Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-07-07
SOMEBODY'S
BIG BLUNDER.
Prospects Of the City Being In
yoIyed in a Damage Suit
DOCTOR KING Is BLAMED.
Ordered smallpox Flag Pat Up
where There Was No smallpox
a Lively Scene.

Il appears that q blunder on the part
OF the health officers OF the city is abous
20 involve the municipality In q big
suit for damages. The prelim-
mary steps were taken today when a
leading law firm had the facts IN the
case laid before Il by the parties most
interested-Fr and Louis seufert, who
reside at No $50 south Seventh West
street.
The trouble commenced at o'clock
last evening when the emergency man
Of the board Of health repaired 10 the
Seufert residence and nailed up small
pox flag and placed the premises under
quarantine Mr. Louis seufert told the
News" today that there was a lively
scene between bis brother Fred, who IS
the head Of the household, and the
agent Of the city. The former declared
that the nag should not 90 up, eva If
he had to kin somebody TO prevent It.
The latter firmly said he had been or
dered TO tack up the flag and was going
TO do his duty
what forg'
Because you folks have smallpox
How do you know who told you sDY'
Il got my Information al the Office
From whom
THE clerk"
Where dld he get his Information
from"
From DIT. King"
Where Is DR.. King2"
He left for the East last night
well. DR.. King Is crazy. de does not
know anything Ggout IL. We have no
smallpox here and will have no flag
here. The rag must come down
The emergency man did not stop TO
discuss Dr. Kings mental condition
with Mr.. seufert but he aid convince
that gentleman that the Gag must be
left W until officially ordered 10 come
down. Mr. Seutert returned TO the
house and the health man came up
town.
The Incident II is said. threw Mrs,
Seufert into a state Of hysteria In which
condition she remained throughout the
night and part of today. At an early
hour this morning the Seufert brothers,
declaring that they had no smallpox,
OF other contagious disease, came up
town, with the avowed purpose OF see
ing that the flag should be removed.
A visit to the health department In the
city and county building disclosed the
fact that a serious mistake had been
made. Clerk Smith explained II 10 this
way.
'Dr. King left the city Tor the East on
Tuesday evening Before going he
wrote me letter that there was case
Of smallpox at the Seuferts on Seventh
West and ordering that u be placed
under quarantine. This letter did not
reach me untll late yesterday after
noon, when ! Immediately proceeded 10
carry out DR.. Kings instructions, II !
appears that the case was reported by
somebody % DR.. King, and that he con.
cluded that Il should be Guaranteed !
OF course am very sorry that this was
done but DO not feel that l am 10 any |
way responsible inasmuch as ] acted |
purely under Instructions. As soon as |
] learned the facts this morning, ! or |
dered the Inspector 20 80 and take the /
iiag down which he did"
On the bottom OF Dr. Kings letter /
was the notation Or. Bowers case" |
This indicated that the case might have /
been reported by that gentleman as a
case OF smallpox But that seems 10 |
be entirely erroneous The facts are /
that Dr. Bowers was requested 20 in /
vestiEate the case. but on II being sug- /
gested TO him that Il might be small
pOX, be respectfully declined 20 DO so /
for the reason that he did not desire TO /
expose any OF his own patients 20 any |
contagious trouble. An that was done
by anyone seems 20 have been to report
20 DR.. King thar there was a suspected /
case down there Dr. Glesy. former
quarantine physician went 20 the place
morning. and after an inspec.
ton concluded that there was mo /
case" Had this fact been reported 10 |
Clerk Smith, the trouble would not
have occurred.
Dr. Giesy stated 10 the News today
that while the family lived In the neigh
borhood OF where the Larson girl has
been Isolated with a case OF what he
terms smallpox there is nothing 20 In
dicate as yet that the Seuferts have
the disease In any form, Dr. Giesy.
however says the house viii be closely
watched. as IL Is believed that the fami-
~ has been exposed
The Seufert brothers operate q stone
yard on Third South between Sixth
and Seventh West and have about
twenty-five men I'm their employ There
was CONSERVATION among the men when
they learned OF the flag being tackled
up, and feared that they themselves had
been exposed TO the disease. Some Of
them wanted 20 quit work right there
and then but concluded 10 await de-
OF course when the flag
came down. their fear gave way TO in
dignnfiOu for the hlunuer that had !
been made