determined that no more sick
ness of any kind shall be imported within
her borders. The cases are very rare
wherein the gauntlet has been run, and
generally the guards have made no dis
crimination as between rich or poor, white
or black. There is a law in Mississippi
against the violation of quarantine laws.
Usually in yellow fever epidemics, how
ever. an unwritten law, enforced by the
shotgun, obtains. and that is the law which
is now in effect about Ocean Springs and
Biloxi.
Biloxi people are not absolutely convinced
that the fever there is yellow jack" DR..
when he has completed his investigation at
Ocean Springs DR.. Guiteras will be asked
to visit Biloxi and determine positively
whether or not DR.. Harralson has correct
~ diagnosed the disease. Until a report
is made by the Marine Hospital expert,
the Biloxi people declare they will not be
satisfied. Whatever fever
had . good effect, for on all sides residents
are carrying into effect Mayor Towards
recommendation to put their homes in
proper sanitary condition and to abstain
from congregating anywhere in crowds.
My9r T Cbors Is SOP OF the late
man of integrity and full faith is reposed
in his pledges to keep the residents of
Biloxi fully informed as 10 every develop
ment This morning the three patients at
Biloxi were doing wen and 1t was thought
they would recover. Their homes have
disinfected
Some $50 people were brought to New Or
leans by the morning trains from the coast.
There We're very few passengers on the
evening trains and both Pass Christian and
Bay st. Louis have been depopuiated so far
a 5 summer visitors are concerned. All coast
trains on the Louisville e. Nashville were
discontinued to-day. and through trains will
do whatever local business is necessary
while a special is always at the disposal of
officials who are enlisted in the movement
to stamp out the fever at Biloxi and Ocean
Springs.
The Louisville Il Nashville officials be-
1ieve that the federal and state authorities
win soon wipe out the plague. The rail-
road will be a considerable loser by the pest
for its heavy summer travel to coast points
has been cut off about six weeks earlier
than usual What is some ones loss how
ever, is another's gain. and the butchers
bakers. milkmen, clothiers dry goods houses
and others are not entirely displeased that
summer sojourners have been driven home
early
Baton Rouge the state canital Is the