The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1902-11-13
SMALLPOX IN
A SAD HOME:
Mrs. Phair Goes to the Pest
House Not Knowing Her
Husband Is Dead.
THE WIDOW is VERY ILL
Third Case in Lexington Ave-
nue. Worries the Neigh
borhood - Health
Board Active.
THE WIDOW is VERY ILL

Residents in the neighborhood of Lex
ington avenue. between Bergen and
West Side avenues, are excited over the
appearance of smallpox in that section.
The discovery of two cases in the
Charner lamily, at No. 105 Lexington
avenue, about month ago, has been
followed by another case next door. AL
though every precaution is being taken
by the health authorities TO prevent the
spread of the disease, residents fear an
epidemic in the neighborhood.
The last case reported was that of
Mrs. Sarah Phair, ffty-fye years old,
whose home is at No. 103A Lexington
avenue, next door to the Charner fam
ily's residence
TAKEN TO THE PEST HOUSE.
Mrs. Phair was taken to the Snake
Hill pest house last Tuesday. Her con-
dition is said to be critical. The circum-
stances surrounding her case are pathet-
ic. At the time she was stricken her
husband was at the point of death from
pneumonia. Mr.. Phair is dead and
buriedv but the fact has not been told
" WITS L udlE.
At frequent intervals, as she lies on a
cot in the pesthouse she inquiries anx-
iously about her husband, but her con-
dition is such that physicians fear to
break the sad news, and they answer all
questions eyasively.
Mrs. Phair first showed symptoms of
small pox on Tuesday morning She had
been up almost every night for two
weeks caring for her sick husband, and
in her weak physical condition she fell
an easy victim to the contagion.
How the smallpox germs reached the
Phair home is mystery. That they
came from the Charner family next door
where the disease first broke out is con-
sidered almost a certainty.
MIR. PHAIR DEAD.
The physician, DR.. Vreeland, at once
reported Mrs. fnair's case to the authori-
ties, and when a Health officer went to
the house Tuesday morning he found
that Dr. yreeland's diagnosis was cor
rect. While the health officers were in
the house they were informed by men,
bers of the family that Mr.. Phair had
died of pneumonia an hour before they
arrived
Mrs. Phair was willing to go to the
pesthouse. The patient feared that the
lives of her husband and her two grown
daughters would be in danger if she re-
mained in the house and she was ready
to sacrifice her own life for them. As
she was carried from the house her last
words were sympathy for Mr.. Phair,
who, although she was not aware of it,
was at that moment cold in death
The presence of smallpox in the family
made it necessary that the funeral of
Mr. Phair be as private as possible 1t
took place yesterday, only the immediate
relatives being permitted to attend.
Mrs. Phair's condition has grown
rapidly worse. 1t was said this morn
ing that her case was extremely serious.
SMALLPOX NEXT DOOR.
When smallpox was discovered in the
avenue, a month ago, rumors were afoat
to the effect that the members of the
family were i'll some days before the
health authorities were notified 1t was
alleged that the case of Mr. Charner, the
first to be stricken was diagnosed by
physician as chickenpox. When. the
health authorities were eventually in
formed of the case they found that Mr..
and Mrs. Charner were both suffering
from smallpox. Neither patient was re-
moved, but the house is still under quar-
antine. Mr.. and Mrs. Charnef have sent
their three small children to stay with
family at jackson avenue and Forrest
street. 1t was said last night that a
neighbor saw a member of the Charner
family airing bed clothes outside sec
ond story window The window is
within few feet of the Phair home, and
it is believed that the smallpox germs
might have been transmitted by the
breeze from the bed clothing.
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