The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-02-11
HONOLULU FIGHTING
THE PLAGUE WITH FIRE.
Authorities Take Radical Measures in the Chinese
District Of the Hawaiian Capital.

~tHE Honolulu Commercial Adver-
:" tiser OF January II contains an
account OF the burning. by order
~ OF tho board of health, OF some
cottages In the Chinese district.
The work began by the flames on the nth
was probably continued on successive
days. the object being not merely to de-
stroy buildings infected with tho bubonic
plague. but those which could not be put
In sanitary condition OF were of SO flimsy
construction that rats could easily pass
from one 90 another. Several blocks OF
Chinese dwellings and shops were destin-
ed for tho same fate.
Eatcriug mn Infected Port.
George A. Teller. acting assistant sur
geon OF tho United States army. has re-
lated his experiences at Honolulu harbor
On letter TO the Chicago Times Herald.
lie says
TO be tossed for two weeks in a heavily
laden transport IN ono OF the stOrmlest
voyages OF the winter; TO look forward
with eagernesa TO a temporary respite
from the fury OF the storm and pleasant
mid-wintsr visit ON this middle pier OF the
bridge OF the Pacific. TO see the pilot
GENE aboard ana engage In whispered
conversation with the captain; 20 be
called upon the bridge myself and TO be
told that We We're about Co enter an In
fectad port. Il an experience not alto
gether agreeable. but lt gives me an OPP
portunity OF describing the FIRST epidemic
of he black plague that ever laid hold ot
an American seaport. for such this city
can now be called,
II fell to ms iot Go accompany the trans
port Westminster IN the capacity Of sur
reon on her Philippine voyage We iegt
San Francisco the day before Christmas
We carried 80 horses aud an enormous
cargo, and We lost thirty FIVE of our anl-
mats en- route Those surviving were so
battered up that the commanding officer
deemed II imperative that We land, so l
had All the men, numbering los. mustered
ON deck for the inspection Of the sparsn-
time officer. who camc on board later.
and being able to show a clean bill OF
health. We we're soon alongside che dock
Or Day, the visiting quarantine 0tilcer.
assured us that the disease was limited
10 the Chinese quarters ana that a strong
guard was mounted. and he invited me
ashore aud extended the caurtesies of the
medical society. Stringent orders were
given that no one Eo ashore without per
mission. but IN thc excitement attending
the unloading OF the animals men soon
found their way uptown
Ne Doubt Its the Plague.
An doubt as 10 the real nature Of the
epidemic has been dispgiled At drst
many were inclined 60 question It's Eenu-
tneness aud attributed the deaths 60 other
causes than the plague. In every in
stance however, there were present some
~ the pathcgnomontc symptoms Of the
disease IL occurs In three types-the but
bonie. pneumonia and in,estinal-all alike
fatal. and each type has been observed in
the epidemic IL WAS first discovered on
December is through finding the dead
body of a Chinaman on the street,
whittier IL was thrust by his terrlhed as
sociates and "a vigorous inspection OF the
chinese quarters was instituted. result
ing in the discovery OF deccmposed dead