The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1904-05-11

fence WIbu# Smallpox blIS spring.
which, though not involving large
numbers. is sufficient to show that
the disease is not only peculiar IN
its method of coming and going, but
Lit is still a disease that is not to be
trifled with. For a few years back,
the cases of smallpox in and about
the twin cities have been of very
mild type. In many instances the
victims we're not obliged to take to
their beds, and no scars were left
from the pustules. Tt was q COM
mon remaks that, aside from the
loathsomeness, it was preferable to
a hard cold. Some physicians had
a theory that modern observance of
sanitary rules, and additional skill
in treatment, including vaccination,
had reduced the rigors of the
disease, while a few had doubts if
it was genuine smallpox. There
were instances where people with
the disease suffered less than others
suffered from vaccination, and, in
cidentally, the anti -vaccinationists
used this as one Of their stock ar
guments against enforced vaccina-
tion by the health authorities. 1t
finally happened, however, that the
secretary of the Minneapolis Anti
vaccination society, who had stated
time and again, on the rostrum and
in the public prints, that smallpox
was neither dangerous nor conta-
geous, took the disease and died.
Early in the spring a Minneapolis
man by name of Lock wood, who
drove an oil wagon, had delivered
oil, among other places, to the place
where smallpox patients were quar-
entined. He was taken suddenly
ill and died. His trouble was
neither diagnosed nor recognized
as smallpox. and be was not quar-
entined. Since the day Of his buri-
al easter Sunday six members of
the different branches of the family
have died with the most vicious
type of smallpox, and there are
several other members now i'll with
it who at this writing are not ex-
pected to recover. Among all of
this family who have been sick with
this disease there has not been one
recovery. And there have been
other cases in the city this spring,
every one of which has manifested
all the old-time seventies of the
disease. All this goes to show that
smallpox, at any time or place and
under any condition, is not to be
trified with. And the health au-
thorities are, in consequence, en-
forcing their rules regarding vac
cination more vigorously than ever,
because this is the only known pre-
cautionary measure.
To the list of prominent St. Paul
men who have recently died has
been added the name of Col. An
drew R. Kiefer. Col. Kiefer had
been nominated for the position of
controller by the republicans of the
city of ST. Paul, and died sudden
ly only two days before election.
He was one of the substantial citi-
zens of st. Paul, and had, during
the fifty or more years of adult life,
held nearly every position from
alderman of his ward to u. S. con-
gresham. He also commanded a
regiment during the war. He was
not an educated man nor great, in
sense. He came from thrifty Ger
man stock, was industrious, frugal
and honest. He also possessed
good judgment in business affairs,
and early in life accumulated prop
erty which made him wealthy.
There were factions of his own DO
litical party which always opposed
him, but his extraordinary follow
ing among the German population,
aided by people of other classes
which knew his honesty mad re-