Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-05-26

under water for eight months, has
never been injected, has been only re-
Gently raised and made absolutely clean
by the Marine Hospital authorities;
that she has been eight days in transit
and five days in lower quarantine.
where she has been thoroughly disin-
tected, under the direction of marine
hospital experts. whom 1 met at Old
Point is, l should think. sufficient to
convince the Norfolk authorities of the
absence of danger.
THUS DOUBLY ASSURED.
I'VE have the assurance of Drs. Wy
man ana Pettus, of the Marine Hospital
service. continued DR.. Hope, that
there is absolutely no chance of CON
taSion from the Mercedes and acting
upon these assurances. l have gone on
in my official capacity as quarantine Of
iicer OF the port and cleared the way
ior the Relna Mercedes to come to this
yard.
Il sent one vessel away from here be-
cause thought it would be positively
dangerous TO have her torn to pieces
~ inns yard That vessel was the Mic
theroy. But there is as much difference
between the condition OF the two ships
as there is between night and day. One
Is absolutely clean to start with. while
me other had been in n fever infected
port LOT Tour years, without any at
dltion not even her bilges being clean
ed. ana the filth which had accumuIat-
cd about her in section of the world
which breeds these dangerous germs
Oh ulscase being so abundant. I did
not care 10 assume the risk which 7
thought would follow the cleaning ont
OF the ship at this port. hence L used
my hest Judgment and acted as
thought best for the interests or all
the people
I holt
OF all germs aud that there is not tho
least danger in her. and I want to say
right here. and that very plainly, that
II mat ship is-sent away from this
yard want the responsibility placed
Just whore ii belongs"
CHASING SPECIFIES.
DR.. Hope said further that he fully
appreciated the fact that with our peo-
pic tho recollection of 1855 was vet a
most vivid experience with them But
while that memorable visitation was
sad reality. yet there was no possibility
Of n recurrence of it by reason of such
Glenn vessel n s he believed tho Mer-
codes to ne coming to this ward Some
people. said he. are spectre chascrs
going Hftor the shadows Of what has
been or might I've under conditions diff
fcrcnt from those now confronting us
And so FAR rs he was concerned occupy-
ing Tho official noSition he does he
would rather look tho situation straight
IN the face. prcferrinC to take hold Of
Tho tanrih'e rather than CRASH al tho
shadow being followed by spectre hunt
erS.
DIR. HOPES OPINION SUSTAINED.
The following in reference to the ac-
ton Of the Navy Department relative
to this matter, sent TO the Baltimore
sun from Washington. corroborates DR..
II. ;. Hopes opinion:
The Navy Department is making
ready TO receive tho former !,
cruiser Reina Mercedes at the Nor
folk navy yard, if it can succeed in
aliaying the apprehensions of the
people OF Norfolk as to the safety OF
the movement There has been some
Geographic correspondence between the
Navy Department and Admiral Far
quhar. commanding at the Norfolk
navy yard, respecting the admission of
tho ship to the navy yard
Surgeon General Van Rcypan has
given the matter his personal attention.
He says that the Mercedes has been
under water since early last July:
that there never was fever on the YES
sell and finally. that there is no fever
at Santiago. whence it came. He has
accordingly recommended to Assistant
Secretary Allen, who is directly in
charge of the repairs of ships. that the
original plan he carried out and the
Mercedes be brought to the Portsmouth
navy yard.
'7hi Sf'ii NitHtIdl NNlnd Oh the Ma
rinc Hospital Service. was first con-
suited by Surgeon General Van Rey-
pen, inasmuch as he is in charge of the
national quarantine service at Nor
folk. lie declared there would be no
danger i'm adopting this couse particu-
larry as he would undertake to have
the Mercedes thoroughly disinfected
ana clcansed
The Navy Department has not yet
received the application of the New
York Board Of Aldermen to have the
ship sent TO New York but unless the
Norfolk authorities interfere. the Mer-
cedes Will not he sent North before it
IS repaired. \ board OF inspection will
be appointed 10 survey the ship and cs-
innate tho cost OF putting it in thor
ough repair"
WHAT CAPTAIN MCALLA SAYS.
The question of having the Reina
Mercedes moored along a pier at this
navy yard. and the protest thereto.
seemed to have reached the navy ward
yesterday; at any rate something
caused Captain McCalla to say in a
manner most emphatic yesterday that
/ he had received orders from the NAVY
Department TO make wharf room, for
her here, and that under no considera
ton would she he sent away from this
yard.
THE DEVIL" Is IN PRISON.
Yesterday afternoon Wm Bailey. a
noted thief. commonly called the