Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1899-08-16
Mr.. Coils P. Huntington Adds
$500 to the Quarantine Fund.
WAS CHARACTERISTIC OF HIM
ward the Yellow Fever Situation. Pc
cul.ar Facts Ina Connection with
the Disease.

The quarantina fund has been IN
creased to $793.50, leaving the city
only 4 little over $1,000 to nav toward
the expenses of the campaign against
yellow Jack.
Mr. Walter \. Post, Superintendent
OF the Newport News Shph,liltling and
Dry Dock Company. yesterday recciv-
ed a letter from its president. Mr.. G.
r. Huntington. instructing him to place
$500 To the credit of the fund as the
contribution of the multi-nilriony,irc.
In his letter. Mr. Huntington stated
briefly that he took great interest in
the city of Newport News and look
ed upon its difficulties rs Il personal
an3tter. or words to that effect.
Ihe Unsolicited contribution from MI
huntington is just like that high
minded practical. gentleman Had he
been here. he would have taken an at-
tive part in tho citizens quarantine
Not being able to be here himself anu
hearing that there was Il fund to
which he might contribute. MIR. Hunt
1netnn forwarded his contributions
which is three ,1mes larger than any
other received.
During the cold snap. it will ne rem
embered. MIR. Huntington authorized
MI. Post to draw on his for any amount
that might be necessary to aid those
who suffered from the effects Of the
freeZe-up.
There never was an epidemic Yet .hnl
that there We're Il lot Of people TO deny
its eNistancc.
There are hundreds Of people in New
port News today. and many more out
in the country. who are certain thar
there was no smallpox here last
winter
Consequently it was to be expected
that when it was announced that there
WAS yellow fever at the Home. the
usual number Of doubting Thomases
would spring M to say that there. vas
not. And so it was The announce
dnent was barely cold before people
VII" knew absolutely nothing of the
situation were saying that there was no
yellow fever at the Home
- ms irrational class OF people Is
larger than would be suspected. bur
their opinions are without weight
Wrth reasoning men. because they arr.
invariably formed without reason So II
was that during those first days, no
attention was raid to the theory tina;
ane disease was not yellow fever Tho
people We're perfectly willing 10 accent
the diagnosis Of experts who are sup
posed TO know their business. The,
We're too busy protecting themselves
10 pay attention to statements made
simply for effect.
but presently there began To 10
reasons increased in number until az
TINS time it would be Very difficult 70
.ft'sa a man who has not !, reasonable,
doubt on the subject. The unanimity
OF public opinion in the matter Is
positively remarkable. 1t was doub.-
less never quite so before. About the
only people to be found who are will
ing TO make affidavit to the existence
OF the fever at the Home arc the cy-
perts
These doubts will probably never be
set at rest. for there is no going be-
tnI
opinion Will never be accepted as final
by large majority OF the people
1t is Il remarkable condition OF ar
fairs.
On one side is the fact that the dis
ease has been pronounced yellow fever
by men who have had the disease
themselves and have spent years fight
ing it scientifically all over the coun-
try-nen who have every right to hay..
S a15;s,, 2nnion respected in this con-
h'sesss SO :lassxp
On the otnI - n arraycd numbc;.
of remarkab be facts.
There has been practically no
spread Of the disease since it was dis
covered. and when it was discovered
There we're thirty cases.
1T would be difficult TO imagine a
situation more Favorable for the spread
OF yslloW fever than the Home. There
are $500 old soldiers there, ripe for
disease and death. and easy marks for
the scourge. They mingle together
day and night. They catch almost
everything else but yellow fever
There are many other peculiar facts
in this connection. but the one men
toned is entitled to the most respac
and III itself is sufficient cause for hi!
of the doubt that has arisen. 1t has
never been satisfactorily explained and
+ can never he as long as the disease a |;
the Home is yellow fever.