The Magnolia gazette. [volume] (Magnolia, Miss.) 1872-current, 1899-09-20
Special Correspondence Gazette. /

SPECTRAL 0dIEtlt.
jackson, Miss, Sept. IS, SO.
Major d. P. Porter, city clerk
of Jackson, died on Saturday af-
ternoon, 10Th. He was taken sick
on Monday night 4th, and on the
next Sunday afternoon the case
was diagnosed as yellow fever.
DR.. Murray, of the Marine Hos
pital service, passing through
Jackson that day, was invited to
see the patient, and pronounced
ityellow fever. But as days pass
ed, and none of the many who
had been exposed by visiting the
family, were taken sick, the COM
munity, very generally, conclu-
ded thata mistake had been made.
The theory that Major Porter took
the disease from his brother Joe,
who had been to New Orleans,
and who was sick on his return,
was not sustained; for DIR. John
ston published over his own sigma
ture, that Joe Porter had no yell
low fever symptoms. Another
physician, who visited Joe, ex-
pressed the same opinion.
When Major Porter died, it was
decided to have post mortem
examination. This was conduct
ed by Drs. HARRISON, Hunter,
Todd and Hughes. They sus-
tanned the yellow fever diagnosis.
This decision was announced at
8 clock. but it did not create a
ripple Of excitement. Should
there be no other case in next few
days, all danger from this will be
passed, and the health authori-
ties will doubtless recommend the
raising of all guarantees against
jackson. The city is unusually
healthy.
THE SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES.
The experience of the past three
years suggests the propriety OF
postponing the opening Of all
schools, public and private, until
the first week in October. They
would then have nine calendar
months for work before closing
June Both; or, by dispensing with
holidays, and using a part of Sat-
urdays, they could make up hall
month, so as to close June 18th,
Parents will not be willing to lei
their children leave home fol
points that may possibly be dis
turbed by yellow fever or quar-
antine until after danger time hal
passed. Eight full months would
be very good school term for the
yellow fever section.
A UNIQUE REPENTANCE.
The daily press has given wide
publicity to the sensational epi.
sode of the return of Chas. o.
Summers, the noted detective anC
express robber. who turned up in
the governors office at jackson
on Friday afternoon, 10Th, with
the proposition to go back tC
prison walls, and serve out his
sentence of five years, nine
months of which he had served
before escaping August Z, 1893
He and confederate had robbed
the Southern Express office a
Meridian of five thousand dollars
They were arrested and S4100. .0(
of the money recovered. He was
captured in San Francisco in De.
cember, and brought back to the
prison, from which he ESCAPED
again on April 8, 1894. He bribet
one of the guards, named Fun
chess, who accompanied him.
Coy. Stone offered a big reward
for his apprehension. This wa:
widely published, in hand bill
form, with a picture and good de.
scription of Summers. A copy
found its way to Juneau, Alaska
where Summers was passing un,
der the name of Jim Wilson. ON
of his friends called his attention
to his resemblance to the picture
which he admitted, and at onc'
left for the Klondyke, where HI
says he made some money. Blu
he had reason to believe that ever
there the Pinkertons had him un,
der surveillance. And so he re-
solved to return to Mississippi