The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-12-19
HEADED THIS WAY
Smallpox Patient Walking
Through Country to Topeka.
An Example of How Health Au-
thorities Work.
HUNDREDS EXPOSED.
Driven Out of Garnett After
Being Guaranteed.
Expected to Reach Topeka
Tonight.

Mrs. King, a mulatto. who is just re-
covering from an attack of smallpox,
is en- route to Topeka from Garnett.
The journey is being made on foot, and
the woman is expected to arrive in this
city some time during this afternoon.
The local authorities are on the lookout
for her, and she will be placed under
arrest and taken to the pest house as
soon as her presence is discovered.
DR.. W. B. Swan, secretary of the state
board of health, received a telegram
last week advising him that a colored
woman started to Topeka from COffey-
vile on the Missouri Pacific, and had
been put off the train at Garnett.
The colored woman had been living
in the Indian Territory, and it was there
where she had suffered an attack of
smallpox. She went to CoffeyVille and
bought her ticket over the Missouri
Pacific to Topeka early in the morning
before it was quite light The agent was
unable to see the wOman'S face, for the
reason that she wore a. heavy veil
The health officers at Garrett discov-
cred that the woman was a smallpox
patient, and that she was likely to
spread the disease, and locked her in the
waiting room of the Missouri Pacific
depot with the agent and three lady
passengers who We're waiting to go to
Westphalia.
The colored woman had been kent in
the depot waiting room all day and
night. The depot, agent and woman
were kept in quarantine with deputy
sheriff in charge.
The local health officers at Garnett
became involved in a quarrel with the
railroad officials about who should take
care of the woman. The health officers
wanted therailroad company to take her
away. The company would not do that
as they maintained that she should be
taken care of by the local authorities
who had stopped her.
Dr. Swan was called in to arbitrate
the matter It was finally decided that
the local authorities should take the
woman from the depot and place her in
a vacant house in a secluded location,
furnish her with food and fuel and
nurse and the railroad agreed to pay
the bill. This proposition was sub
mitted and both sides agreed to it.
DR.. Swan after his duties were per-
formed returned to Topeka and did not
hear anything further from the affair
until he received a telegram from J.
w. Stewart, mayor of Waverly, a small
town near Garnett, on the Missouri Pa
cific in which he said: Understand a
colored woman with smallpox is coming
this way from Garrett Not yet inter
cepted- Advise proper course to pur-
sue"
Dr. Swan Immediately answered and
ordered that the woman be intercepted
at once and placed in quarantine. and
afterwards to furnish full particulars by
mail.
= The woman still has her Missouri Pa
cific ticket reading to Topeka, and he's
made several attempts to board MIS-
souri, Pacific trains, but the conductors
have been instructed concerning her,
and she is put off each time.
Yesterday DR.. Swan learned that the
woman was taken to the pest house in
Garnett but that no kind of accommo-
dations had been provided her, that no
nurse had been secured, and that she
had been left in the building without
guard.
There not being a guard to hinder, it
is not surprising that she made her
escape. When DR.. Swan left Garnett 1t
was in the belief that everything would
be, done that was possible to prevent the
spread of the disease and prevent en-
dangering the lives of people in the va
rious localities. DR.. Swan says:
There can be no excuse for such ac-
tions I am thoroughly ashamed of the
manner in which the health officers of
Garnett have finished their work They
started out very properly and did quite
right, but should have continued The
only excuse which is apparent is that
they wanted to become rid of their pa
tent However, if that is the case, 1t
shows very poor judgment"
Mrs. King is of slight stature She
is carrying a grip, and it is anticipated
that she will reach Topeka this evening
or tomorrow, when she will be taken to
the nest house