The morning news., 1899-09-04
TROOPS WILL NOT COME HERE.
BATTERIES FROM KEY WEST WILL
GO TO NEW YORK.

Col. wheeler Negotiating With the
Plant System for Their TranspOr-
tatiOn-Wiu Probably he Taken to
New York by the Steamship FIOri-
da-HeaIth Officer Brunner Says
There Would Have Been No Dam
ger whatever in Taking Them
Through Savannah After Quaran-
tine at Fort PuIaskI-RepOrts show
That the Fever Is General at Key
West.
The two batteries of artillery at Key
West will not be brought to Savannah TO
be taken to Fort Mcpherson, as was at
first intended Col. D. D. Wheeler, United
States depot quartermaster, was in con-
ference with the Plant System officials
yesterday for the purpose of arranging
for the movement of the troops to New
York The movement viii not be made
by rail, as this would meet with serious
objections from the health authorities of
Florida and other states. The batteries
will probably be taken from Key West
by the steamship Florida of the Plant
Line.
The announcement that the troops will
not come to Savannah will relieve a good
many people here, who had begun TO feel
some apprehension on the subject There
was no fear that the disease would be
introduced into Savannah by the troops
after they had passed through the quar-
antiue which would be enforced here, but
there were business men who felt the
danger of the effect on the surrounding
country which the presence of a large
body of troops from an infected city here
would have. While there might be a COM
plete quarantine of the soldiers at Fort
Pulaski, they said, should case of fever
break out among them there, which would
not be surprising to people outside, would
make no discrimination, but would
promptly quarantine against Savannah
just as if the disease were in the city
itself Even should a report be spread
abroad that there was a suspicious case
in the city it would at once be attrib-
uted to the presence of the troops in this
vicinity, and, whether true or false. would
be certain to have an injurious effect.
Health Officer Brunner does not share in
these apprehensions He considers the
quarantine regulations amply sufficient for
the protection of the city. He was not
aware when seen yesterday that it was
proposed to take the troops to New York,
and still supposed il likely that they would
be brought to Savannah.
There is no more reason why we should
shut out troops coming under these condt-
tons" he said, that we should shut out
ships coming from infected ports after
they have passed through the quarantine.
Our regulations are intended to apply to
vessels and persons coming from infected
ports. a vessel coming here from Havana
would be admitted to the city after having
passed through quarantine They would
be brought to quarantine by steamship,
and after a thorough dislnfection of all
their baggage and effects, would be de-
tained for five days at Fort Pulaski. AZ
ter completing the period of detention they
would be brought up to the city by steam
er, transferred at once to a special train,
and taken through TO Atlanta, making no
stop in the city. 1 see no reason why we
should get panicky on the subject Dur
ing the Brunswick epidemic, which was
almost at our doors, persons from that
point were admitted to the city after hav-
ing passed through the detention camps ."
The point having been raised that Flor
ida having refused to permit the troops
10 pass through her territory, might quar-
antine against Savannah because of her
leniency in the matter.
Dr. Drummer said that such action on
the part or the Florida authorities is eX-
tremely improbable. What the govern
ment proposed to do at Tampa" he SAID,
was to land the troops on the dock at
Port Tampa and take them right through
without going into quarantine. To this
the Florida health authorities very nat
urally and very properly objected. The
conditions would have been different here,
as it was proposed that the troops should
go into quarantine"
The condition at New Orleans is still
peculiar" said DR.. Drummer, speaking of
the yellow fever situation. Both the
cases discovered there have resulted in
deaths, and yet no new cases have been
discovered. The house to house inspec-
tion may reveal something however The
reports from Key West show that the dis
ease is spread generally throughout the
city, and that ii is on the increase There
have been three deaths at Key West"
DR.. Brunner said that as the sanitary
board holds its regular meeting to-mor-
row, there Is no likelihood of a special
meeting being called to-day. Mayor My
ers is out of the city, and several other
members of the board are absent Mayor
Myers left for Jacksonville Saturday night
and may visit Tampa before his return.
He will probably be back in time for the
| meeting of the board tomorrow.