The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-11-27
An Outrageous Rumor
Found to Be False.
PUZZLED BYAsTRANGE DEATH
CHINESE CONSUL REPORTED
BUBoNIC DEATHS.
Investigation Shows His Mistake and
He Makes Formal Acknowledge
ment of the Error-Quar-
antine Discontinued.

No cases of bubonic plague have been
discovered in Chinatown. This is the
definite statement made conjointy by
by Health Officer Gallwey, City Bactert-
ologist Spencer and DR.. Williamson Of
the Board of Health.
An alarming report that four Cinnamon
had died of bubonic plague reached the
Health ONCE Friday morning through
verbal report made to Health officer Gall
wey by the Chinese Consul in San Fran
cisco. This report was to the effect that
Leong Chun Chew of 913 Dupont street
had died of a mysterious disease. believed
to be the black plague, and three other
Cinnamon, whose names the Consul I'D
not give, were thought to have fallen vic
TINS to the same dread disease.
The semi-offlcial aspect of this tnfor-
nation created considerable alarm in the
mind of the Health officer, and he at once
telephoned to the various members of the
Board OF Health, asking them to meet i'm
mediately in special session at the Health
Office. Every member responded without
delay, and within thirty minutes the
Mayor convened the board and presented
the report of the Chinese Consul, as made
TO Dr. Gallwey.
At first the board was inclined to pub
fish the Information through the daily
newspapers, advising people to keep away
from the Chinatown district until an in
vestigation could be made. Telephone
messages from the various papers, how
ever, concurred in the advice to give no
publicity to the matter until an inVestt-
cation had been made, especially as 1t
would require but few hours to find out
the truth. 1t was not considered advisa-
Bile TO create scare which might do the
city great damage outside and which,
perhaps, would prove to be entirely I'M
justified.
of the case and decided to Immediately
send inspectors into Chinatown to watch
Tor any suspicious oeVelopmentS, WTlIe
Dr.. Spencer, the City Bacteriologist. was
instructed to make an immediate tnyesti-
cation of the remains Of Leong Chun
Chew, TO ascertain whether the bacilli of
the bUbonic plague were present or not
Inspectors were also ordered to quaran-
tine the house at 913 Dupont street and
10 quietly advise all persons approaching
the vicinity to go away. These instruc-
tons were carried out to the letter.
Dr.. Spencer, assisted by, City Physician
Hereford and Dr.. McMurdo, took possess
sion of the corpse of the dead Chinaman,
and yesterday made an extensive autopsy
at 734 Pacific street, cutting into all Of the
They found no traces of bubonic plague,
even under careful microscoptcal examtna-
considered to be plain evidence that the
Chinamau came to his death from edema
Of the lungs. AS result Of the researches
made, the three physicians all signed
death certificate stating that Leong Chun
Chew came to his death from edema of
the lungs. This finding was promptly
made Known to the Health once, which
by this time was besieged by telephone
Inquiries as to whether the bubonic plague
had broken out in Chinatown. The story
had been picked up by few persons and
had spread with great rapidity.
While the attaches of the office were
busy answering the questions with a
statement that no plague existed the
Chinese Consul walked in and was re-
ceived by Assistant Secretary Zobel. The
Consul stated that he was anxious to Hear
the result Of the autopsy, and when in
formed expressed himself as greatly re-
lieved. He stated that it was his earnest
desire to have the Health Inspectors re-
moved from the Chinatown district; that
he was convinced that no plague had ever
existed there and that the vague reports
had already done considerable damage to
the business of Chinatown merchants and
would do much more to the Christmas
Evidently the Chinese merchants had been
getting after the Consul to secure relef
from the threatened boycott.
Secretary Zobel assured the Consul that
ali proper steps would undoubtedly be
taken in the direction of correcting any
erroneous impressions that might be
abroad and the Consul expressed himself
as satisfied and withdrew.
While the Board Of Health and the
newspapers of this city were taking care
of the interests of the people, as already
ents of Chicago and New York news
papers sent out sensational kilograms TO
the effect that the bubonic plague had
broken out in San Francisco and that fif-
teen Cinnamon had died of the disease.
The Chicago newspapers at once issued
special editions, while the New York
sheets contented themselves with dis