The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-02-23
WAR ON THE PESTHOUSE.
Neyy Rochelle Farmers Fear the
Spread of Smallpox.


Spread of Smallpox.
NEW YORK, Feb. 23.-In the Jerusalem
Woods north Of New Rochelle, the merry
war OF the farmers against the health
commissioners who are trying to build a
pesthouse in the Blind Brook Valley, con
tinued yesterday with several novel fea-
lures The Jerusalem folk chuckIed over
a trump card which they said they would
play today in the form OF legal proceed
ings, which, according to them, will put
the commissioners on the run"
When Health Commissioners Carson and
BARNETT, who had armed themselves in
anticipation OF trouble, drove to the woods
with a stageload OF workmen. they found
the gate leading 10 the woodland where
the pesthouse is to be situated barred
with strands Of barbed wire
Behind the gate were a score Of men
and women who greeted them with boots
and jeers. Put your pesthOuse down in
Drake Lane, where Nike Dillon lives,
cried one OF the women. Mr.. Dillon Is
the Mayor Of New Rochelle. The health
commissioners broke down the gate, and
Policeman Macdonald dispersed the
crowd.
The health officials will send their pa
tents 70 the quarantine station tomorrow,
in the dead OF night, 10 escape observa-
ton. The farmers are barricading the
road and say the wagon viii never reach
its destination.
James Burns whose home is nearly Op-
pOsite the pesthOuse, last evening brought
out long poles and several gates, with
which he proposes 10 bar Mill Road.
This road is private property said
Mr. BnFu4 bqIunpg IN mo no
body can use it. except myself unless l
| give permission. II they bring their pest
wagon past here they'll break the law,
and I'd like to see them try it,
Philip Stouter. Edward Ash and other
4 residents Of Jerusalem gathered on the
StoUter hillside and sullenly watched the
WOrkmen marching through the woods
They said they had been TO New York 10
/ see J. f. StohImann, at 45S Pearl Street
who owns the property beside Blind
Brook.
Mr.. Stohlmann viii be here tomorrow.
said Mr.. Ash and he'll put stop TO this
work He's furious that a pesthouse
should be built on his property. and he has
already served notices on DR.. Peck and the
mayor. Fonmer. his tenant sublet the
ground TO the health board without hav-
ing any right 20 DO so. The pesthOuse
buildings won't be standing here tomor-
/ row"
About thirty young men invaded the
/ woods in the morning and warned the
| WOrkmen that they would burn the wooden
houses and shoot someone. II need be. They
were driven of Several hours later the
Jerusalem folk men and women. gathered
| on a rocky eminence and shouted threats
! al the workmen and the officials. who dur
/ ing the day succeeded in half completing
l two houses.
Health officer George A. Peck is being
severely criticised I'm New Rochelle for
/ the manner in which he has conducted the
/ isolation Of the smallpox patients The
/ cases were removed from different parts
/ of she cry 10 a house close 20 a school
/ house. in Harrison Street. which is attend
/ ed by from 600 20 700 school children The
/ parents Of the children were highly in
! censed and the school board had the
/ school closed.
! Then they say that the site Of the pest
/ house in the woods is badly chosen. ID
/ is on low ground, and only few feet away
! is surrounded by swamp land covered with
! greenish water
| City officials OF New Rochelle have de-
I cided not TO serve for the present the war
: rants issued late Wednesday night for
/ some OF the farmers. They reason that a
/ knowledge Of the warrants may serve 10
l intimidate the Jerusalem folk Chief OF
/ Police TimmOus was angry yesterday that
! anv report Of the warrants had leaked out
! IL is said he fears the residents in north
| ern New Rochelle may resent aggressiv We
/ action. and that ne would be unable 10
/ maintain order there.