New-York tribune., 1899-12-03
LIGHTERS WE'LL GUARDED.
KEEP THE PLAGUE SHIPS COFFEE
OUT OF THE CITY

The plot thickens at Quarantine Another ship,
the Lassel, laden with coffee from the plague
tainted port OF Santos Brazil. reached the Lower
Bay yesterday and took her position beside the
steamers J. w Taylor and Roman Prince. Al
though Captain Lewis OF the Lassell reports clean
bill OF health the Health Officer says that the ship
must lie at Quarantine Just the Sickness or
sickness, vessel from Santos shall land
these shores until she and her cargo have passed
through the ordeal prescribed.
The most startling revelation on board the ]. W.
Taylor yesterday was the dis ,overy OF three dead
rats. They taken to tho laboratory at Quar-
antine and one OF them was subjected to exami-
nation which failed however 10 discover any bu-
bonc germs The first OF the seven lighters into
which the coffee OF the Taylor has been unoaded
freed from Quarantine supervision yesterday,
the coffee had been exposed to the air for the
eight day period
Nevertheless. the lighter did not raise anchor but
remained where Il along with the other six. And
in order to insure It's remaining there President
Murphy Of the Health Board dispatched the Patrol
yesterday morning with squad Of sanitary police
on board 10 keep watch.
President Murphy declared that the coffee would
not be permitted to be landed under any considera-
ton. and that the lighters, II they got rid OF
their Ill fated loads. should go about their
business in New-York Harbor. unless they
subjected to a thorough dlsInfection and subse-
quent examinations to their sanitary condition
prove entirely satisfactory TO the Board OF
Health BY Wednesday all seven lighters will have
served their probationary period and be freed from
Quarantine supervision. What will then become OF
them is hard to say
Deputy Phelps. Of the law division will have
conference tomorrow with the local health au
thorties. and II is thought that me final action
will then be taken. There is little likelihood, how
ever judging from what could be learned yester
day. tnat Collector Bidwen will allow the coffee to
be landed anywhere within his Jurisdiction.
It also learned that ten more ships laden
with coffee from the plague port OF Santos are
now their way TO this city. Among them Is the
Maskelyne. which left Santos on November "a
Busk & Jevons the agents for the three conee
ships already here, are also the agents OF the
Maskelyne.
When President Murphy was asked by Busk &
Jevons how they were ever 10 get the cargo they
her Mr.. Murphy answered that the loading could
be done easily enough by using lighters He told
them that the cargo could be transferred by means
OF cranes in the same manner as warships coai
at sea-by means OF rope and running tackle
Busk & Jevons refused 10 make any additional
statement yesterday, other than that the Wnoie
matter was in the hands OF the local Health Board
II was learned late last night that story. tne
third engineer OF the plague ship the j w Taylor:
had been removed TO Swinburne Island by order or
Health Officer Doty. 1t is feared that story has
observation for several days. and yesterday II was
found that there was a small pimple on the httle
toe OF his left foot, which caused him great zeal
OF pain Although he showed no other symptoms
OF the disease and though his temperature was
normal he will be isolated at Swinburne Island for
thorough meteorological examination. His room
has been carefully disnfeoted.