The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1905-03-09
Nine Cases Have Developed in
the Town of Bristol, Twelve
Miles West Of Kenosha.
PRIEST AND TEACHER HAVE 1T
Hundreds Have Been Exposed to the
Dread Disease and it is Feared it
May Invade Kenosha. Precaution
Taken to Prevent it's Spread
From Mondays Daily.l

From Mondays Dai1yl
Nine cases of smallpox have de-
veloped in the town of Bristol and
vicinity and unless prompt and ener-
getic measures are taken by the
health authorities there is grave
danger that the disease may spread
and become epidemic throughout the
whole county. There is no doubt but
that hundreds have been exposed to
the disease and the town of Bristol is
seriously alarmed at the gravity of the
situation. Ali the people are being
vaccinated as rapidly as possible and
every precaution to prevent the spread
of the isease is being taken. The
cases being quarantined as fast as
they develop and the quarantine is
being strictly enforced.
DR.. Stevens, the health officer of the
town, made no attempt to conceal the
fact that the sudden development OF
the nine cases was a very serious
matter and he has ordered a general
vaccination of all the people in Bris-
to1 whether they have any reason to
believe they have been exposed to the
disease or not. DIR. Stevens is re-
garded as a very competent official
by the physicians of this city and
they say that he can be depended
upon to enforce all regulations neces-
sary to prevent the spread of the
disease.
There are of course many different
theories as to how the smallpox was
first brought to the village, but the
one most generally accepted appears
to be that the disease first originated
with John Rompaskey, who died at
his home near the village about three
weeks ago. Mr.. Rompaskey, who had
been working among the ice cutters
for some time came home sick and
died very suddenly. 1t is now believed
that he died from smallpox and con-
siderable weight is given to this
theory by the fact that two of his
brothers are now sick with the disease
and that their case was the hrst one
to be pronounced genuine smallpox
by the health officer, DR.. Ste
vens. Rompaskey was given a
public funeral and it is believed that
all who attended have been exposed
to the disease. Father Heller, the
priest who oficiated at the funeral, is
himself down with it. Clarence Bris-
tol, who was in Kenosha on business
last Friday, is victim and George
Adamson, son of George Adamson
of this city, is reported to be among
those attacked by the disease. Miss
Maud Benedict, daughter of Addison
Benedict, one of the most popular
and best known young ladies of the
village and a teacher in one Of the
schools of Bristol, has it and her
school has been closed and a general
vaccination of the scholars ordered
Three of the other schools IN the vii
1age have been closed and will not be
opened again until all danger of con.
tagion spreading among the scholars
is passed. The danger of an epidemic
is increased by the fact that the dis
ease in it's most malignant form and
of most virutent nature. The cases
are similar to those recently de.
ve1oped at Winthrop Harbor and not
in the mild form that was so prevalent
in the state three winters ago.
DR.. Eastman the local health officer,
advises a general vaccination in this
city and especially among the children
in the public schools. AL suspicious
cases in this city will be closely
watched and every precaution will be
taken to prevent the disease spread
ing in this city if it should break on
here.
There is so much communication
between this city and Bristol that i
is more than probable that the disease
will make its appearance in this city
if it spreads further in Bristol, bu
the health authorities are making
every precaution to handle it if it doe:
and there need be no particular ap
prehension that the disease will gair
much of foothold IN KenOsha.