The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-11-21
OFFICIAL STATEMENT
BY PRESIDENT McIVER
DEFECTIVE SEWER PIPES THE
CAUSE OF THE TROUBLE.
NOT ALL THE CASES ARE TYPHOID FEVER
Many of the Cases are Said to be Malaria, Ag-
grayated by the Local Cause Mentioned.
President McIyer Thinks the
School May Resume Work
by January First.
by January First.

by January First.
Greensboro, n. c., Nov 21-(SpeciaD
The State Normal and industrial Col
lege has closed until January =, 1900.
dor several weeks an unusual number of
cases of malarial fever has been preva-
lent among the students. but was not
considered serious until Saturday morn
ing, when the attending physicians pro
nomced three or four of the cases ty-
phoid fever. As soon as this was done,
DIR. McIver wired the executive COM
mittee of the institution for permission to
close the school, but before getting this
permission, the Doctor decided to close
at himself and accordingly dismissed
school, after assembling the faculty and
students, who voted for the temporary
suspension There was absolutely mo
panic and a number of the students
Were I'M favor of continuing and 50 voted.
After this action was taken committee
for the senior class waited ON Dr. Nc
Iver and assured him of their warm
sympathy in the great crisis, and de-
clared their intention to support him
has talked with a number of students
of this institution and in every case
they express the strongest praise for
the Judgment and decision of the presi-
dent. They declare that not in the
slightest degree is he to blame for the
present condition of affairs at the col
lege.
No clue as to the origin of the
fpni1hla nontld ba rfnn1a1 ,Iraf1 SafY1rfav
morning, when it was discovered that "a
drainpipe, which receives the refuse
from the closets and kitchen was leak
ing in six places, and this is undoubted-
ly the cause of the whole trouble, for
no serious cases have occurred outs de
of the main dormitory. Three deaths
are so far announced. Miss Bell, of
Rutherfordton, died last Wednesday
unor1ring. On Saturday morning Miss
Deans. of Wilson, and Saturday might
Miss Daisy Caldwell. of Statesyille
Miss Bell. however, did not have typn0id
fever, but died from weakness of the
heart, which was aggravated by mala-
ria. Miss Bell saw her father shot down
in the street at Rlltherfor5dton last year,
was unconscious for three days, and has
never taken any interest in living since.
During her illness she expressed a de-
sire to die. There has been, naturally,
n considerable amount of excitement in
Greensboro, about the sud affair. brought
ON mlainly from the grossly exaggerated
stories in circulation. Every one is re-
Heved to know that the cause has been
located A special committee, composed
of DIR. A. w. Shaffer, of Raleigh, and
DR. DOdson, of Wilson. is present looking
over the grounds as to the sanitary con-
ditions. Prof. w f. Massey, of Raj
eigll, also came mp today to offer his
assistance of DR.. McIver.
DIR. McIver gave Your correspondent
the following signed statement this even
ing.
DIR. M'IyER'S STATEMENT
aBy the authority Of the executive
committee Of the board of directors, tel
cgraphed to me Saturday night and
Sunday. morning. the State Normal and
Industrial College has closed until jan
nary ID. with the understanding be-
tween the students and faculty that the
time lost between now and the Christ
mas holidays will be added at the end
Of the college year, thus running the
annual session into the latter part of
June. This action was taken because
of the large number of students sick with
malarial fever. and especially because
on Saturday / WAS informed by the
physicians that we had at least two
eases and probably three or four cases
of typhoid fever One honr after learn
ing that there was a case of typhoid
fever here | assembled the students ana
informed them. asking them to inform
their parents Immediately. A meeting
Of the faculty was called and with their
unanimous endorsement Of the plan ]
assembled the students. all of whom,
except ten, thought it better to discOn-
tinue college work until after the Christ
mas holidays. ! Immediately telegraph
sd TO the members of the executive com
mittee. and on Sunday morning made
official announcements IF the suspen-
SION The maarial troubles have pre-.
vailed here to an unusual. extent for the
past two to three weeks, and on the
18th instant / wrote requesting the
state Board of Health to come and in
specf the premises. At that time ]
could not discover any sufficient local
cause for the unusual amount of ma