The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-03-18


ture of the malady. Upon investigation
| it was classified as variola (sma1ipox) anC
the interest which up to that time was
semi-absorbing became pronounced
Guests left the hotel, disinfectants tinted
the atmosphere of that part of town and
some apprehensive people who generally
used the sidewalks in front of the hote
took the other side of the street OF
Stunned the street altogether. The
teachers and children who had visited
her were said to have been exposed and
the demand for vaccine became greater
The young man who had the first case
was declared to have recovered and al
lowed to roam wherever he pleased with
his face was still covered with pustules as
big as buck-shot. Some had healed W
and left pits resembling those on persons
who have had the smallpox.
The county board Of health ordered the
city schools closed. The school board OBJ
jected: threats were made that unless
they complied with the order warrants
would be issued for their arrest. Several
members Of the school board resigned and
their places were filled. After some par
leying and an exchange Of uncomplimen-
tary remarks the board issued an order
that the schools would be closed for two
weeks, and, as required by the board Of
health, the pupils and teachers must be-
fore again entering show certificates of
vaccination of recent date.
A week passed by and the people were
notified that on Tuesday, March 10, school
would be resumed, but that all teachers
ant n1r
tifcates. signed by regular practicing
physicians, showing that the holders had
been vaccinated since July, 1899
The situation became interesting, more
children were vaccinated and the anti
vaccinationists congregated in groups on
the streets and in stores and public build
ings and fierceIy condemned the action Of
the board of health.
The school bells rang out loud and clear
on recent morning. Teachers and pu-
pills presented themselves as usual and,
If able to show certificates as required,
admitted to teach or be taught. But the
school was not there. The superintend-
ent estimated that only one-third of the
pupils had appeared for enrolment
Some Of the absentees had been kept at
home on account Of the fear of conta-
gion; the rest, most of whom asked for
admission and were refused, had no GER
tifcate to exhibit
Then rebellion broke out. Doors were
closed and guarded but the children
clambered through the windows but We're
IS promptly rejected. Groups congregat-
ed on the grounds around the school
houses, shook yellow flags and ribbons
and yelled Smallpox! smallpox. small
pox! Wouldn't you like TO have it?
Vaccination Who says so?" and similar
calls and interrogatories.
Getting tired of yelling at the unre-
sponsive walls of the school house, they
decided to favor the main street with a
demonstration such as the town or any
of the inhabitants thereof had ever seen
or imagined, so they left the school house
ana Teassembled on the main street in
front Of drug store operated by a doc
tor. About hundred scholars, boys
with stripes of yellow cotton given them
by dry goods man who had used the
clolhG in the decoration of a show win
dow, tied around their arms and legs
and streaming from their hats and but
y
bon in their hair or on their hats and
stripes of yellow cloth sowed in their
dresses, assembled in the streets and
yelled: "Oouh! Duh! You'll Smallpox!
Amt you got it? Wouldn't you like to
have it? Vaccinate US, will you? Not
much! Smallpox! Smallpox! Oouh.
Ooouuh!" for an hour or more. Several
.buggies decorated with yellow and loaded
with girls waving yellow flags paraded
the streets. No one, or even a dozen.
policemen would have had the courage to
arrest the indignant children, many Of
whose fathers were present assisting
with all their lung power in their effort
to moke Tie subject a disa greea0,e one
fo- members of the board of health.
The lady teacher with a certificate that
she had had the smallpox presented her
self at the school house. A certificate of
vaccination was demanded by the super
intendent under orders from the school
board, whose intention evidently was to
make the order as obnoxious as possible.
The teacher having no certificate of vac
cination but merely one that stated that
she had had the smallpox and was well.
was refused admission. Her face is not
pittFd and her good looks are unimpaired.
Circulars were passed around in the af-
ternoon calling for a mass meeting of
school patrons in the evening. This meet
ing was well attended. Reasons too
numerous to mention are advanced in
favor Of and against the action of the
board Of health. People talked of com
mencing mandamus injunction quo war
ranto, replevin. trespass and forcible en-
try and deception actions against the
school board and the board of health.
The law upon which the action of the
board OF health is based is found in the
third paragraph of section 342 of statutes
Of --- Of 1898. now in force and effect.
which provides that it is their duty ITO
make and enforce all needful rules and
regulations for the preservation and cure
and TO prevent the spread of any conta
gious, infectious or malarial diseases
among Drsons and domestic animals"
Next day the rival boards met to adiu-
dictate the matter Concessions We're
made on both sides. The school board
ASSURED the board Of health that Off
cially at least they were not responsible
for the demonstration made by the
school children. The board of health IN
consideration Of the statement made by
the school board made the proposition
That the schools be closed until Monday.
the 10th Of March, and agreed. if no more
cases Of smallpox developed in the in
term. to withdraw the order making vac
cnation compulsory. The school board
agreed and the war was over.
Few people have at any time since the
development Of the first case. considered
the matter very seriously OF an epidemic
imminent Vaccination has, howeve-
been made compulsory in other towns and
the board Of health o6eyed orders ema-
mating from the territorial hoard Of