The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-10-08
BURIED At NIGHT
Wild Rumors of Smallpox at
Augusta
SIX NEW CASES REPORTED
w. H, Cody Says There Is No
Cause for Alarm.

There have reached Wichita all kinds
Of wild rumors concerning smallpox at
Augusta. twenty miles east on the FRS
co. The disease first started in the De-
witt family there. Henry Dewitt. the
young man who was supposed to have
brought the disease there from Newkirk'
recovered, but his father is said 10 have
taken it and died. He was buried at mid
night last Saturday night 1t is also re-
ported that Dr. Hill and his son, Dr.
Hi, Jr., also have the disease and are
about to die. The house has been quar-
antined. Six new cases and quarantine
are reported.
The Augusta Journal says of the mat
ter:
Another week has rolled by, and still
smallpox is the prevailing topic chiefly
because of the exaggerated rumors that
periodically, are set afoat. If the truth
only we're told the subject would entirely
lose its interest. The Journal has inves-
rirated every rumor that would come to
its notice in order that its readers might
have the facts. In most cases these ru-
nors grew from something as black as a
crow to a large number Of crows.
Henry Dewitt, who was the first to
come down with the disease resembling
in many features smallpox, and for want
Of another name called smallpox, is re-
covered.
"The four who were in the Dewitt
house at the. time Of the quarantine all
contracted the disease, and all, with the
exception Of James Dewitt the father,
are getting along nicely.
James Dewitt, as reported last week,
was seriously sick. There were some
complications not yet explained. He was
an old man and not strong. His condi-
lion continued to grow worse and at or
. O'Clock Saturday night he expired and
was buried during the night.
''Dr Hatch, who was placed in quar-
antine on account of being exposed to-
Henry Dewitt showed no symptoms of
developing The disease, and on Monday
the quarantine Of his residence was
raised. He IS in his usual health and
from appearances did not have the
disease.
Or II. D. Hill was reported ailing on
Monday morning from a! cold he had con-
tracted the night before. Tuesday night
Mrs Hill who was visiting her brother
in sedEwick county, was called home.
Wednesday the Hill residence was quar-
anfined. The disease was thought to be
variolold. and the doctor icolated him
self in the upper story and is being cared
for by his son, DR.. Harvey Hill, and Cap
lain Hanna a nurse from Ell Dorado.
DIR. Harvey is now prescribing for the
Deu-itts and has given up his other prac-
-lce There are symptoms that he will
have the same disease as the Dewitts.
Yesterday he was feeling well and not
anvcnienced at ali.
.Vedr csday afternoon the report was
circulated that Dr. II. D. Hill was not
expected to live through the night, and
doubtless by the time it reached some
7f our readers the relater had DR.. Hill
dead from smallpox and buried, several
hundred new cases and the town quaran-
tined The facts in this case are that
Or TIil has been subject to heart trouble
in the past. Tuesday night he had an
attack and powerful heart stimulants
were used. Wednesday night there was
a recurrence Of the trouble but not so
severe as the preceding. Yesterday morn
ing he was reported as feeling quite we'll
and no. troubled at all by the varioloid
ASIDE from the heart trouble. there is
no cause Tor uneasiness about DR.. Hill
The disease win have - run its course
The patient win soon recover. Every pre-
caution wil he taken to prevent new
cases from developing. None will devel-
op outside Of The family and probably
none in the family.
The disease which started with Henry
Dewitt viii be confined to the Dewitt
family and the family of the attending
physician.
NO one, we believe, who IS cognizant
of tho facts win coutrovert any Of the
above statements or declare that they do
not about cover the whole ground. 1t IS,
therefore. somewhat strange that any
one here should have the slightest alarm
ard the c2ly explanation is that they
have had their minds preiudiced by the
reports from the outside. some Of which
follow:
'In Leon It has been reported that
there We're eighteen new cases and the
town ouarantined.
'Tn III Dorado about the same. and in
addition nr. Hatch dead from smallpox.
CDR Hatch is attending the FL Dorado
fair today" a very lively corpse)
In Florence they have it thirty new
cases and twenty-five deaths.
In DOUGLASS they tell people travelling
through that no one is allowed to enter
or leave Augusta.
'"Fhese Wild reports have caused par
ties in FL Dorado. Douglass and Leon TO
spend good. hard-earned dollars tele-
graphing % Topeka asking that Augusta
bs Quarantined. These reports reaching
some citizens IN Augusta. excite their
imarinations. and they fear the worst.
There is no cause for alarm We be-
neve there is not the slightest danger to
any one. Just consider the facts. forget
the fcdons, and there Is no more to be
feared from these cases than from ty-
phoid fever"
CITY IN BRIEF.
VIZ T~o1roAo-,