Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-08-01
EXODUS FROM HAMPTON ROADS
TOWNS YESTERDAY.
STRICT PRECAUTIONS TAKEN
SEVEN TUGS ARE on PATROL DUTY
OFF NORFOLK.
Only One New Case Yestcrday-There
Have Been Thirty-seyen Cases
and Seven Deaths-It Is
Thought Outbreak Can
Be Controlled.

HAMPTON, VA, July 3l.-This usually
tranquil town has been in a state of few
erish excitement to-day, since the discov-
cry of yellow fever at the Soldiers home.
Scores of people took advantage of the
first opportunity to leave the place. Last
night special train left Old Point with
fully 800 of the guests of the hotels
Business in the town OF Phoebus, adjoin-
ing the Soldiers home, is suspended. II is
difficult TO obtain Information from the
home, The entrance, and in fact all points
from which escape is possible, are care
fully guarded. Late this afternoon self
appointed guard of fifteen Hamptonians,
with Winchester rifles. went to the home
10 assist i'll enforcing the quarantine reg
nlations. Chesapeake &; Ohio trains have
discontinued their service to the city.
NEWPORT NEWS. VA, July S1.-After
day of intense excitement over the yell
low fever outbreak at the Soldiers home,
Newport rests tonight with feeling of
comparative security. The city officers and
the various municipal bodies have been
busy since early morning, and it is felt now
that no loophole has been left through
which the scourge may find its way to this
city The latest report from the Soldiers
home gives the total number of cases as
thirty-three, an increase of three during
the day. There was one death this after
noon. The universal hope now is that the
disease will be confined within the home
limits, and the authorities at the institu-
ton express confidence that this will be
done. The town of Hampton, which is In
close proximity to the Soldiers home, ear
ly this morning established Gordon of
armed policemen at the approaches to the
reservation. Notwithstanding this precau-
tion, Newport News quarantined against
Hampton and Elizabeth City and county
and Warrick county.
Thus this city. which Is nearly ten miles
from the infected point. has the advantage
of practically a double quarantine on land.
A tugboat patrols the river to prevent the
evasion of quarantine restrictions by means
of boats. The danger line ashore is guard
ed by an adequate force of special police
men, The street railway company was pro-
hibited this morning from running cars be.
tween Hampton and this city.
Although hundreds of people left the city
to-day on account of the scare, their de-
partpre is regarded with indifference and
amusement, rather than as judicious pre-
caution, by the great majority who stay al
home.
The city council tonight appropriated
$4,000 for immediate use in maintaining the
quarantine.
NORFOLK, VA, July SL-Fear of the
spread of yellow fever to this city and
thence abroad has been largely allayed by
Inc absolute quarantine against the three
peninsula towns adjacent to the infected
spot There is no fear that the fever viii!
overlooked by the local health officials in
their efforts to keep out the disease.
Steamers that stopped at Newport News
ana those that took on passengers at Old
Point were not allowed 10 tie up at Nor
folk to-day. No steamer can come here
from any of these points. A fleet of seven
tugs has hePn chartered to ratr
fourteen miles of water between Norfolk
and the Soldiers home, and the Norfolk
river front is constantly guarded by Do
licemen. wh2e a guard from the navy yard
is stationed at the naval hospital to pre-
vent the landing of small boats containing
refugees from the peninsula
The city is in excellent sanitary condi-
lion and all that skill can avail will be
done to prevent the introduction of the
There There are no cases and no suspects in
Norfolk The Old Point hotels are prac-
WASHINGTON, July 3l-The latest Of
hcial advices received up to o'clock to-
night show a total of thirty-seven cases
Soldiers home at Hampton, Va. One new
case occurred at the home to-day. Thus
far the disease has been confined to the
home, but all surrounding towns are ex-
cited. and a vigorous quarantine is being
maintained. DR.. Wadin. of the marine
Hampton, and is working In Cooperation
with the local boards of health. He has
strengthened the Gordon about the town OF
Phoebus, which he reports is in very bad
sanitary condition. The fact that only one
new case appeared to-day is encouraging
10 the officials here. who are taking every
measure TO preTent spread of the disease
They feel that the fact that the affected
locality is in the hands of the government
ana under cne management will be of
great value in dealing with the scourge
ana enable better results to be obtained
than where epidemics break out in COM
mercial places.
Already number of Inquiries have been
received by DIR. Wyman from quarantine
officers throughout the United States ask
ing whether they shall impose maritime
quarantine against Norfolk. He has replied
that there appears to be no necessity for
such restriction in the case of either Nor
1oik or Newport News.
DR.. Wadin's official report of his exam
tnation of existing conditions at the Sol
diers' home reached DIR. wymau to-day.
u is dated yesterday. and notes the fact
mat the doctor has seen all the cases of
suspected diseases at the home. He sums
up the history of the contagion as follows:
Early in June an old soldier entered
the home for n short rest, and soon after
ward appeared at the dispensary, where
he Informed the physician in charge that
he was but recently from Santiago via
transport TO Northern port; thence he
started for Manila via San Francisco; beat
his way to the home on a freight train End
entered with his baggage. He complaired
of dumb chills and fever, and was pre-
scribed for. He mingled freely with the
inmates of the home and short time ago
disappeared. From this as possible cause
the outbreak progressed as follows:
Preceding Friday, the 21st inst there
had been noticed nothing of suspicious
nature The weekly death rate was as
usual But on the 2lst and 22d there be-
came i'll during the night with chill and
high fever, some eight or ten inmates,
men of usually good health. These seiz-
ures. although noted as peculiar. had oc-
casioned no alarm until about THURSDAY.
the 9th. when a death occurred, the man
becoming distinctly yellow some time prior
TO death. ON or about the same day an
other one died without having attracted
attention; he also turned quite yellow Au-
topsies were held on both by the resident