The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-10-18
n1rANA.s sANlrAnr covplrron.
Inspector Drummer Says the City IL Oirtisr
Than Ever-The Denth Rate High.

Inspector drummer says the CiNy IL Dir1teR
Than Ever-The Death Rate High.
WASHINGTON, Oct. 17.-Sanitary Inspector
W. F. Drummer. Marine Hospital Service. who
was stationed at Havana prior to the war. has
made his first report to the Marine Hospital
Bureau since the lifting OF the blockade at that
mort. 1t is for the week ended Oct. q. the
deaths In Havana in that period numbering
536. n greater mortality than during any week
Of the year previous. Nine deaths were d-a
to yellow fever and three to starvation.
Referring to the condition OF the reconcen.
trados. he says 1t is appalling. n conservative
estimate placing nearly so per cent. OF their
number as permanent physical wrecks,
THE cost OF living" the report continues,
exceeds that OF the period Immediately be.
fore the war. Work is not obtainahle and
these people are In the last stages OF elimina-
ton for want OF food. Malarlal fevers in fatal
forms exist to q marked extent: the natives
seem to suffer very much and furnish the
greatest number Of deaths. Enteric fever and
e~nteritis caused over one-nfth the total deaths
for the week. There has been no death from
smallpox in over two weeks. and there are but
few cases here. The city is even dirtier than
ever. II such a thing could he possible. The
rains continue to fall in the afternoon about
four days In each week. Yellow fever does
not exist to the same extent as IL has existed
during the past two years, the reason being
that during the past eight or ten months but
little material has been present on which the
fever could feed. But few Spanish soldiers
we're brought here between Jan. l and April
81. the latter date being the day when this
port was closed to the outside world. Since
the opening OF the blockade probably 200
Americans have arrived here, OF which num-
Der about one-half remain. -Four deaths from
yellow fever have occurred among these Amer
leans during the past two months.
The American bark Maryland. formerly q
Spanish vessel and an old Cuban trader. was
bought by two Americans at Key West. Fla,
stocked with. meat and other provisions. and
sailed for this port. arriving here about the
middle Of August. The vessel brought a crew
OF eight. discharged her cargo at Caballeria
wharf. on the Havana side Of the harbor, and
ing which time the owners. and crew slept
aboard the vessel. she was taken out and an
chored in the open bay. Yellow fever first de-
veloped in the persons OF the owners, both Of
whom died. The master was then taken sick
and died Oct. 5. Two of the crew were then
taken sick and removed to the hospital. I
boarded the vessel yesterday t0ct. g. land found
their illness one man. in my opinion. did not
disease. Out of the original. complement OF
ten persone. but three remain well. Efforts
are being. made to obtain a new crew to take
the vessel to Baltimore. l have advised. and
my advice will be fully acted upon, that the YES
sci be taken to the. Tortugas quarantine sta
tion. which is only ninety miles distant. for dis
one. as the vessel is undoubtedly infected. and
q ten to fifteen days trip to Baltimore would
develop other cases"