Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1898-10-10
MISSISSIPPI ASKS AID.
Appeals to Federal Government to
Help the Starving.
YELLOW FEVER IS RAGING.
Nemmed In by Gordon, ThOusHnds
Are In Need-GOvernOr McLaurin
Returns Home and Authorizes
the Sending of Message.

Jackson, Miss, Oct. 10.-Since the In
auguration of the policy of cordoning
yellow fever infected districts and even
towns with a strict guard the condition
! of affairs has rapidly grown worse.
More than 5000 people, according to OIL
cial figures. are in absolute need Of food,
not to mention the necessity for nurses.
The acute stage that the situation has
reached is proved by the official appeal
for aid to the president of the United
States issued by the state board OF
health. The appeal would have been Is
sued several days ago had the govern
or's approval not been necessary In such
cases under an act of the last legisla-
ture. Governor McLaurin has been re-
admitted to Brandon, whence he was
summarily expelled in view Of the grav-
ity Of the situation. He telephoned his
approval to the appeal and his name
was signed by proxy.
The appeal Is more than justified by
present conditions. Local and state ef-
forts for adequate relief have been In
effectual. The charitable contributions
of cities closely bound by ties of COM
mercial interest have not solved the
problem. Under the system employed
by the state board of health to combat
the fever there Is bound to be suffering.
1t does net press heavily upon citizens
who are able to leave for northern
places, but the laborers who are left to
brave the fever and the lack of employ
ment feel it's effects keenly.
situation Mt Jackson.
The condition at Jackson is a type Of
ha af bn a
such pitch Of desperation have the
people got in some cases that there
have been threats of making a sortie
regardless of opposition. The health
board, assisted by the State Howard as
ISOLATION, has done everything possible
to relieve the restitution among the I'M
fortunates. a large majority of whom
are negroes. The appeal to the general
government was made reluctantly, but
advisedly, and there Is a growing opin-
ion in the state that it would be better
to transfer the conduct of the whole
quarantine system to the same agency.
Jackson has at present about 1000
needing government aid Oxford. the
seat of the state university, has 700.
Other towns are proportionately in need
of assistance. The total will exceed the
One-fifth of the counties of the state are
now on the infected list. and almost ev
cry night the number is increased.
Rdgeland, northern colony of Illinois
immigrants in Madison county, was re-
ported infected, and the settlers are re-
turning to their homes. Ridgeland was
an object lesson of successful northern
investment in small southern farms,
and the discouragem incident to the
scourge will work great injury In the
future. Special trains continue to carry
refugees north. Natchez contributed ten
coaches, with others to follow.
An attempt was made to move an or
phan asylum in which the fever had
appeared to the Methodist Orphanage
of st. Louis, but the city health author
tiles refused permission. The death rate
among the whites to date is IA per cent.