The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-09-05
DEATH IN WATER.
Miss Mabel Rice a Victim of
Typhoid.
Supposed She Contracted Dis
ease at VineWOod Well.
MANY OTHERS SICK.
Alarming Number of Cases
Among C. E. Society.
We're Members of Picnic Party
at VineWOOd.

Mabel L. Rice, one of eleven MEM
bers of the First Congregational church
Christian Endeavor society who are
sick with typhoid or maIariaI fever,
died Friday night at Christ hospital,
after an illness of two weeks with
typhoid. She was 10 years of age. a
most attractive young woman, and was
one of the prominent young people of
the church.
Nlnewood park drinking water is be-
lieved by some to be the cause of so
much fever in this crowd of young
people who picnicked at the park about
three weeks ago. Others attribute it to
the ordinary city water Still others
think that milk. subject to some chem
zeal embalming treatment, is the root
of the evil
Among the members of the First Con-
gregational church crowd of young
folks who are sick are the following:
Geneva Henderson, daughter of NJ. D.
Henderson, typhoid fever; Martha
Holyoke, daughter of Mrs. Fannie z.
Holyoke, typhoid; Mabel FOUGHT,
daughter of ]. H. FOUGHT, probably
typhoid; Mrs. H. B. Howard, malariaI
fever; Ruth Stout. typhoid; Anna Will
liams typhoid; Jessie Harris, typhoid;
Miss Graham, typhoid: Arthur Nelson,
typhoid: Ralph McElroy, typhoid.
Ethel Ladd is also sick, and it is
thought she has fever of some sort, but
it is not certain.
In some of these cases it is not likely
that Vinewood park drinking water can
be held responsible. Miss Geneva Hem
derson was at Vinewood park a day or
two before being taken sick. 1t required
about ten days for typhoid to develop,
so it is evident that the Vinewood water
had nothing to do with her case
Ralph McElroy and Arthur Nelson,
the two young men who are sick, both
visited Ninewood park very frequently
since it was opened
Mabel Rice. the girl who died, went to
Vinewood park for a picnic about two
weeks before being taken sick. Martha
Eolyol<e- also went to NlneWood about
that time Several small parties COM
posed of the First Congregational
church young people have picnicked at
Vinewood during the past month. 1t is
said that the sickness is general among
these young people.
The VinewOOd park well where all
the drinking water at park is obtained
is almost surrounded by the bend of the
lagoon. The top of the well is probably
four feet above the level of the water
at It's normal n6l2nI. 1t Is likely that
the surface water flowed into the well at
the time of the recent flood, when much
of the park was covered with water.
The we'll is at present probably not
closer than 100 feet to the creek. While
to the taste the quality of the water
seems to be excelled, it seems likely
from it's location it may be imDregnat-
ed with organic matter, and organic
matter is always an indication OF the
presence of typhoid germs.
known TOnpk9 nhVCipl9n
thinks that it is hydrant water, and
not the Vinewood park water, which
has caused so much sickness He thinks
that there was some mistake about the
analysis of the city water made by the
state university chemists. The univer-
sity chemists determined that the city
water sent to them by the state board
of health was safe for drinking pur-
poses. This doctor declares that the
present prevalence of typhoid is due
more to the misleading influence of that
thar to any other direct cause.
II B. Howard. who is president of the
Endeavor society of the First Congre-
ga ational church. said:
<'It seems strange that so many MEM
bers of our society should all be taken
sick at once. 1t really looks as though
it might all be due to some one cause.
know that a good many of our young
folks have been out to Vinewood fire.
quently. NV wife was taken sick only
r few days after being out there. and
I do not think it could have been the
water she drank at the park which
caused her sickness. do not think she
has the fever. anyway. 1t seems more
like stomach trouble of some kind. I
have about come to the conclusion that
it is the milk we have been using. 1
have made some Inquiries. and ind
that many of the families where sick
ness has occurred use dairy milk. We
have asked our millxmen whether they
use preserva tlVes, but of course they
all denv it,"
Dr. Hayes, pastor of the First Con-
grega tional church says: The theory
that the sickness among our young
people may be due to Vinewood park
water is worth investigating 1 don't
mucL think that the park water is re-
sponsible for all the sickness, though
Mabel Rice. the young woman who died.
was at the park about three weeks ago"
Mrs Holyoke, mother of Miss Martha
says: My daughter has been
out to the park. but we have also been
drinking filtered hydrant water here at
home. For cutie a while we boiled the
water but 1 went away for few weeks,
and I think the young folks stopped
boiling it. My daughter now seems to
be recovering from her sickness. We
think that the worst is passed"
NJ. d. Henderson, father of Miss Geneva
Henderson, says There is some reason
to suspect the Vinewood park water, but
do not think it is responsible for my
sickness. She went out to the
park but was feeling badly when ShG
went. and was taken sick only day or
Mabel Louise Rice. the girl who died. is
the daughter of Mr.. and Mrs William |
She was taken to Christ hospital shortly
after the nature of her illness developed. |
and died there The funeral will be held
At o'clock Sunday afternoon
s Oil Tank Fired by. Lightning.