The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-01-01
GRIP IS EPIDEMIC,
10000 ILL IN CITY
Disease Worse This Year
Than Ever Before, Ply
SiCianS Says.
Cabinet Officers, judges,
and Many Business Men
Kept at Home.

More than 20 1000 persons in Washing
ton are confined TO their homes with
the grip, and there is no indication that
the epidemic viii abate in the next SIX
weeks or two months. The grip has
gone through whole families, one mem
Der after the other being forced to give
up and take TO bed Sometimes whole
families have been stricken at the
same time.
Although Washington has experienced
epidemics OF the grip at various times
local physicians declare that the cur
rent one IS the most severe N It's his
tory. More than two-thirds OF the pre-
sCriptiOns put up by local druggists
are for the grip, and each day sees an
equal number OF calls for medicine.
either TO avert an attack or TO cure a
bad cough or cold consequent upon the
grip
officials Of the Government have not
escaped, but many have been forced TO
give up Jheir duties and turn over the
office 10 their assistants.
Cabinet Members Suffer.
George B. Cortelyou. Secretary OF
Treasury, and Victory H. MetcaIf, Sec
rotary Of the Navy, are just recovering
from attacks Of the grip, which, in the
busiest days their respective depart
menUs have known fer many months,
compelled them 10 rellnquish their
duties. Secretary Metcaf vas quite
i'll for more than a week, and Secretary
CorteIyOU. after making many efforts 10
ward on an attack was forced TO succumb.
Two Of the young children Of Secretary
COrtelyOu became III before their dis
tinEuished father was able 10 leave his
room. but they, too are much better
now.
Representative Calderhead Of Kansas
IS probably more seriously I'll than any
OF the distinguished grip victims. Mr..
Calderhead caught a bad cold which
developed into grip, and later into pHeu-
mOnia- He has been very III in his
apartments at the Congress Hall
Representative John Sharp Williams
Is another prominent Congressman who
has suCCumbed.
Representative Samuel W. Smith,
chairman OF the District Committee of
the House, has also been spending the
holidays in has apartments with an at
lack Of the grip.
lanes G Courts, clerk Of the Com
mltyee on Appropriations Of the House,
IS a1Otlg victim, and several other en-
plOytNs Of the Capitol have been confined
10 th,Ur homes through Ike cause.
District Judges Ill
over ut the City Hall anxious in
ouiries have been made FOR Chief Jus
tee Sc N Shepard of the District
Court Of Appeals. and for Associate JUS
tice JOSH. IN Won OrsdeI, Of the same
court
The list Of officials and employees Of
tie Distrlc building who are i'll in
cludes +. w W. Griffin. Assessor: ".
A. MCFarwl and, Superintendent OF the
Water Depa vIment; i. r. Grabill, Su-
perintendent of Roads; J. w. Peed
chief clerk OF the surface division:
George s Wilson. secretary of the
Board OF Chs trities; c. b. Rector, as
SistauL engine tr Of the surface division.
Henry D5arlinl ana John Z. Ballenger.
OF the Office e the Engineer of High
ways T.. A. fuller, of the Water De
uaTtment. H r. BerrIan. Of the Tax
Collectors ONO e, A. NJ. PoyntOn, As
sjstant IuspeCt0 Of Buildings; William
j. Webster, sup Ertntendent Of construc-
ton Office of inspector OF Buildings,
Simon EcKimmI T., Of the Auditors Of
flee, Miss I.ydiat Marshall, OF the eX-
eCutiye office. an q T. ". Parsons, per
mIr clerk of the Health Department.
I'm business and financial circles many
desks are vacant because their occu-
pants are home under the care of a
physician.
Charles J. Bell president Of the Amer
lean Security and Trust Company. and
John Joy Edison, 2 resident OF the Wash
ingtCn Loan and Trust Company have
been absent from their duties
Among the Othe IS are Norman Gait.
head OF the firm of Gait & Bro; Charles
w. Semmes- president of the Semmes-
Kelly Company; 3. F. saul real estate
broker ana QTeslQefse or the Home Saw
ings Bank md Joseph StTasburger, pro
prietor Of rIse Family Shoe Store.
r. ,fhe Pew Joseph Mcclure, pastor of
tile Church Of the Holy Comforter was
added TO the list a week or ten days
ago. but pneu uOuia developed and he is
now critically i'll at the TeCtOry. Mrs.
AIcGuire, motF,er OF Father Mcclure, is
also vary M with pneumonia, which had
its inception in an attack Of the grip.
Best Coz1 at Low Prices. R. ]. & NJ. c.
Grace. 9Th & F ne. Phone Lincoln 2as.