The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-03-11
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MYSTERIOUS SHIP DISEASE.
Many Passengers Die Under Very Pc
culiar Circumstances.

New York, March 10.-The Anchor liner
Karamania from Marseilles, Palmero and
Naples was detained at quarantine today
| because a number of the crew and pes
sengers died under peculiar circumstances
on the voyage. Six died in all, two of the
crew and four steerage. All were taken
with the same symptoms, cramps, nau-
sea, and collapse. 1t is thought they were
poisoned by some noxious gases emanat-
ing from the cargo.
On February g. while the Karamania
was steaming from Marseilles for Pal
nero. four of the crew were suddenly
taken ill with aueseau and spasms. Two
died, one recovered and the other was
sent ashore to the hospital, where the
doctor said the men were poisoned Two
days after sailing from Naples another
sailor who slept in the room where the
others were taken i'll, was found in 4
stupor. On being restored he said he suf-
fered from the same symptoms. A num-
Der of others in the same room feeling i'll
ran on deck and soon recovered. The com
partment was then stripped, disinfect-
ed and closed. February 81 a passenger
was sent to the hospital suffering from
stomach trouble and on March / and 2
other passengers were stricken suddenly
and died within a few hours. The next
day, March 2, the passenger in the hos
pital died anu another passenger was
found dead in his bunk. All of the af-
flicted passengers had adjoining hunks
in No. 1 steerage. They were buried at
sea.
New York, March 10-Six strange
deaths at sea aboard the Anchor line
steamer Karamania, from Marseilles, Pal
ermo and Naples, caused that vessel to
be detained at quarantine today and
Health officer Doty, after an examina
ton, said the symptoms were so similar
to those of cholera that the ship should
be thoroughly disinfected and its 1913 pas
sengers and the crew sent to Hoffmans
Island, to remain there until the health
officer positively knows that they are free
from infection. The bodies were buried at
sea and the meagre reports of the ships
doctor increased DR.. Doty's suspicious.
Each of the six victims died in convul
sions. following at attack of nausea and
cramps.
Health Officer Doty. after securing all
teh history of the deaths on board. gave
out the following statement:
From the meagre reports Of the steam
ers doctor. l regard these cases as very
suspicious We have no cases TO examine
and as the bodies were buried at sea, all
the evidence obtainable was the doctor s
note and statements giving the history of
the cases.
"Au the symptoms. nausea, cramps and
sudden COLLAPSE and death, are so similar
TO those of cholera that ! propose TO treat
the vessel crew and passengers as If II
were certain The vessel will be thorough
" disinfected the passengers, 733 in num-
Der transferred to Hoffman's Island. and
the crew. after the vessel shall be docked.
will also he taken to Hofmans Island.
These people will be obtained there until
| am positive that they arc free from in
lection This course is pursued because
of the suspicious character OF the deaths
and the absence Of evidence OF the cause.
No person on board the Karamania ap-
pear 10 be able 70 account for the out
break"
This is the Karamania's second expert
ence Of the kind. on August , 1888 she
arrived of quarantine from Naples and
renorted three deaths during the trip.
DR.. Jenkins. then health officer. reported
that the deaths had been due 20 cholera