The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-11-19
SUPPOSED TO BE PLAGUE
SUSPICIOUS SICKNESS ON A BRITISH
STEAMER NOW AT NEW YORK.
steward Died at Sen and the Captain
and Cook Are 1ll-Every Precau-
ton Is Being Exercised.

NEW YORK, Nov 1S-The British steam
er ]. w. Taylor, from Santos. is detained at
quarantine under suspicion of having bu-
bonc plague among the crew. One man died
at sea Nov. with very suspicious symp-
toms, and Captain Waters and the ship S
cook are both i'll and showing indications
Of bubonic swellings. The j. w. Taylor
left Santos, Brazil, Oct. "a. with full cargo
of coffee, and sailed direct for this port.
Nov 1 Robert Hope, aged twenty-five years,
the steward, was taken sick and on the 9TH
died His remains were buried at sea. The
captain treated him with such remedies as
the ships medicine chest afforded and nursed
the man with care until he died. On arrival
at quarantine the case was reported to the
health officer, and in view of the fact that
the captain and cook who were in constant
contact with the sick man, were ailing. the
steamer is detained at quarantine for dis
infection. All the crew will be sent to Hoff-
man island for observation.
In view of the possibility that the sick
ness on board the ]. W. Taylor is the bu-
bonic plague, and in the absence Of DR..
Doty, health officer Of the port, DR.. E. B.
Sanborn, chief deputy. decided to call to-
gether the advisory board Of physicians APP
bers are Drs. E. G. Janeway, T. H. Prud-
den. j. D. Bryant, G. L. Peabody, w. IL.
Polk, H. NJ. Biggs, w. H. Draper. ]. H.
Gardner, r. II. Derby and j. w. McLane
The quarantine officials will consult with
the board and carry out any suggestions
which they make. In the meantime, the dis
injecting steamer James w. Wadsworth is
alongside the infected craft, steaming all
fhxa olntl, II tie 60 ,rin ha
crew of the Taylor numbers sixty-five. The
captain and cook are the only persons af-
fected as yet.
The disinfecting steamer James Wads-
worth has been alongside the Taylor since
her arrival this morning, disinfecting Off
GERS and crews quarters and the clothing
and effects of the crew. The work Will be
continued until thoroughly completed.
which will be about Monday. AT 5 p. m.
officials of the New York Board of Health
boarded the Taylor and made an examina-
ton of Captain Waters and Charles ]. ALI
son, the ships cook, who are supposed to
be suffering from bubonic plague. Both
were suffering from glandular swelling I'M
der the arms and groin. On the groins of
both men are large bubos, which said to
be quite characteristic of the bubonic
dermic needle, succeeded in extracting a
quantity of bus from the bubos on both pa
tients. These specimens will be carefully
examined in order TO determine the exact
nature of the disease. The result of this
examination cannot be determined before
Monday. Shortly after being examined by
DR.. Parke Captain Waters, accompanied by
his wife, and Charles j. Allison were trans
ferred to Swinburne Island Hospital for
treatment. Both patients are comfortable
and will no doubt recover.
DR.. John B. Cosby, commissioner of The
city Board of Health, said tonight: Under
no circumstances will the ship be allowed
to enter port, even after it has been disin-
fected. The coffee will be allowed to be
landed If the bags 1t is now in will be
burned and the coffee loaded in bulk and
then placed in new bags. 1 believe that the
roasting through which the coffee must pass
before it is used will kill all germs. 1t is
almost impossible to disinfect a ship, and,
should there be any danger of the spread
ing Of the disease, L would suggest the aG-
visibility of burning the vessel, no matter
what the cost might be-"