The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-12-16
CLARA BARTON TELLS
OF Personal VISIT
TO STRICKEN BUTLER
Sixteen Hundred Persons
Confined to Beds.
FIFTY CLAIMED BY DEATH
Typhoid Epidemic Traced to Stagnant
Ponds-Money Is Needed to
Fight Disease.

Clara Parton. president Of the Ameri-
can National Red Cross, has returned
to Washington from Butler, Pa, where
she went to investigate the typhoid sit
uation. When seen today, Miss Barton
said that the conditions at Butler were
most distressing, but that every effort
was being made for the alleviation Of
the patients su1erings.
Sixteen hundred persons are now con-
fined TO their beds with the fever. About
fifty deaths have been reported. and in
view Of the number and serious charac-
ter of the disease the death rate is re-
garded by Miss Barton as phenomenaIly
small. She declares that the physicians
and nurses are most competent, some of
the latter being specialists In typhoid
While some Of the deaths occur at the
hospitals, most of them are in homes.
where families have not the proper IA
ciIities for fighting the fever.
Traced TO Ponds.
The origin of the epidemic is traced to
various small ponds about the city.
These were allowed to stagnate. and
when the heavy rains came. the waters
rose and spread their germs throughout
the community. An additional board OF
health has been formed from adjacent
cities. and is working zealously toward
purifying the vicinity. Miss Barton be-
lieves the quick and earnest efforts OF
the townspeople and help from outside
has done much to decrease the spread
of the disease.
When asked IL she would make an ap.
peal for funds Miss Barton declared she
would not. as Philadelphia and Pitts
burg were coming literally to the aid Of
tfe stricken city However. the mayor
Of Butler and the general committee IS
sued an appeal to the public generally
| setting forth the conditions at Butler.
When Miss Barton had looked over the
ground the committee asked her to GER
tify TO its appeal If it conforned to hei
idea Of the situation. and she did 50, In
the following statement:
unable TO judge of the seriousness Of
the situation at Butler. Pa, because
of conflicting rumors of the typhoid epi
demic. accompanied by members OF my
staff. 1 have made a. personal visit u
the scene. We found in Butler. a tow1
of Is. 900 Inhabitants. almost as many
hundreds OF patients IN all stages OF ty
phoid fever, few cases convalescing
/ to an average of twelve new cases pc
dev
THE hospitals are nearly full. bu
most of the patients are being treate'
at their homes. In some cases as man,
as six or eight members of the family
are prostrated. The patients are attend
ed in most part by trained nurses from
such large cities as Philadelphia. Pitts
burg. Cleveland. and Rochester-mor'
than 200 in all
Committee Competent.
"The relief work is administered by
competent committee. elected at a mas
meeting of citizens about two week
hago. This committee Includes many o
the most prominent merchants and pro
] fessional men of the town. the burgess
Of Butler being one of the members
! Investigation shows that at least SIS. 90
more than is now in hand will be re
quired for the relief work before tn
| epidemic is over. This money canno
be obtained from the town. and must b
| looked for in voluntary contribution
from the outside public.
Donations should be sent 20 Thoma
]. Shoffiin. treasurer. Butler relief com
mittee -