Fergus County argus., 1902-02-05
Citizens of the Camp in Mass Meeting
Condemn County Health officer
II. II. Wilson.
NOW HAVE TWENTY-FIVE CASES
Arrangements for Fumigating Mails
Have Been Made-Deputy Martin
Has His Hands Full.

Gllt Euge, rep. o.-Speclal Dy Wlre'
County Physician, DIR. II. H. Wilson,
and chairman of the board Of county
commissioners, Samuel Phillips, were
up Sunday for the purpose of estab-
fishing a quarantine of this place.
Notices containing the inscription:
Smallpox; Keep Quit" were posted
or the various roads and footpaths
leading into the town. At first these
notices were placed between the town
and the Gilt Edge mill, but, upon a
vigorous protest being made by those
upon both sides of the line, they were
removed so as to include the mill
and the gulch within the limits of the
quarantine.
Postmaster Hurvitch was then serv-
ed with notice by DR.. Wilson to the
effect that the town had been placed
under quarantine, and that he should
hold all mail until such time as ar
rangements might be made for its dis
infection. Upon the receipt of this
notice Postmaster Hurvitch telegraph
ed the department and received an
answer to the effect that the orders
oil the health officer must be obeyed.
AS result no mail has come into or
gone out of the camp in the last two
days, the stage drivers on both lines
being held in the town by the quaran.
tine officers. Arrangements were per.
fected today so that the mills will run
again, and those leaving here will be
fumigated and taken to the quaran
tine line, where it will meet the
Nickel Plate from Lewistown and ar
exchange of mails will be effected.
The news of the quarantine was re
ceived with feelings of anything but
Joy by the citizens of Gilt Edge las,
Sunday. A general feeling against
the manner in which all cases had
been handled, and the laxity on the
part of the health officer to take prop
er sanitary precautions against the
spread of the smallpox from the be
ginning, was very marked, and reach
ed its climax in the mass meeting
which was held in the school house
Sunday afternoon, where the follow
ing resolutions were adopted and tel
egraphed to the secretary of the stat,
board of health:
Whereas, the citizens and taxpay
ers of Gilt Edge, in mass meeting as
sembled, have decided to appeal Il
the State board of health for redress
from the quarantine which is imposet
on the town of Gilt Edge by H. H
Wilson, health officer of Fergus coun
ty. Montana. That the circumstance
leading to the quarantine are as fol
lows:
That on the 9th day of Januar,
there was reported to the said healtl
officer two cases of smallpox in tn
town of Gilt Edge; that the sal
health officer Immediately remove
said cases to pest house in Lewis
town, Montana; that he did not fun
gate the houses, or take any mean
to further prevent the spread of tn
disease; that, as q result of this II
fection, there have since that time d,
veloped sixteen other cases; that tn
health officer had these cases remo'
ed to a pest house and took no .pr'
cautions to disinfect or fumigate tn
residences of these patients, an
claims it is not necessary; that sal
health officer, without the authorit
OF the board of health, has quaral
tined the town of Gilt Edge and sto
ped the mail and all traffic to an
from the town of Gilt Edge.
Resolved, That the honorable sta
board of health of the state of Mo
tana is respectfully petitioned to /
vestigate the manner of quarntine al
authority of the said health office
and we further petition that the sta
board Of health send some compete
person to investigate the above all
cations.
(Signed) X. A. MCKEE.
Chirman of Committee on Resolution
The above resolutions were thu
transmitted to Secretary Longeway
Great Falls. and we understand tn
he answered to the effect that, imm
diately upon the adjournment OF d
meeting of the board which was to
held on Tuesday. he would start {
Gilt Edge to make an investigation.
There are seventeen cases of sma
pox in the pest house and five ol
side quarantined in their own hom'
All have had the disease In We
light form. with the exception of Nj
Drinkard, and she is now on the 70
to recovery. The disease Is princip
" among the school children.
miners are affected. The only Z
men who have had it are Tom P'
pard and AL. Hendrickson. Four cas-
have developed since the quaranti