Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-02-13
THE PLAGUE IN HONOLULU
Methods Adopted to Stamp Out the Dread
scourge.
An Interesting Description BY Consul
General HaywOod-SurgeonC Car
michael Reports.

Consul General Haywood, at Honolulu,
has sent the Department of State a very in
teresting report on the methods adopted in
that city to stamp out the bubonic plague.
He says the city has been divided into forty
districts. each presided over by an inspec-
tor, who Is responsible to the central COM
mittee for the health and perfect sanitary
condition of every house in his district He
divides his district into subdistricts small
enough so that the inhabitants can be in
spected by one man in an hour. 1t is the
first duty of this subinspector to make a
census Of all people living in his subdis-
trict. and then to personally see them twice
every day. If he should fail to see any
person he must report the fact to his
chief. who In turn reports to the central
committee. The central committee then
finds the person. The subinspector must
enter every room in the house and report
every case Of insanitary condition, and see
that 1t is corrected. This course was tried
during the last cholera epidemic in Homo
zulu, and found to be very effective. Every
member of the citizens committee is vol
unteer. receiving nothing for his services
but the satisfaction of knowing that he is
working for the public good. Mr.. Haywood
says that one morning he met a banker,
making an inspection of his district, and
further on an ex-cabinet minister.
Il am so impressed with the good work
these patriotic men are doing" says Mr..
Haywood. that L would like to see the
same started in any city at home the mo-
ment case OF plague should be discov-
cred. O -
AS the plague Is a filth disease, it would
be well to establish these committees in
cities which are exposed and clean them up
before 1t gets chance to get foothold.
think our people should be taught that
clean. well-nourished people do not enjoy
perfect immunity from the disease when it
becomes epidemic unless perfect sanitary
conditions hoe
in Honolulu" z.
Surgeon Carmichaefs Report.
Under date Of January % Surgeon D. A.
Carmichael Of the marine hospital service,
stationed at Honolulu, has sent to Surgeon
General Wyman a report showing the
plague conditions existing there. At the
time the report was written the situation
was still very bad. as new cases were being
discovered from time to time and in parts
of the city away from Chinatown.
one white lady, Mrs. Boardman, living
In what was considered a healthy part Of
the city, was attacked January and died
from the plague on the 10Th of the same
month. She was employed in a dry goods
store, and it is stated that a dead rat was
found and removed from the store near her
department some days before she was
taken i'll. 1t was also rumored that infec-
ton was conveyed from q pet dog which
was Ill and died shortly before its mistress.
healthy part Of the city, at Palace Walk
and Punchbowl streets, was attacked Jam
uary Is and was removed to the pest house.
where at last accounts she was still alive
A summary shows that from January Ii
to the sd, inclusive, there were p ca SEES
and II deaths. From December y, when
the plague was first discovered, there had
been recorded 81 cases and Al deaths.
The Burning of Chinatown.
The doctor briefly describes the burning
Of Chinatown, by which over $500 people
belongings destroyed in a few hours time.
Contributions of food and clothing from the
citizens at once began to be made, and be-
fore nightfall nearly all had been fed and
were housed under tents, awnings etc
DR.. Carmichael says there is an element
of danger in the removal of this large body
Of people from the infected to uninfected
parts of the city. Many of them carried
their clothing and personal belongings
away from Chinatown, but the disaster was
so sudden and the necessity of guarding
these people was so urgent that the best
was done under the circumstances in such
pressing emergency. The greater number
of the homeless, principally Chinese, ia
panese and Hawaiians, were removed to
kawaiahao Church and churchyard on
King street, some to the camps at Kalihi
and kakuko and others to various empty
In conclusion the doctor reports a more
hopeful feeling now that the greater part of
Chinatown has been destroyed, and when
the people removed from that infected dis
trict are properly established in suitable
camps the prospects for improvement in the
situation, he thinks, are good
Since the date Of the above report unoffi
cial Geographic advices from Honolulu
show there has been a considerable abate-
ment in the plague, and that the genera,
situation q