The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1898-10-01

Panic Is the surest Way 10 start an
Epidemic OF Disease Among
Soldiers.

"The liability of men to the infec-
ton Of plaques is largely matter OF
nerve, in my opinion" said naval
officer recently. There is reasonable
physiological ground for this belief.
The man who possesses no sand ana
gives way 10 craven fear In the teeth
of rampant plague, like cholera
or yellow jack, for example, de-
yitalzes himself 10 large extent, per-
mits worriment TO sap his nervous
strength and energy, and consequent
In renders himself an easy prey 70 the
contagion or infection. In the sum-
mer of 1895 the Asiatic cholera stole
aboard n number of Jananese war
ships on the home station, and 1t pref
Nv nearly licked up the crews of all
these Jap men-of-war. At the same
time the cholera got aboard the U.
&. s. Bennington at Honolulu, and IL
only took off one man, or boy, rather
IA Washington lad, by the way,
named Goebel.
81 feel perfectly certain that the
nerve displayed by the men on the
Bennington was largely accountable
| for their comparatively easy escape
from n heavy visitation. Cholera is
not indigenous 10 the Hawaiian is
lands, but on this occasion the plague
was brought 10 Honolulu by cargo
of Chinese coolies shipped on the
steamer Belgic for work on the Ha-
waiian sugar plantations. Cholera
broke out among these coolies ten or
twelve days before the Belgic arrived
at Honolulu, but no report was made
by the ships officers when she got
there. Consequently the coolies were
permitted 10 land, and in a day or so
Honolulu awoke 10 the realization
that the town was in for bad cholera
siege. The Bennington moved her an
chorage TO distance OF about GOO
Yards from the Honolulu docks when
the presence Of the cholera was an
rounced, and all hands were strictly
quarantined. The precaution, how
ever, was overlooked Of not permit
ting the men forward from going in
swimming from the ship, and that's
the reason we got the cholera aboard
and lost the boy Goebel
about a week after The plague
broke out in Honolulu a hundred or
so If the men aboard the Bennington
jumped over the side one evening TO
have swim, young Goebel among
them. The lad probably swallowed n
mouthful of water contaminated by
creek that passes through the Chi
nese quarter Of Honoluh--where the
cholera-striclen Cinnamon were quar-
antined-and empties into the har-
Lor couple OF hours after the boy
left the water he began TO complain OF
cramps, and when he was taken aft
! TO the sick bay and examined by the
surgeon il was found that he had
Asiatic cholera. The surgeon and the
: ships apothecary worked over the lad
all night, showing no fear whatever
, Of the disease, but they couldn't save
him, and he died early the following
morning. The men knew all about
what WAS going on in the sick bay, but
, there wasn't one Of them that gave
the slightest indication OF showing the
yellow They smoked their pipes and
talked about pay day. The apothecary
who attended the dying lad all night
i moved freely among the men forward,
) and they made no effort whatever to
{ give him plenty OF sea room.
5 when the boys body was disposed
: Of the skipper had the men mustered.
E told them all about the cholera and
$ the precautions necessary 10 staye IL
: Off, il possible, and the men went
5 about their business when they were
2 dismissed from quarters. The ship
,,,as tborouOhly disinfected and wa
= had no more cholera aboard, although
= the health authorities of the island
e kept us quarantined on board ship for
/, over three months. III the Benning-
: tons crew had been men OF mercurial
/ disposition and had collapsed from
$ fear when il was announced that we
had cholera alongside us as ship
:. mate IL Is ten to one chat there would
y have been an epidemic. w Washington
{ Post