The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-05-23
THEY WERE EXAGGERATEO
Reports That Smallpox Was
Heading This Way.
IN THE CASCADE TUNNEL
Spokane Health Officers are Taking All
Precautions to Nip the Epidemic
in the Bud-The Scare I'm
founded.

Since the first report that there were
several cases of smallpox in the Cascade
tunnel, and that men from there were
coming this way, there has been more or
less agitation in every quarter. The spo.
kane Chronicle says that it now seems
that the reports were greatly exaggerated
and that if there was any smallpox at
all there it was confined to one or two
cases at Wellington, little station at
the west end of the tunnel. Every man
known to have come from there for the
past few days has been taken in charge
the city and subjected to a rigid ques-
tioning. Nearly all disclaim any knowl-
edge of there being any smallpox cases
there and several Of them declare that
they never heard of it until they reached
here.
For the purpose of learning the exact
condition of things the board of health
to-day telegraphed to the tunnel for par
ticulars, but as yet have received no an
swer. 1t will continue, however, to ex-
ercise the utmost vigilance to prevent any
of the men from the tunnel coming into
the city until they have been vaccinated
and their clothing and baggage fumigated.
No freight trains have arrived from that
direction since yesterday morning, but one
is expected this afternoon, and it will be
overhaued before it gets into the city.
To prevent any one leaving the train and
walking into the city officers are sta
| toned all along the track west of the city
and on all the wagon roads coming in
| from that way
When the regular passenger arrived this
| morning it was met by DR.. Morrison and
several officers The conductor stated
that no passenger had got on at any of
the stations near the tunnel and the train
was allowed to proceed to the depot.
No new cases have been reported since
that of Mcdonald several days ago. He
! came from Starbuck and yesterday his
brother came in from the same place and
reported that there were other cases
there. He reported to the police station
on his arrival and was taken to the de-
tention hospital and vaccinated AS he
showed no symptoms of the disease and
said he had not been exposed. he was al
loved to go, but instructed to report at
once if he got sick.
The board of health is now discussing
the proposition of intercepting trains
from Starbuck and examining the passen-
gers from there, but have not yet decided
upon what action to take.
| Dr. Morrison said this morning that ev-
| cry precaution would be taken to keep
| the disease from spreading and there was
| no reason for the people to feel alarmed.
telegram from the Times correspond
! ent in Spokane says that Spokane is
| alarmed at the reports Of smallpox at the
| Northern Pacific and Great Northern tun-
| uels in the Cascade mountains. says the
| Seattle Times. r. c.. Stevens. general
Western passenger agent of the Great
| Northern, was shown the telegram and
| promptly called up Mr. Bowron, superin-
| tendent of the Cascade division at Ever
| EFT. Mr.. Bowron has just returned from
| the Great Northern tunnel, and stated
| that there was one man there afflicted
| with some as yet undetermined disease
| The fear of smallpox ad led the resident
physician to quarantine the man, and he
| had been placed in a cabin away from
| the other men with a nurse and a guard
| AS has been published before, the coun-
| ty commissioners have taken steps to con-
| troll the one case and the men exposed
| t., it at Stampede tunnel on the Northern
| Pacific. Undoubtedly the rumors as tc
| the spread of the disease are higly color
! ed, and Spokane is over-sensitive in the
| matter. There IS no ground to fear that
the contagion could be carried to Spo-
| kane or Seattle, or in any way communi-
| Gated to passengers on the overland
| trains. Both railway companies and the
| county commissioners are too active fol
any such unusual danger.
AS Superintendent Bowron has just re.
| turned from the Great Northern tunnel
his statement that the scare Is unfoundeC
| should allay all fears in the matter