Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1898-05-28

Dut llLtle SnOrL OF panic.
Warden Parish was apprised of the sit
uation, and consulting with Wardens
Propst and Moore, the only members of
the council who could be found on the
minute, they were not long in deciding
that the first thing to be done was to
send doctor around to make an in
vestigation. But here arose a new diff
ficulty. DR.. Walker, chairman of
the board of health was not yet strong
enough to attend to the duties of this
kind. DR.. White, the other physician
member of the board of health, was not
willing to go, and the other physicians
took the position that there was no reason
why they should go; that such visit
would isolate them from their patients,
etc., and the council, for time, was nom
plussed. The refusal Of the physicians
to investigate the matter, of course, only
tended to increase the excitement, and
every minute shot was expected from
Cervera's fleet.
After more discussion, it was decided
to telephone for DR.. Jim Campbell, of
Clover, who has in charge an alleged
smallpox patient. At least that is what
rumor has been saying. DR.. Campbell
has not called the case smallpox yet, so
far as the reporter was able to learn.
Anyhow, DR.. Campbell was not in reach,
and Mr.. Parish next telephoned to Rock
Hill for DIR. Frank Strait, who at once
said he would come over next morning.
In the meantime, the excitement con-
tinued to grow apace, especially among
quite an element, and it was necessary to
do something to quiet things down. In
conversation with Mr.. Parish, Mr.. Finley
said he would 20 round and see the Ne
gro if anybody would go with him. Mr..
Parish promptly offered to 60, and the
two men went around to interview the
Negro. They found the house at which
be was stopping full of Negroes. The
fellow was able to be about, and came out
and talked with his visitors. He said he
had chickenpox along about Christmas;
but was well over it. He gave his name
as John Hogan but when questioned as
to where he was from told several con-
fiicting yarns which gave evidence of the
fact that he was something Of a liar.
When Messrs. Finley and Parish got
ready to return from their mission they
did so. Nobody attempted to quarantine
them, for both are "unreasonable' fellows
when they are interferred with. But
their visit did a great deal to satisfy the
more timid.
Next morning, about 8 o'clock, the Ne
gro created something of sensation by
boldly walking up Main street. Near the
bank he met DR.. w. G. White, and from
a distance of about 10 feet, a conversation
was commenced. Unable to come up
himself, DIR. Strait had sent DR.. j. E. Mas
sey. The doctor was across the street
with DR.. Carothers and DR.. Jim Caldwell.
The three walked across to where the Ne
gro was, at first keeping their distance.
Presently a crowd Of Is or 20 people,
many of whom were among the most
frightened the evening before, began to
gather around, leaving the Negro not
much more than good elbow room.
After a little while it was decided to
make more thorough examination.
Hogan was taken across to DR.. Carother's
office and made to strip. DR.. Carothers,
DR.. Massey, DR.. Caldwell and Medical
Student Williams were present. After
looking into the matter, DR.. Massey said
that the Negro had had smallpox; but
had recovered past the point where there
was any danger Of contagion. When the
doctors got through with the Negro, he
was told to leave town, which he did.
There has been talk for several days
about the wisdom Of enforcing the COM
pulsory vaccination regulation recently
adopted by the board of health. AS a
matter of act, a majority of the mem bers
agreed upon the regulation only with
much reluctance. They are in doubt as
to whether compulsory vaccination Is the
proper thing. DR.. Walker has all along
been opposed to compulsory vaccination
under any circumstances but he was not
present at the meeting at which the regu-
lation was adopted. The town council
has not yet decided to enforce the reg
ulation. Mr.. Parish and Mr.. Propst are
both opposed to it. What the views Of
the other members of the council on the
subject are the reporter does not know.
He has not heard them express them
selves. But many leading citizens are
bitterly opposed to any such undertaking.
They say that it is not right to vaccinate
a man whether he wants to be vaccinated
or not. Again, it is claimed that compul-
sorry vaccination has not and cannot be
made general. Numerous exceptions
have been made in every town in which
the compulsory vaccination idea has been
attempted, and so long as there are ex-
ceptions, they are at loss to see what
good is to be accomplished. Again, there
are many who believe that notwithstand-
ing all that has been said about the mat
ter there is no genuine smallpox in the
state. There are good physicians in
Yorkville, and in fact all over the state
who have their doubts on this score.
Then it is claimed that the quarantine
idea is impracticable. There are numer-
Gus ways of avoiding quarantine, and to
make it effective is impossible. Chester
is quarantined against Columbia. Last
Friday, Alec King, the well-known COM
mercial traveller, went to Chester from
Columbia by way of Rock Hill and York
vile. They sent him to the pest house
until the next train came along but the
incident leads to the inference that others
have done the same thing without getting
caught.
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