Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-02-17
Two Women Meet Their Death From
Escaping Gas.
ARROW ESCAPE OF OTHERS
Compulsory Vaccination Recon-
mended for All Citizens.
THE SMALLPOX SITUATION
Evening Star Bureau,
No. 127 King Street,
Bell Telepbopa No tnf

Evening Star Bureau.
| No. I21 King Street,
Bell Telephone No. l96.
| ALEXANDRIA. Va, February IL. 1899
| Escaping gas from a coal stove in the
Exchange Hotel, on Royal street last night
| caused the death of two colored women
and the asphyXiation of a third, who was
with difficulty resuscitated Jane Mon
tague, aged fifty years, and Sophie Darling,
aged twenty, are the dead. Minnie Wing
I-neld, aged seventeen years. was restored.
The three women were employed as serv-
ants in the hotel
The Darling woman was chamberrnaid
Jane Montague was cook and Minnie Wing
field assistant. They all slept together in
room somewhat apart from the other
Sleeping apartments. Last night they re-
| tired as usual, but this morning it was
noticed that they had not arisen at
| o'clock AT that time they were called but
dtd not respond, and they were thought 10
be dressing. About 8 o'clock the room
was forcibly entered. A suffocating atmos-
phere of gas was encountered The Mon
tague and Darling women were found on
| beds with life extinct
Minnie Wingfield was prone on the floor
and this position, it is thought, alone saved
| her life.
Coroner Purvis was summoned and took
charge of the bodies.
Mr.. Helwig proprietor of the Exchange
SAID this morning that the women had
puilt fire in the open Franklin stove, and
the night being warm, they had closed the
camper, throwing gas into the room The
Montague woman is said to have come from
Burke's Station, Fairfax county. Sophie
Darling lived just across the canal
Died Last Night.
Mrs. Jerry Rhyan, formerly Miss Ada
Benzette died last night at her home. s21
Alfred street The deceased had been mar
ried only two months.
Smallpox Situation.
The members of the city board of health
have been called together for meeting
this afternoon in the auditors office The
call is pursuant to the recommendation
made by a special committee to the CITY
council last night. The paramount ques-
ton for consideration is the prevalence of
smallpox
1t is expected that the board will formu-
late some plan and adopt some stringent
methods for the purpose of Kidding the city
OF smallpox in the shortest possible time.
The board,of - hich DIR. Julian Miller heath
officer, Is president comprises the follow
ing members: Messrs. Samuel Fisher
Worth Hulfesh, John Summers Samuel \.
Maukin. VIM a. Smoot, Captain Richard
Atkinson, Patrick Dwyer.
Council Considers the Disease.
A called meeting of the city council was
held last night for the purpose of receiving
Tuesday night last to consider Mayor Simp-
sons message and Health officer Miller's
communication III regard to smallpox.
After some delay, quorum secured,
ana Mr.. Greene, chairman Of the commit
tee, submitted the report, which was as
follows: Pursuant TO a resolution passed
by the city council of Alexandria, your
committee, after carefully examining all of
the witnesses who appeared before it, re-
Spectfully submits the following report:
First. 1t is the judgment of your COM
mittee that the mayor of this city has not
interfered with the health officer in the
performance of his duty.
Second. Your committee reports that
the health officer did not understand the
full scope of his legal authority
Third We recommend that the health
office be created a separate and distinct
office within itself
Fourth. That puI suant to the state law
(secton 1913 of the code of Virginia and
as amended by the acts of 1888 and 1894
page I'D, We recommend the passage of an
ordinance requiring compulsory vaccina-
ton.
Fifth. We believe that the house-to- house
inspection has been thorough and has re-
suited in much good.
Sixth. We recommend an additional
nc use-to-house inspection. accompanied
with vaccination, and with revaccination
within ten or fifteen days thereafter
Seventh. That We do not deem it advis-
able to close the public schools, churches
or places of public amusement at this time
Eighth We believe that it is impractical
bic to adopt the recommendations of the
mayor in his message of January "a 1889
nor the recommendation of the health Off
GERS of February IA, 1899, in relation to a
house of detention.
Ninth Your committee believes that the
best interests of the health of the com
munity requires that the vaccination shall
be made by skilled physicians. hut in tha
event of the inability to obtain the SER
vices of physicians. that capable Iaymen.
VINO nave been previously instructed by the
health officer. be employed
Tenth. Your committee further recon-
mends a more rigid quarantine of houses
In which there arc known cases of small
poX to exist, and also of houses where there
are suspects.
Eleventh. Your committee recommends
the passage of an ordinance recurring the
health officer to keep a tabulated record of
all cases of smallpox, and all cases of sus-
poets. and all other contagious diseases,
which record will show the name age
color and residence of all persons inSected
with any contagious disease. and also to
keep record of all vaccinations
twelfth We recommend that the health
officer Immediately call together the board
of health to take such action as they NAV
deem proper to eradicate smallpox from
the city.
opposed TO Compulsory Vaccination.
The report produced an animated discus
sion, several members declaring that they
would not vote for compulsory vaccination
Mr.. Snowden, president of the common
council. left the chair and sroke relative to
compulsory vaccination, asserting that he
believed 1T unconstitutional Mr. I'rimv~r a
IEehper OF the committee which drew l;p
.le report stated that he would vote
against that clause when it came before
the council in the form of an ordinance,
Train, Provisions and Cotton Markets.
Furnished by W. b. Hibbs & Co bankers
ana brokers'. l4l9 + st, members New York
stock exchange, correspondents Messrs La