Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-09-20
FLEE FROM THE FEVER
AsHEvILLE AND OTHER RESORTS
CROWDED WITH REFUGEES.
All From infected Localities
Travellers in Panic-Pathetic and
Amusing Incidents.

ASHEV1LLE, N. c., september N.-Refu-
gees from the yellow fever districts and
threatened localities are filling some Of the
hotels and larger boarding houses In this
vicinity. So much attention is being paid
to the refugees that the people about here
have almost forgotten the 'Iungers," as the
hundreds Of tuberculosis patients are called.
The "lungers' are apparently In much
better frame Of mind than are most Of the
yellow fever refugees Many Of the latter
are SO badly frightened that they are not
far from being sick. and physicians expect
that a number of cases of nervous prostra-
ton will surely claim their attention In the
near future.
Despite the fact that many OF the Jung
ers" are in serious condition and are only
holding on because Of their will power. most
of them are cheerful and fall to show evil
dence Of mental suffering, but such is not
the case with the yellow fever refugees. In
many of the latter cases wives and children
have left husbands and fathers behind. and
1t is the fear that they may succumb to the
disease that causes them to worry and show
their trouble.
Have you heard from home today? is
the question that is SO frequently heard on
the streets and in the hotel corridors when
refugees meet.
Strict Quarantine Impossible.
State officials are endeavoring to conduct
strict quarantine, but 1t is impossible to
keep out everybody from the states In which
the fever is claiming victims. Every pos
sible precaution is being taken and, 1t Is
stated there Is not the slightest danger that
the disease will ever reach here. Many OF
those who are here from states along the
gulf came before the appearance OF the
fever to spend their summer vacations, ana
then remained here when they learned OF
the danger at their homes.
ind
! one hotel proprietor remarked to guest
| few days ago. while people are sick and
| dying In other states, people elsewhere are
| reaping the benefit. Had it not been for the
yellow fever scare many hotels ana poaro-
| ing houses would have been much worse OIL
than they now are, but so far as am con con
| cerned would rather be worse on nnanclai-
| ly and have the people in the other states
| be without the fever.
Many stories are heard in the hotel cor
| ridors of amusing and sad incidents con-
nected with the flight of people from the m
fected districts and places near theIn ohe
lady reached hotel with an immense
steamer trunk packed as tightly as II coulo
possibly have been packed, but still she was
without change of clothing.
you see " she told a friend, Il was away
from home when news came that the yer
low fever was near us, and my husoano
made preparations for my speedy depar tuie'
When l reached home the trunk was at the
railroad station, my ticket had been pur-
chased and there was nothing left TOR me 10
do but to leave home. l left, ana "nen :
opened the trunk l found that 1t contained
a mass of useless articles. There were peo-
spreads. pillows. clothing heavy enough for
the severest weather and other artlcles
that were absolutely useless TO me mere.
What l really needed had not peen put
in the trunk, but men don know anything
about packing trunks, anyhow.
This particular woman found 1t necessary
to visit local stores and get IN new sup
ply Of clothing and needy articles. Another
order that she would be without the range
of possibility Of an attack of yellow fever:
and was almost crazy when she found tnal
she had left her child at home.
where's my child?" was the nrst Ques-
ton she asked when she reached here.
She had been laboring under intense ex-
element, and all during her long journey
had not been able to realize where she was
or where she was going. After leaving the
train she regained her senses and realized
where she was. Then 1t was that she made
anxious inquiries about her baby and hus-
band and was able to tell OF her hasty
departure from home.
when a neighbor told me about the fever
coming near our town." she stated, Il
was almost crazed, and concluded to take
my child away from there: but how 1 ever
came away without the child I will never
be able to understand"
Happy Family Reunion.
A telegram sent home brought the hus-
was a happy family. Other cases have
been discussed in which husbands and
wives have now been separated for several
weeks.
II recall case said hotel clerk. I'm
which six members of one family came
along in three patches. The husband was
away from his home city when the fever
scare occurred, and his wife was unable
to get the children together. Not wanting
to run the risk of remaining with her baby
and being caught In quarantine. she came
here with her infant and found comfortable
quarters. The next day two of her older
children came and they were followed by
the father and two more children the next
day"
with one or two more scares Of this
kind" remarked one Of the refugees, II
think / will leave the south and go in
search of the north pole. where there will
be no yellow fever. but where there may
be something worse This makes the third
time that l have left home for fear OF the
fever, and I'm tired Of it,
While the fever refugees are claiming SO
much attention and occupying SO many
rooms in the hotels and boarding houses, 1t
is fact that not one of them came from
a town even a county in which there
has been a single case of the fever. The
people are simply frightened and came to
this section because they feared that other
wise the fever might reach them. 1t Is
thought that many of them will soon leave
.ha nd fn fhajr