davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-08-19

lentlys on the west coast of Africa, in
the countries bordering on the Mediter-
ranean and in India. OF course its
wide distribution at the time it was
first classified as a distinct disease
would not initiate against the theory
of its American origin, but it is also
an undeniable fact that outbreaks of
the disorder occurred in the lagoons
of Africa long before the discovery of
the American continent.
Once accepting the theory that yell
low fever is of African origin, it is not
difficult to explain its transportation
to America. 1t is one of the baneful
legacies bequeathed by the slave trade
The slave dealers of the seventeenth
and eighteenth centuries often lost
from one-half to two thirds of their
cargo during the voyage from a mys-
ferrous fever which broke out sudden
ly in the filthy holds of the over
crowded ships, and this complaint
formerly denominated African. or ship,
fever, is now believed to have been
yellow fever. Whenever it appeared
among the hapless and terrified
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-08-19

its suppression. With the history of past
visitations of the scourge in mind, the
citizens of the regions most exposed
to its ravages have been prompt in
their measures of resistance. Fortu-
nately the combat against this most
dreaded of summer visitors Is no longer
the unequal struggle it once proved to
be. Modern research and improved
methods OF sanitation have robbed the
ancient terror of much of it's grew
someness, but TOO much that is reInin-
iscent of its horrors still remains.
Medical men have never left off the
orizing about the cause of yellow fever
since they began to treat it. 1t was
believed by many that it was in
fictitious, a specific miasm carried in
the air. Others taught that it was
contagious, contracted only by actual
contact with substances which had been
contaminated by a fever patient After
the search for micro organisms be-
came the fad there were many an
nouncements of the discovery of the
fever bacillus, but conservative ply
sicians were inclined to be skeptical
In the summer of 1900 came the first
linking of the true solution. The
United States government had under
taken to free Havana from its I'M
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-08-19
low Jack as It Is Known to Modern Science

stil remained the salutary expedient of
screening both the patient and. the
nonimmune person from the presence.
of the mosquito. This is practically
the modern way of dealing with vel
low jack. That it has been effectual
Is proved by the fact that within a
few months after mosquito extermina-
ton began at Havana the fever dis
appeared-for the first time in CEN
fury and a half.
1t is we'll authenticated fact that
yellow fever has prevailed endemically
throughout the West Indies and in GER
tain regions on the Spanish main ever
since the discovery of America. Bar
bados, Jamaica and Cuba suffered cpl
denies before the middle of the sew
enteenth century. There were out
breaks of the pest in Philadelphia.
Charleston and Boston as early as 1892,
and for a hundred years afterward
there were occasional eruptions, Gull
minating in the famous Philadelphia
epidemic of 1898. Most northern cities
were able by extraordinary sanitary
and quarantine measures to prevent
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-08-19

region has been stimulated by the re-
cent official reports confirming the ex-
istence of mineral deposits of unfath- |
enable value as we'll as by the period
zeal emergence of some venturesome
prospector with specimens of the
treasure that lies within the uninvit-
ing waste. Perhaps the individual
who has contributed most literally to
the present increase of interest in the
valley is the cratic Walter Scott, who
for some time has been making a
series of sensational disappearance
and returns, regaining the habitable
world on each occasion with liberal
supply Of the gold that is hidden from
those who have tried to follow in his
footsteps.
Until a few years ago the borax
mines at Borate, on the edge of the
Mojave desert, were believed to be the
richest deposits of that useful salt in
the world. About that time it was dis
covered that the borax fields within
Death valley were so extensive and the
salt itself of so pure a quality that all
other known sources of supply were of
little value in comparison. Francis
Marion Smith, known as the "borax
king" who owned the mines in the
Mojave district, made haste to secure
the borax deposits in Death valley.
His company built a road into the
hitherto inaccessible region and erect
ed monster works at Daggett for the
reduction of the salts. Soon after this
an immense wagon came out of the
valley and unloaded at Daggett, the
nearest railroad station on the Santa
Fe line, two tons of ore which was
worth from $4,000 to $4,000 a ton
This was the first important shipment
Of auriferous ore from that locality.
The ledge from which this rich ore was
taken. had been discovered a short time
before by a poor prospector, Walter
Scott, who has never revealed the place
&f its concealment. How Scott man
ages to obtain the golden nuggets with
which he seems to be so plentifuIly
provided is the unsolved mystery which
has faced all those who have attempt
ed to follow in his adventurous foot
steps. There is 70 water within many
miles Of all the gold bearing lodges To-
Gated by the government experts. and
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-08-19

valley with an abundance Of water at
their command have died there OF
thirst, the acrid, chemically charged
air sapping the moisture from their
bodies more rapidly than they could
supply the drain.
1t has also been verified time and
again that dementia of the most ap-
palling form is apt to precede dissolu-
ton. In this hideous death trap many
a prospector has abandoned his search
for treasures and bent all his effort to
an eager. hopeless search for water
All of the pathways are lined with the
bones of men and beasts, and it is not
an uncommon thing to find the body of
a victim lying shriveled like mummy.
If left unmutilated by vultures. ants or
coyotes. dead bodies would remain un-
changed for centuries in the peculiar
air of Death valley. All animal decay
is Immediately arrested by the drug
impregnated air.
Of course the winter climate is not
so destructive. Some persons have
been able to winter in the valley with
out suffering any marked discomfort.
This is particularly the case with those
who have found it impossible to live in
moist localities on account of advanced
pulmonary disease. Some years ago a
Boston lawyer named Patterson and
his wife, who were both victims of
well developed tuberculosis, removed to
California and were able to live for
several years in the mild coast climate.
In the course of time the disease re-
sumed its ravages, and they were adj
vised to seek as dry an atmosphere as
they could find. With that end in view
they chose Death valley. Against the
circumstances of friends and the warn
ings of those who realized the danger
of the undertaking, they made their
preparations and set out. At the en-
trance to the valley they met a man
who had been left to guard some min
ing property He tried to make them
understand the risk they were ASSUME
ing, but they were deaf to his warnings.
They selected a hollow in the side of
a borax mountain for a habitation and
proceeded to take life as they found it.
They made periodical journeys to the
nearest ranch for supplies and appears
ed to be reasonably contented with
their abiding place. At the end of the
seventh year the woman died of some
intercurrent affection, and a few
months later her husband, driven to
desperation by his loss and the horrors
of the solitude became q. maniac and
at the approach of a party of prospect
ors fed shrieking into the desert and
was never heard from afterward-
ELLIS 2. AMEa
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-08-19

great epidemics, at least after the be-
ginning of the nineteenth century, but
the disease scrept in from the West
Indies now and then and ragged cpl
demicallyiin the southern towns.
Although it has been the habit of
certain medical authorities. especially
those of foreign countries, to describe
yellow fever as a disease which origi-
mated on the western continent, there
is excellent ground for dissent 1t is
well known to medical historians that
at the time when the plague first APP
peared in the West Indies and at vari-
Gus points in South and Central
America a similar disease ragged vio-
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-08-19

rect from the yellow fever hospitals.
In thirteen cases where nonimmunes
were bitten by mosquitoes which had
bitten a fever patient ten contracted
the disease. In the other house, al
though an equal number had slept
there several nights, no one became ILL.,
This discovery, which has since
been verified repeatedly at once worked
a revolution in the management of the
dreaded fever. At Havana a war of
determination against the culex was be-
gun. If the death carrying pest could
be abolished, it was evident that the
scourge would disappear. If complete
determination We're not possible, there
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-08-19

owners of every maritime nation, but
especially by the Spanish. then the
leading seafaring people. Wherever the
slavers went they spread slavery and
pestilence. and, since they sailed as far
east as Calcutta, the disease became es-
tablished in the equatorial zone around
the entire globe. Confined to the tor
rid zone, the evil would still have been
bad enough, but it soon made its way
to other quarters of the world. In 1893
a vessel which had landed cargo of
slaves on the Virginia. coast went on
to Philadelphia to refit, While there
the ship was cleaned thoroughly, a
large quantity of very offensive bilge
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-08-19

ence of bacteria. That disposed of the
microbe theory. Ten years earlier a
Cuban physician, DR.. Carlos Finlay of
Havana, had propounded the theory
that the fever could be carried by a
mosquito, the culex (now stegomyia)
fasciatus. The board began to expert
ment with this insect. Eleven persons
were permitted to be bitch by these
contaminated mosquitoes. From nine
there was no result; two had yellow
fever, This proved conclusively that
the disease could be communicated in
that way.
The American board then undertook
the test which has become famous.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-08-19

wretches packed in the middle decks
of the slavers it made the most fright
full ravages, and, as rule, the crews
of the vessels suffered equally with
the slaves. More than once in the
history of the slave trade ships were
found adrift at sea, the holds filled
with dead blacks, while the white
crews were either dead or stricken with
the fever.
Even in those remote days it was sus-
pected that the plague was in some
way connected with yellow fever. 1t
was observed that the latter sickness
occurred almost always at ports in
which a returned SLAYER had just dis
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-08-19

savory reputation for unhealthfulness
and as a preliminary Surgeon General
Sternberg (now retired) appointed a
board to investigate the yellow fever.
The preliminary observation dis
closed several significant facts. 1t was
found that nonimmune nurses did not
often contract the disease. That
seemed to controvert the idea of con-
tagion and infection Repeated ex-
aminations of the blood and excreta of
patients showed no signs of the pres
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-08-19

prices they would yield $1,000, 900, 900.
One reliable expert who examined the
beds for an American company made
the statement that if the inter field
could be operated Chile would lose its
supremacy as a producer of this staple.
1t is affirmed by those who have in
vestigated the matter that borax is
never found in nature except in the
craters of extinct volcanoes. 1t is a
fact that in California all of the de-
posits yet discovered lie at the bottom
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-08-19

it seems little short of superhuman
that this one fortunate prospector
should have found way to surmount
the thirst difficulty when all others
have failed.
Fabulous quantities of galena are
piled up in the recesses of the valley,
one vein recently discovered being
thirty feet in width and containing ore
that runs from 40 to rs per cent in
lead. Many rich Lodges of silver have
been found, and numerous tests have
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-08-19

Two experiment houses were built at
Quemado, Cuba, one of them called the
infected mosquito building" and the
other the infected clothing building"
The former was screened and well ven
tilated; the other was screened and I'M
ventilated. In the former, patients
were bitten by infected mosquitoes; in
the latter, no mosquitoes were adj
mitted, but the persons submitting
themselves to the experiment slept
with soiled bedding and clothing di-
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-08-19

of those bowl shaped valleys which are
known by biologists to have been out
lets for prehistoric fire mountains. The
presence of borax in Death valley is
everywhere indicated by the snowy APP
pearance of the bottoms, which to the
newcomer seem precisely like snow
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-08-19

fields. 1t is exceedingly hazardous to
attempt to cross these stretches, for
under the thin shell of salts lie fathom
less depths of poisonous waters.
Over 10000 acres of borax, inter-
soda and salt deposits have been To-
Gated in Death valley. The entire re-
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-08-19

~ malefc in it's results to cause the
gravest apprehension and to stimulate
an earnest and most vigorous effort for
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-08-19

.CORDING to the pre-
dictions of those best
qualified to speak, there
will be a stampede to
Death valley during
the coming autumn.
This sudden revival of
interest in that mys-
terio1S and forbiddiDC
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-08-19

HE recent outbreak of
yellow fever in New Or
leans, although it has
not at any time assumed
the character of an
epidemic. as is the case
on the isthmus of Pan
anna, has been sufficient
The San Francisco call., 1905-04-30
OAKLAND ADvERT'SM'TS
OAKLAND REAL ESTATE.

LAYMANcE REAL ESTATE CO..
46O-462 Eighth Street. Oakland
$is, 500-Eiegant Telegraph avenue residence
10 spacious, sunny rooms; extraoIuil =.
arly well built; beautiful ranteIs' ar
glass; marble entrance all appoi1s- ppsa55-
nents OF latest design; corner ooAA@''
one of the avenues choicest Zones.
Suburban Home-2h acres; full oeailhS yVS.e a
fruit trees; modern 7-room colonial; me
we'll mill stable; livestock. 1mpieLnsnsss
Included; near Haywards oouievaro'
might exchange for Oakland residence
$5.25o-F'ine modern home . rooms. o@s.,. easr
tsrraced lot; owner iorei1s ms sa's' -s@-
Mortgage saie-Must be sold; o-roen no.ss "a
nearly an acre: lake view: near near sSr sSr
line: will subdivide lots: rapidly ea-
vancing. -BEsT OFFER TAKES IT
81, ,S00-Pretty modern cottage, sool..s' hsrr.
gas, mantel, basement; z-story pain
water plant; hothouse;- fruit trees, oe.
ries. 65x1s7: street work done; sunny
elevation: an ideal home spot near
81 oooAofrer Hs Considered. Fine modern cottage
of I rooms; bath, gas; hign Plastsssr ssr
basement: 2 entrances; D's., ooxlvv. ne. =,
Telegraph ave-. near Twenty ssvehtn y, 81 -
Two adjoining homes. 5 rooms each; large large
lots 40 IT. deep: splendid ~ ~iocauon,
locals: mortgage positively forcing sale
81. .5oo-Boulevard residence, rooms, 40 nro :,
lake view; always rented; SOx1oz: AZ IT,
vacant. Illness causing sacrlhce-
S3,3o0-Modern 2-story. rooms; bath. gas.
nicely appointed: 34xl15; stone coping;
an Al West Oakland home a
rooms; BATH double floors: near Iels-
graph ave-. close in on choice resioenoe
street. -
So sooETwo-story house, s rooms; bath: oox
100; near San Pablo ave and 2Stn 81
81, 2,75o-Brand new cottage, s rooms; bath;
basement; nicely finished: street work
done; near Senator Perkins residences.
81. .50O-6-room house: bath; S0xll5; near
Twelfth and Union SITS
81 65O-Modern cottage rooms; oatni base
ment: Twenty-second ana broao-
way. -
81 25o-Modern cottage rooms: bath; base
ment; deep lot street work done near
locals; easy walk to Broadway; snap
S175O-Neat cottage, 3 rooms; bath, gas oo1
100; near locals $500 cash
S1,65O-New cottage 4 large rooms patns
basement; gas; street work dones near
Key route and schools; terms. ..-o
ST. 650-Nice cottage. rooms; bath; 3zx1oo'
fruit. berries: near st. Mary,s Coilege.
S1,40O-Plain house, rooms; bath; oo1lSS'
street work complete: near Key route.
81. 30G1Neat cottage, rooms; batni Dase-
ment: rent S13: $3.50 cash.
$750-Cottage. rooms; 9Oxl2os seWereo'
fenced; near San Pablo ave-; terms.
See other papers
LAYMANCE REAL ESTATE CO.
46O-462 Eighth street. Oakland.
The San Francisco call., 1905-04-30
iGEO. w. AUSTIN,
1902 BROADWAY,
OAKLAND.
CHEAP CHICKEN RANCHES,

CHEAP CHICKEN RANCHES.
tunnel road right at school. church and post
office; short distance now from railroad and
should be right on line soon: 4-room house,
barn. woodshed, chicken houses, plenty of hay;
on main street: this is sure to advance in
value.
I Five acres adjoining the above; no improve
nents except fence can be had for $1,000.
FRUITVALE.
S3500-2 acres, right line; corner;
convenient to Oakland and San Francisco cars:
4-room cottage chicken house. fences. -
$100C-A bout u acre; 7-room house told); not
far from Frultvale ave. one good block to car
line: well fenced
$25e0-1a acre; 5-room cottage and bath;
chicken houses stables, chickens. furniture:
terms: just of car line. ..:.ss = :.
s20Go--2 acres: Redwood road: fenced; no
improvements II. ). :. ..s., :. = - =
- .s9 FITCHRURG. .e5..
S50G0-Good place for roadhouse and chick
ens,. store and fiat: new; a acres. on San
si35o-s blocks from San Leandro car A.
room cottage: barn, chicken house; fenced; !;
about q acre: splendid outlet for chickens;
creek In the back chicken; runs. etc.
-, .HAYWARDS. 80 .
S150o-1 1-5 acre; fenced - alriost completely
in fruit. asserted; - center OF the town: close
to -the car, splendid view; will build 3-room
cottage and chicken houses: see other papers. Z:
EEORGE:;W. AUSTIN, =
100a Broadway, Oakland
-
The San Francisco call., 1905-04-30
OAKLAND ADVERT'S'M'Ts
OAKLAND ZEAL ESTATE.
HOLCOMB BREED s. BANCROFT,
logo Broadway, Oakland.

HoLcoMB. BREED s. BANCROFT.
BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES
1b0-foot corner on one of the coming busi-
per cent; can easily be increased; small cash
payment will handle this and make spiendid
investment.
$260o-Corner. 75x125; small store now bring
ing good rent; fine opportunity to increase
rents by q small outlay: can be made to pay
$3soo-Two stores and flats; renting for
$sI 90 per month. To an investor who under-
stands values nothing ose more need be said
s75oo-A Groom house of bedrooms and
two bathtubs upstairs; ell bright, sunny rooms
parlor. reception hail. dining-room and kitenen
and small breakfast room on lower floor; house
In splendid condition: in fact. it's a country
home right in town only half block from
Fertieth ST. Key route: lot 15ox15o.
ings now renting for SCI So on broadway
This Is a chance of lifetime. To the wise
ones. come early.
$2s5o-New Groom cottage on the 55th st.
Key route; only block from Grove St electric
lines, 20 minutes ride TO san Francisco must
be seen to be appreciated.
S2350-REDUCED from $2I50; this new .,
room cottage must go at this price. We SOD
its duplicate last week for $275o and owner
has held this place at that hgurs til now
but is forced TO sell. These are actual nsures.
Il
$345o-we offer you this lovely home at
bargain. On of the main Thoroughbred
between Oakland and Berkeley. Has grand
marine view. Only three blocks from the Key
route and the Southern Pacific trains. There
is to be a new schoolhouse erected within one
block of IT. rooms complete in every detail:
finely finished. The values are here; look az
them and be convinced The house VIII stand
the most rigid inspection.
IS.
S2S50-5-room cottage on the north side OF
S9th ST.. block from Grove. This is JUST
a block from Key route station. Exceptionally
good values.
We can sell YOU two cottages that will rent
for $45 per month. The cost of these Is only
$4500. Can be bought for $1,000 cash, balance
on your own terms in fact the rents Will pay
for them, Location such that they will never
be vacant
HOLCOMB BREED & BANCROFT,
1000 Broadway. Oakland.
The San Francisco call., 1905-04-30

TAYLOR BROS. & CO.,
Real Estate, Insurance and Financial Agents
Telephone Cedar 351. 1896 Broadway.
Oakland Cal.
BUNGALOW COTTAGES-KEY ROUTE
$20C0 each for two strictly modern bungalows,
8 rooms reception hall. bath and pantry;
very latest designs four short blocks to
Key Route station; fare to San Fran
cisco; one fourth cash, balance on terms
to suit purchaser; the above now under
construction; plans at our office
DOWNTOWN RESIDENCE.
$430G-Two- story. nine room; attractive and
modern throughout; can easily be made
into flats; present income $40 per month;
lot 40xl10 feet; near 22d and Telegraph;
proposed Key Route station one block:
this price has been reduced for immediate
sale 1I64
BARGAINS IN RESIDENCE LOTS.
$9o0--45 foot frontage: improved street; ce-
.rnent sidewalk three blocks from Grant
school. two blocks from Piedmont power
house; cannot be duplicated for $50 per
foot. -
Si125-50 foot frontage; on Watson ave. Per.
ALTA Heights; adjoining properties at $50
per front foot; one block TO 4th ave. Key
price. subject 10 change unless sold at
once. = -.
sso0-4oxisO feet: on Howard st;*fnest ma
= = rine and foothiil view to be had in all of
beautiful Gakland: lots In adjoining block
at $40 per front footi must be sold at
sS5ooE160 feet frontage on Howard ST., east
front; same conditions as above lot price
after May 3.
S390o-60 foot frontage by $50 feet in depth;
on Lake Merritt Boulevard. this lot should
bring 500 per front foot; conditions make
it necessary to sell at once; this oppor-
tunity should not be overlooked even
from a speculative standpoint.
TAYLOR BROS. & CO.,
1888 Broadway, Oakland, Cal.