The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1898-07-14
FEVER APPEARS.
Scourge Breaks Out Among
Our Soldiers.
FOURTEEN CASES REPORTED
Matter Discussed at Hastily Sum.
moned Meeting at the
White House.
FOURTEEN CASES REPORTED

Steps to Isolate the Cases-Condition OF
the Army at Santiago de Cuba Favora-
BILE to the Spread of the Disease-Burn-
ing of the Filthy Little Town of siboney |
Done as a Sanitary Precaution.
Washington, July 14.-Surgeon Gen. |
eral Wyman of the marine hospital |
service has received information that
there are fourteen cases Of yellow fe-
yer among the United States troops at
Siboney. and that the government VIII
abandon the Dry Tortugas as MILL
tary station and give it back to the ma
rine hospital service.
Washington, July H.-Under the
white flag of truce the most formidable
ally Of the Spanish army, yellow fever,
has crept out of Santiago and fallen
with appalling force upon the Ameri-
can army. 1t was impossible to secure
the details, as General Miles dispatches
have not been made public, but the first
suggestion came in press dispatch
from Cuba that General Miles had
| burned Siboney. Later came official
| dispatches and at II o'clock secretaries
| Of war and navy, with the war board
| and representatives of the surgeon gen.
erals department of the army, were
| hastily summoned to confer with the
| president The meeting was extended
| and those participating wore an ex-
| preston of gloom. Gradually the de-
tails were whispered about the depart
| ment. 1t was said the scourge had ac-
tually reached the army and that over
a hundred cases were reported. Wheth-
er this was the number afflicted In the
army or included the cases among the
refugees was not known at 1880. but
the situation is pictured as distressing
ly bad for the army, the rains and
floods doing their share to add to Its
misery.
| Work To BE Done Over.
The rains have washed out the in
| trenchments Of the army and swept
| in torrents down the hill and the work
| of many days will have to be done all
over. General Miles reports he has ta-
I ken steps to isolate the yellow fever
|, patients and to remove the refugees
far enough away to prevent the disease
from being communicated any further
Every precaution is being taken to pre-
vent the spread of the fever. The army
has the benefit of@the most experienced
, yellow fever experts in the medical pro
fession-Dr. Nicholas Sem of Chicag'
and DR.. John Guiteras. The period
I ( incubation in the disease Is from thre
! to five days. which means that II gen
/ J eral outbreak is coming 1t will soon b.
| apparent. The war department is rely
e ing principally upon prompt action I
stay the disease. If each suspected cas-
!. | Is instantly removed from camp to al
h. tNTfl
, checked. 1t is known positively tha
| fourteen cases have been reported II
General Skaters army alone, min
among the soldiers and five among civ
- ilians yellow fever, the experts say
infects places rather than persons, an
when Santiago has been taken it vii
be easier. ii is thought. to shift aroun
and avoid the scourge than at present
L unless it should turn out that all
Santiago is infected.
:. Favorable to Spread of Fever.
The transports bringing home tn
d sick and wounded soldiers are now be
ing landed at Fortress Monroe instea
:, of at Florida points and extra pain
will be taken to disinfect the ships an
|, | promptly remove any suspected case
to high ground in a safe latitude. Th
ej condition of the army at Santiago
favorable to the spread Of yellow fevel
\ The soldiers, lying in the trenches un
der tropical suns, or In drenching rains
are particularly susceptible to the dis
ease. Surgeon General Sternberg, on
Il of the greatest experts on the subjec
has strongly urged that no prolonge
n siege be conducted, and If possible ths
as few troops as can be relied on |
a. perform the necessary military dut!
be retained in Santiago after the cit
capitulates. He represents that IL tn
troops are long subjected to the cor
ditions which are reported to have pre-
vailed at Santiago for two weeks
,e general epidemic of yellow fever is a
most certain to break out, and as II
r season is now propitious for sprea
of the disease, the importance OF
NJ speedy change is necessary.
More Deadly Than bullets.
~ General Sternberg says that sleepir
y I'm wet clothes on rain-soaked groun'
and then fighting under hot suns WI
improper food and unprovided WI
shelter at night tends greatly to el
courage the development OF the di
eel ease. When Santiago Is taken 1t W
be impossible. 1t is said, to preve
al. yellow fever from attacking the troo
unless utmost precautions are tax
od | 10 nreyent infected regions from bell
occupied General Sternberg believes
- long siege of any Cuban city at tn
season would result in greater dsast
- 70 the men than the bullets cf the en-
'e' nv. He thinks it preferable to su
tain some losses through gun fire th'
III TO subject the entire army to ge
eral outbreak Of fever. What appli
to Santiago, he says, will apply wi
equal force to Porto Rico and perha
10 Havana, II the warm season co
en- tinues when the campaign against the
Is started.
sIBoNEY BURNED TO THE GROUN