Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-01-15
FIGHTERS OF FIRE
ARE GUARANTEED

Fire Chief James Devlne and his en-
tire family, consisting Of his wife and
three children, were yesterday evening
reported to Health Commissioner King
as having contracted smallpox. AS
result the family and the whole fire
department have been quarantined.
DR.. Witcher attended the patients and
made the report TO the health COM
missioner Ii was about two weeks ago
that Chief Deyines youngest daughter
was taken III with what was suppOs d
TO be chicken pox, and upon being given
proper attention progressed nicely al
most 60 recovery. when three days ago
the remainder OF the family were taken
with the contagl0n Dr. Witcher con-
suited with Dr. Monahan and both ar
rived at the conclusion that the NAL
ady was smallpox and 30 reported TO
DR.. King, who Immediately ordered a
quarantine Of the entire department.
with the provision that In case OF file
the men can attend 90 their duty.
Much sympathy for the chief and his
family was expressed today, and friends
Of the family feel treasured upon the
announcement that the cases are OF
very mild type.
DIR. WITCHER BLAMED.
Many people who profess 10 be very
well acquainted with the facts In the
case are not slow 10 blame DR.. Witcher
for what they term carelessness one
who was In his presence at the city
hail when DR.. Ray, who was at that
time afflicted with the disease, was at
that place, says that after looking az
Dr. Ray, Dr. Wltcher said, We'll II
that's smallpox, have a case upstairs
that's ELK times as bad, and ! think III
quarantine II.
People who knew OF Or. Witcher's at
tendance upon Mr.. Devine's family and
his contemporary visits Go the pest
house. blame him for thus exposing his
pauenis, and some Of them are free TO
say that the likelihood IL that the sec
ond affection OF the child was due 60
contact with the Doctor especially II
the first attack was chicken pox and
the second one smallpox.
said an observer. III physicians
have failed TO quarantine and report
these cases. they are certainly respon-
sible for unwise action, 70 say the
least"
POLICE QUARANTINE.
II is probable that all persons not
having business at the police court viii
ie kept out Of the building hereafter as
precautionary measure.
DIR. WITCHER's STATEMENT.
With reference to the attention which
he had given the cases OF Mr.. Devine
and his family. Dr. ]. S. Whether said
today
About two months ago was called
to see the family OF Chief Devine and
found that the youngest had an unusu-
ally severe case Of chicken pox. The
child got alomst well, when the little
boy commenced TO vomit and 10 com
plain Of pains in his back. The little
girl was also taken down again and
! became very uneasy about the case,
telling Mr.. Devine that / thought II
would be better TO so report IL. He
begged me not 10 do so unless | was
certain that II was smallpox l called
In Dr. Monahan In consultation and he
said he would not call the case small
pox, but that he would not call II any
thing else. The pustules on the young
est child were almost continent, that Is,
running together and called In DR..
Bowers. He pronounced the case re-
current chicken pox. At this time be-
came more uneasy about the case than