The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-08-13

Charlottesville Citizens Explain Their
Attitude I'm the Matter.

IthEcn E1ptahh
Attitude I'm the Matter.
To the Editor OF the Indianapolis Journal:
Some time ago a quarantine was declared
by the health officers of Hancock county
against Knightstown on account Of small
pox existing at that place. For some time
the railway company obeyed the quarantine
regulations by running their cars no
farther East than this place. Then they
attempted to run their cars through 10
Knightstown and did so several times, but
were finally stopped by the quarantine
officer here. After this the quarantine
regulations were obeyed by the railway
company until Aug. 2, when they again
attempted to run their cars to Knights
town. 1t is freely and openly avowed by
those on the side Of the company that they
could run their cars to Knightstown re-
CARELESS of the quarantine and that they
intended to do so. On Saturday, Aug. 2,
a car, accompanied by leading officials of
the road, was run TO Knightstown. There
the citizens were invited TO get on board
and take a free ride. The car then made
two round trips from Knightstown to
Greenfield On both these trips it was
loaded TO It's utmost capacity with men
picked up at Knightstown. AS the car
passed through here the passengers con-
tinually hooted and jeered at the people
on the streets, making haunting remarks
about smallpox and doing everything they
could to annoy the people. The running
of the car thus was regarded as a dare to
the citizens of this place, and the people
naturally became incensed at the audacity.
The car went west on its last trip just at
dark, the passengers hOOting and jeering
as before. By this time a large crowd had
gathered in the streets, the feeling had be-
coma intense and the GanfinU Of tho mas
sengers was answered by the people in the
streets. Just as the car was nearing the
fired from it,. Immediately these shots
were answered by shots from the crowd
in the street. No shot was fired from
the crowd in the street until after sever
car. On the following day the car con-
tinued to run to Knightstown until about
the middle of the afternoon. During all
this time the health officers and the sheriff
of the county were ~endeavOring to stop the
car. but the officials of the road, backed
by the crowd on the car, offered defiance
alike to officers and law. The sheriff
tagged the car twice. but ii did not stop,
even when he tagged II here at its reg
ular stopping place, and once 1t came near
running over the sheriff. On Sunday aft
ernOOn the sheriff succeeded in stopping
the car by blockading the road, and the
carmen were placed under arrest. In every
account of the matter in your paper the
crowd at Charlottesville has been referred
to as a mob, and w. S. Lane has been
characterized as the leader of the mob.
The people on the streets here were as
quiet and orderly as any people will be
found on the streets of any town. They
engaged in no demonstrations until they
were provoked to do so by the passengers
on the car, and then they did no more
than any people would do under like provo
cation. The mob was on that car, and a
more boisterous one never passed through
this place. Mr.. Lane was never at any
time connected in any way with the crowd
In the streets, nor in any way directed nor
nAnfrn11n1 a.. aNfA liz
antine officer was at the instance and I'M
der the direction OF DR.. w. Selman, secre-
tary of the Board of Health of Hancock
county, by whom he was directed to stop
the car at the east line of said county.
and to prevent it from entering the county
at all hazards; and, if necessary, to depu-
tie a sufficient force to carry out this or
der. Mr.. Lane simply did his duty as quar-
antine officer here, and has won the ad-
miration of the best citizens in so doing.
Whether the quarantine was maintained
against Knightstown longer than neces-
sary or not was a question for the health
officers and not for the railway company
to decide, and the railway officials were
lawbreakers In violating the quarantine
regulations. 1t has been stated in your
paper that the merchants here were ben
Gifted by the quarantine, i'm that much
trade was diverted TO this place. and that
they were, therefore. opposed to the rails
ing of the quarantine. They may have
been so benefited, we do not know. but we
will venture the assertion that there is
not a man, even in Knightstown, who
would more gladly have permitted the
quarantine TO be raised than the merchants
here would, If they had thought that the
conditions would justify.
1t is commended by some that the quar-
antine officers had no more right to stop
the electric cars than they had to stop
the Panhandle trains. There is a difference
between the two. Knightstown being the
present terminus of the electric line. the
only purpose that the company could have
in running cars to that place was TO carry
passengers TO and from that particular
point. while the Panhandle trains might
pass through Knightstown and do no bust
ness there. The fight was one between
the county health officers and the Electric
Railway Company, and the only part this
town had in the matter was that il is a
near neighbo TO KnightStown, and the
people here do net want smallpox dumDed
upon them. Our location simply forced
us into the fight. The people of knights
town have our sincerest sympathy in their
affliction. but we feel that they have not
taken proper precautions TO prevent the
spread of the disease. and, therefore.
greater care IS necessary here.
o STALEY.
SAMUEL WALKER.
ISAAC j.. HATFIELD,
w. e. WHITE,
L. s. SMITH.
DANIEL BURK,
j.. H. lands.
Charlottesville Ind, Aug. u.