Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1899-06-29
SMALLPOX PATI ESr HERE.

Found on the street.-the Game From
Norfolk, va.
The residents of Fifth and Church
streets and vicinity were greatly
alarmed Monday over the presence
in their midst of negro believed to be
suffering from smallpox in the worst
stages, and when they learned that he
had been there several hours before he
was discovered the excitement became
more intense.
Shortly before 10 O'Clock Policeman
Ralston was informed that negro was
i'll on the railroad tracks near Fifth
and Church streets. He was going in
that direction and had not proceeded
far when he discovered a man sitting
on pile of cross ties near the railroad
tracks, He asked the negro who he
was and where he was going. The
latter stated that his name was James
Simms, aged % years, and that his
home was formerly at Belloville, Va,
and that he had been stopping at Nor
folk for some time. He alleged that he
had been in this city for nearly three
weeks and had come from place in
Virginia where several inmates of the
house had been i'll with the smallpox.
He said he came to this city on a
ing chance to catch another
freight train to take him to Philadei-
phia, in order that he might be able to
get into hospital.
He stated that DIR, Stevens, colored,
had been, attending. him for 'hissillness,
and that Sunday he had consulted
the doctor in the hopes Of getting into
hospital. The physician had given
him note to take to DIR. Hancker at
the State Hospital at Farnhurst. and
when he went there DIR. Hancker
stated to him that he should have oh
tanned permit from oneof the trustees
of the poor for admission to the county
hospital, adjoining the State hospital.
Simms claims that he has stopped
during his soiourn here at several
houses. For several days he stopped
with Rufus M. Floyd, :. No. 1902
| Pinkett's court, and left there on Sat
urday. During Saturday night he
stopped on West Front street with a
blind man of his own color.
Sunday evening he stopped with
| Alfred Wright, No. 4 Shipley street.
He stayed there until Monday morn
| ing, when he left after eating break
fast, and stated that his weakened and
sickening condition would not allow
him to go further.
| While Officer Ralston was question.
| ing the man, a man and woman passed
by and after looking at him said he
had smallpox without question. DIR.
| Frantz, who was short distance away,
was summoned by the officer, and he at
once declared that the man had small
| pox. DIR. Stevens was afterward called
and he also pronounced the case small
poy.
Word was then telephoned to the
| police station and Capt. Kane in
structed Sergeant ,Howgate to secure a
permit from Trustee of the Poor John
| w. Lawson. Word was also telephoned
to the county hospital a Farnhurst to
send the ambulance to this city to take
| the man over Superintendent McCoy
of tho hospital sent the wagon with a
driver to this city and tho man left the
care of the police about O'clock and
was taken to Farnhurst
Tho Board of Health took measures
Monday to have the several places
| fumieatsd wherever they could learn
the negro had stopped. The place
where he rested during the morning
will also be carefully looked after and
| fumigated, as it is playground fol
the children who reside in that neigh
borhood.
He was sent to the county hospita
| at Farnhurst, is receiving good atten.
tion at the pest house, an isolated
building abouta quarter of mile bach
of the hospital buildings. He is being
looked alter by Superintendent Mccoy,
| who has detailed John Brown. formerly
of this city, as Il special attendant.
Brown has had the samllpox and ha.
no fear of contracting il again. He is
an inmate at the almshouse.
According to Superintendent Mccoy,
who was seen Tuesday, the genera
opinion is that Simms is suffering
with smallpox in an aggravated form
and is being treated for the disease.
His condition and statements concern
ing smallpox in Virginia, where he
came from, bear out the opinion of the
doctors. The patient is about the same
today as yesterday. and as he is be-
lieved to have strong constitution, il
is thought he will recover. He is able
to sit up and eats his meals as though
he was in good health.
Secretary Wjgglesworth Of the BoarC
OF Health says there is no need for any
body to feel any alarm. As soon as th,
matter was reported to him he detaileG
Health Officer Hignutt and Deputy
Neutze, who spent yesterday afternoon
visiting the places where Simms ha6
been and fumigated everything in sigh
at those places. Secretary Wiggles
worth says all of the germs have beer
killed and he has not the slightest fear
4 4 Tie 1SfaicH Us siand ann6mcenrnts s
Delaware College for 1899 have beer
| ;rs,,ad from, tho John M Roucrs Press