The times., 1900-12-23
MANY EXPOSED TO SMALLPOX
Two Negroes in n Crowded Car Suf-
fcring From the Disease.

A party of negro laborers, two of whom
were suffering from smallpox. contracted
in railroad camp at New Martinsburg.
". Va, where they had been employed.
arrived in Washington about noon yester-
day over the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad,
in crowded car They disembarked at the
depot, scattered throughout the city, and
/: was several hours before the fact that
Washington citizens were being exposed
to the disease was discovered. One of the
party, Walter Lee. who says his home is
in Buckingham. W. Va, was discovered at
the Pennsylvania depot. where he was
waiting for a train. He was taken TO the
Health Office and examined by the Health
Officer, who found uhmistakable symptoms
OF the dread disease. Orders were at once
issued for the detention of the remainder
of the party, which is said to have num-
bered about twenty-five. Most OF them
had scattered throughout the city. Ten,
however, were corralied at the Pennsyl-
vania depot while they were waiting for a
train. Each was examined. and George
Jackson. member Of the party. was also
sent to the smallpox hospital as suspect.
All the rest were committed to the de-
tention camp. 'he'
New Martinsburg was recently visited
by an epidemic of smallpox and many OF
the laborers in the railroad camp were
affected by it. The entire gang of work.
men were paid off day or two ago and
about twenty-five started for Washington,
some intending to spend Christmas. while
the others expected to go to their homes
at other points.
On the train which brought them to
Washington were a number OF passengers
from various points along the line OF the
railroad, including runaway married
couple who had eloped from under the
watchful eyes of their parents in Grafton,
w Va. No one, however, suspected that
the colored passengers had been exposed
to smallpox When the train pulled into
the Baltimore and Ohio station the col
ored passengers disembarked and went to
their various destinations. several of them
winding up at the Pennsylvania depot, in
tending to take train from that place
later in the afternoon.
1t was here that the danger was dis
covered. Detective Hewlett noticed the
bad condition Of Lees face, which was
pitted with smallpox marks. The man
also seemed sick. Hewlett asked him
what was the matter. Lee replied that
his face had been burned in gasoline eX-
plosion Hewlett suspected. however, that
the man had smallpox and called In Po-
licernan Costello. IL was quickly decided
that the case should be reported to the
Health Office. Lees two brothers were
with him and the trio were conducted by
the officers to the alley at the rear OF the
District Building and were examined by
the Health officer, DR.. William c. Wood
ward.
DR.. Woodward soon came to the con-
clusion that Lee was a victim of the dread
disease. and Immediately issued orders
that all the negroes who came TO the city
with Lee should be found and taken to
the detention camp. Lee was in very
weak condition, and his face and hands
were horribly marked.
Dr. Woodward expressed surprise that
man in Lees condition should be allowed
TO travel so far on any railroad train or
even to board it at all. The smallpox
ambulance was summoned and Lee sent
10 the hospital and his two brothers TO
the detention camp.
About this time an inspector returned
and informed DR.. Woodward that the
party of which Lee was one was stu at
the station. He Immediately went there
and personally examined them. He found
that many of them had had the disease
These he passed and allowed to go aboard
the train for the South. Ten were de-
tainsd, and one was found whom Dr.
Woodward thought might be suspect.
In speaking of the matter last night,
DR.. Woodward said that 1t was only an
other instance Of the importation of the
disease from one OF the States to Wash
lnslon. lie thcuSht the railway company
culpable for bringing Lee over their line
in the condition in which ne was. DR..
Woodward thought that great credit was
due to Policeman Costello and Detective
Hewlett for their discretion and prompt
action. He also stated that the car in
which Lee and his componioIS rode had
been located and thoroughly fumigated.
Or. Woodward said that every precau-
tion would be taken 10 prevent spread
of ba 10 tod l.
fications of contagion in this instance
might prove considerable, but he hoped
the disease would be confined to Lee and
his companions. .