The evening times., 1900-02-23
WAR ON THE PESTH0USE.
new Rochelle Farmers Fear the
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
pesthouse in the Blind Brook Valley, con-
tinued yesterday with several novel fea-
lures. The Jerusalem folk chuckled 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
Bartnett, who had armed themselves in
authorization of trouble, drove to the woods
with a stageload of workmen. they found
the gate leading to the woodland where
the pesthouse is to be situated barred
with strands of barbed wire.
Behind the gate were score OF men
and women who greeted them with hoots
and jeers. Put your pesthouse down IN
Drake Lane, where Mike Dillon liVeS,
cried one of the women. Mr.. Dillon is
the Mayor of New Rochelle. The health
commissioners broke down the gate ana
Policeman Macdonald dispersed the
crowd.
The health officials will send their pa
tients to the quarantine station tomorrow,
in the dead of night, TO escape observa-
tion. The farmers are barricadlng the
road, and say the wagon Will 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 to bar Mill Road.
This road is private property, SAID
Mr.. Burns. "It belongs to me. and 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
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 ]. E Stuhlmann, at 45S Pearl street
who owns the property beside Bilnd
Brook.
MIR Stohlmann will be here tomorrow,
said Mr.. Ash 'and he'll put stop 10 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. Follmer, his tenant. subiet the
ground to the health board without hay-
ing any right to 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. If need be IheE
were driven off Several hours later the
Jerusalem folk. men and women. gathered
on rocky eminence and shouted threats
at the workmen and the officials, who our
ing the day succeeded in half completing
two houses.
Health officer George a. Peck IS beln9
severely criticised in New Rochelle toi
the manner in which he has conducted th'
isolation Of the smallpox patients Ne
cases we're removed from different par
of she cny TO a house close TO school
house in Harrison Street. which is attend
ed by from 600 to 100 school children. lh'
parents of the children were highly IN
censed. and the school board had tn'
school closed.
Then they say that the site OF the pest
house in the woods is badly chosen.
is on low ground and only few feet away
| is surrounded by swamp land covered Witi
greenish water.
Citv officials OF New Rochelle have de-
cided not to serve for the present the war
rants issued late Wednesday night toi
some OF the farmers. They reason that
l,nou.ledge of the warrants may serve tc
intimidate the Jerusalem folk. Chiet ol
Police Timmons was angry yesterday tha'
any report Of the warrants had Leaked out
II Is said he fears the residents IN hOrth'
ern New Rochelle may resent aggressive
action and that he would De uhaole u
maintain order there.