Omaha daily bee., 1899-02-08
SMALLPOX IN THE BLUFFS
Another Man is Down with the Dread
Disease.
MEMBERS OF BtckwITH FAMILY EXPOSED
city ana County Authorities TAX
Prompt Action and Proceed 60 En-
force n Rigid Quarantine
Upon the Premises.

Smallpox has invaded Council Bluffs and
the local authorities discovered yesterday
that they had a well developed case Of the
disease to contend with and care for. \
young man named Youngs, boarding with
the family of S. Beckwith at sI5g Broadway,
was found to be suffering from what the
physicians pronounced a severe attack OF
the disease and no time was lost by the au-
thorities in placing a strict quarantine on
the premises. An Officer was at once de-
tailed to watch the place night and day.
The young man afflicted with smallpox Is
a resident Of Omaha and came TO board with
the Beckwiths last Wednesday. After he
had been there a couple of days he became
sick and was attended by DR.. Waterman.
Tuesday morning DR.. Waterman came TO
the conclusion that Youngs had the smallpox
and he at once notified the authorities and
| a quarantine was established over the fam
lily. DR.. Macrae was called into consulta-
ton and with Or, Waterman made a dag
nosis of the case yesterday afternoon, find
ing that Youngs had a well developed case
, OF the deard disease and. further, that he had
been suffering with il for a week at least.
DR.. Macrae gave it as Ids opinion that Youngs
must have been aware of the fact that he
had the smallpox when he came to this city
II toph " us u "i'h 80
family.
The case Is regarded by the authorities
DIS a most serious one as with Youngs the
Beckwith household numbers eleven persons.
all of whom have necessarily been exposed
h the disease. Mr.. and Mrs. Beckwith have
five children and the other members of the
| household include Mr.. and Mrs. Rice, the
parents of Mrs. Beckwith and a servant girl.
The children have been attending the Sec
ond Avenue school. Owing to the extreme
cold the authorities decided that Youngs
could not be removed to the pest house.
Youngs, when asked by the physicians il he
had been a guest of the Vendcme hotel in
Omaha at the time it was quarantined, de-
clined to give any information.
The house where the Beckwiths live stands
alone, there being no residence in the imme-
diate neighborhood, and the authorities be-
lieve that an effective quarantine can be
maintained. An officer will be detailed to
watch the premises day and night and see
that no members of the household leave the
premises. A small watch house will be
erected close to the house for the conven-
fence Of the oficer on guard. All expenses
connected with maintaining the quarantine
will be borne by the county.
On the matter being reported to the county
authorities they at once agreed to cooperate
with the city officials and do all in their
power to prevent any spread of the disease.
The city authorities yesterday afternoon ex-
pressed them selves in favor of having all the
pupils at the Second Avenue school, where
the Beckwith children attended, vacoinated
at once. and this 1t is believed will be done.
A strict quarantine is still being main
tanned over Mrs. Harris, the nurse who was
exposed to smallpox at Hamburg while car
ing for a patient suffering with the disease.
An officer is on guard night and day to see
that neither she nor her husband leaves the
house at Twenty-tifth street and Avenue H.