The Southern herald., 1897-10-22
Gov. NeLaurin.
Az OPEN LETTER FEOWHEALTH
UEFsCER TODD
Ciiy Health Ofcs,
"JAcks3S, Mss Oct. I6, 81.

W. II Va = tltaA Wv .ANAa 'A' t'a
expects to he able 10 get into Jack
sun solne time next week. lie u
anxious 10 get back, as he has
'nuch work that awaits him These
are misleading, in that
they imply that Gov. MeI.aurin
cannot come to Jackson any day
that he desires, aud they cover up
the fact that the Goveru-r left
Jackson Of his own volitiun.
As the health officer Of this city,
and the only person charged by
law with issuing health certificates
as far as jackson is concerned, ]
ask ia justice 10 me as well as your
self-being a srlfrespee,lng and just
journalis,-Ihas you will publish
the facts touching the absence OF
the Chief Executive, which follow:
The impression has falsely gone
abroad that Gov. McLaurin was
absent from Jackson when the
yellow fever panic occurred in this
city, ana that he continues to be
denied admission TO the city and 10
his office. The day that yellow
fever was officially announced at
Ocean Spri gs in Telegram to the
Governor by DR.. Hunter aud DR..
HARRISON, Of the State Board oi
Health, the Governor was speak.
ing in defense Of his veto Of the
capitol bill at Westville. This was
Monday, Sept. 6. l am informed
that an unsuccessful attempt was
made by State Treasurer May To
repeat this Telegram over the tele-
phone TO the Governor. So far as
| krow aud believe the Governor
did not hear Of the yellow fever at
Ocean Springs until his arrival Al
jackson the next day, Tuesday,
Sept, :. He remained here until
the following Saturday evening,
Sept. II On Sept s, Wednesday
the Clarlon.L Ledger contained the
following:
" Gov. McI.aurin was booked a:
one Of the speakers at theConfeder.
ate reunion At Walden. but was fore
cd 10 fOrego the appointment, feel
ing that his presenceiS necessary al
the capital during the fever excite
mcnt.
The Evening News, ofthis city,
ui the same date, contained a simi,
lar announcement. Presumably
these publications were made al
the request Of the Governor. 1t be-
! gan to look as If the Governor real
lly meut what be said about bcinl
willing 10 lay down his life foI
Mississippi in a message to the
L, gislature. But it must be borne
in mind that the yellow fever then
was only at Ocean Springs, 30C
miles away. Walden is about eighty
miles from Jackson-three hour,
run, with three trains day, ant
telegrapbic communication. Thit
was Wednesday, Sept. s Mark thu
date. About this time the suspi
cion that Hon. S. S. Champion
who died at Edwards few day be
fore, had yellow fever, began t,
grow. There were rumors that h.
had caught the fever from the An.
derson family, on. Of whom had re.
turned a short time ago from Ocean
Springs. Then flashed across the
wire the announcement that Capt
viii A. Montgomery, falher-in-law
Of Mr.. Champion, in whose house
Mr.. Champion died, was down with
chill, followed by suspicious fever
Reports and denial Of yellow fever
at Edwards, almost melted the tel.
egraph and telephone wires, so hot
they kept. Before this, cr about
this time yellow fever was officially
announced in Biloxi and New Or
leans. Case after case Of fever was
reported at Edwards The doctors
there insisted that it was dengue
fever. On Sept. l3 the Jackson
papers published that there were
twenty cases Of dengue among the
whites and negroes at Edwards
This information came in a card OF
Sept. IL, signed by Drs. RatcIlff,
McCallum and PurDell. These doc
tors said that Champion had died
from infection from the Anderson
family, one Of whom had recently
returned from Ocean Springs. The
Jackson authorities bad already
quarantined against Edwards, and
the people of Jackson, including
,be Governor, no doubt had made
up their minds in advance Of ths
above publication that the fever al