Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1899-05-25

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The funerals took place a few days
ago, and the wounded are doing as well
as could be expected.
1t all grew out of the discovery by
young doctor that there was smallpox
across the river, in Mexico. He hadn't
been here long. and couldn't be ex-
pected to know that every well-regu-
lated Mexican family on the frontier
has its routine that must be lived up
to; that it must have its smallpox in
the spring, just as it must have its bull
fights and fiestas in the fall, and its
danzas and fandangoes and throat-Cut-
tings in the sO-called winter months.
He didn't know these things, so he
notified the state health board of his
discovery and had quarantine regula-
tons put in force. That was the first
sign of trouble. Gentlemen who had
been dealing cards on this side and
sleeping in Mexico found their pleas
ures and profits interfered with, and
objected loudly to inspection. Then
some joker tipped that troublesome
doctor off to the fact that there was
in town. Made him think it was some
thing new and extraordinary. Then
the doctor got down to business in real
earnest An old wool warehouse was
seized and converted into pesthouse.
II is in the suburbs, occupies a full
| block and is surrounded by high
board fence. On the other side Of town
a building put up for a cotton mill was
turned into a detention hospital for
suspects, and ore Of the first persons
taken there was the joker who had
stirred up the trouble on this Sue.
The first cases were taken to the pest
house, and then the trouble became
general. The relatives of those con-
| fined called at the pesthOuse to see
them. and were refused admittance.
! This was an undreamed-of outrage,
| and a section of the board fence was
promptly torn down. That called the
mayor into the game, and he put the
| sheriff in the field to guard the prem
ises, and the sheriff asked help from
| the Rangers.
Meantime the doctor had communi-
Gated again with the state board of
health and had received instructions
to make a houSe-tO-house inspection
OF the town and scrape the arms Of all
persons who seemed in need of that
! sort of irritation. He secured five as
sistants and started out to have some
fun. He had it. When the virus be-
gan to take" the town got sore on
the doctor and his assistants, and laid
for him with clubs. But the doctor
had another card up his sleeve. He
ordered the removal of the obstreper-
Gus to the detention hospital.
Then the circus began in earnest,
and gun-plays became frequent A
posse went the rounds with the am
bulance in which suspects were re-
moved, and on the second trip the as
sistant city marshal was shot down.
Then the Rangers were called away
from that board fence to guard the
ambulance. That was an invitation
to scrap that no native Texan could
| ignore and so formidable were the
preparations made to wipe out the
Rangers that the mayor decided to sus-
pend operations in order to prevent
massacre.
But there was no let-up on the part
of that doctor. He kept after the state
board OF health. and finally, through
the fundamentally of that body Uncle
Sam sat into the game. He drew a
handful of spades and played his Tenth
cavalry to beat everything in sight.
The ambulance was sent out again
with an escort Of troopers and Rang