The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-03-15
Six Deaths Under Strange Condi-
tons on the Kara
MANIA
MAY BE AsIATlc CHOLERA.
"a Rigid Quarantine Has Been In
stituted and the Health Off
GERS Are Investigating
Comes From Marseilles.

REPUBLIC SPECIAL.
New York. March A.-Lying about third
Of a league off Quarantine yesterday was
the Anchor Line steamship Karamania,
from Mediterranean ports. The yellow nag
Of quarantine was flying from her fore top
mast, and craft of all kinds gave her a
wide berth. During the voyage six out of
800 persons on board had died under strange
circumstances. and after displaying symp-
tome which Health Officer Doty fears were
those of Asiatic scholera. Whether the dis
ease has infected any more of those exposed
to 1t will not be known for several days.
When the health officers boarded the Ka-
ramania on her arrival yesterday morning,
the ships surgeon and a surgeon assigned
TO the vessel by the Italian Government
reported the six deaths and described the
symptoms that had preceded demise, but
refrained from expressing any opinions as
to what the disease might be.
The Karamania touched at Marseilles,
Palermo and Naples. Two days out from
the first port, where a fair proportion Of
the original 735 steerage passengers were
taken on. one of the sailors Of the crew
became i'll. He complained Of nausea. Then
another sailor was stricken. This was on
FEBRUARY 8. while the steamship was bound
ike symptoms. and the four were ordered
70 the ships sick bay. Spasms followed the
phase OF nausea, and two Of the patients
lapsed into a state Of coma and died. The
third fought of the stupor and recovered,
and, although the fourth man became
weaker and weaker. he was still alive when
Palermo was reached. and was sent to a
hospital there.
Whether he died or not is not known.
The head physician Of this institution de-
clared the patient had been poisoned, and
when told that three others had been SINH
gave 1t as his opinion that all four had been
poisoned. The nature of the poison was
not, however, stated, and the crew and the
cluded that the sufferers had been the VIC
TINS of noxfous gases that might have en-
anated from the cargo.
Two days out from Naples. February q.
sailor was found in q stupor. 1t was re-
marked that he occupied a berth in the
compartment where his four shipmates had
been stricken. He was rushed to the deck,
and IN short time regained consciousness.
Asked how he came into the condition in
which he was found. he said he went into
the compartment and was almost immedi-
ateIy seized with an attack of nausea He
overcame him, and I he knew nothing more
until his eyes opened upon the waters of
the Mediterranean.
During the next five days, according to
ors who ventured Into this compartment
were Immediately seized with nausea and
abdominal pains and rushed out IN panic,
but recovered In the open air on deck. After
that nobody dared enter the place. Orders
were given. that the section be stripped.
This was done. after which 1t was disin-
fected and closed.
of pains in the stomach. He was hustled
to Che ships hospital forthwith. Two days
later, on March 1. two uoreopassengers be-
csme Ill These two passed rapidly through