The morning journal-courier., 1908-09-21
ST. PETERSBURG In
CHOLERA'S GRASP
Scourge Increasing Alarmingly
and Already of Greater Sc
verify Than Visitation
of 1898.
MARTIAL LAW THREATENED
Municipalities Scandalously Lax
Sale, Of liquor Prohibited
Schools Transformed Into
Hospitals.
MARTIAL LAW THREATENED

81. Petersburg, Sept. 20--St. Pet
ershurg Is I'm the grasp OF the Aslatlc
cholera. which already has exceeded
in severity and numbers the visitation
OF 1898 The disease Is increasing
daily at an alarming rate and unless
the authorities show IN the future
much greater degree Of ability TO cope
with the situation than they have in
the past there Is every reason to fear
that II Will get out OF hand.
The government has threatened TO
apply the provisions OF martial law.
and this threat has driven the NUM-
cipality officials to bend all their en-
ergies TO the campaign OF clearing the
city of the scourge. The aldermanlc
council to-day voted a preliminary
aum amounting TO s25o,ooO 10 enlarge
the hospital space TO purchase and
distribute disinfectants. the supply of
which in ST. Petersburg Is we'll nigh
exhausted. and to expedite the inter
ment of bodies which has been scan
dalously slow
Under his authority as project Of
ST. Petersburg. General DracheTsky,
on Saturday prohibited the sale W H.
quor throughout the city, including the
government vodka shops until septem-
Der %. and he has further ordered that
| after that the sale Of liquor shall be
suspended AZ n m. on Saturday until
| 10 A. m. Monday. This action has
been taken in order to diminish alco-
houc excuses which very materially
| increase the liability 70 cholera infec-
ton and the general spread OF the dis.
ease.
A beginning In the fight against the
disease was made today when public
schools were transformed into hospital
wards number Of the grammar
schools were closed and 1000 Of the
students sent TO their homes.
As announced by the official bull
letlns, the cases numbered $40 and
the deaths 12s during the twenty four
hours, between Friday noon and Sat
urdsy noon. This was a. considerable
decrease from the preceding day. bu,
there Is doubt as the accuracy NJ the
official statement Tho record for tho
same twenty-four hours ascertained
from unofficial but reliable sources
shows the actual number to have beer
far In excess Of that Whether or not
however, there was an actual decrease
the disease resumed ita march on Sat
urday, the statistics posted showing
thar frcn saturday noon until Sunday
noon there were s9S cases and lal
deaths, this being the largest number
so far officially announced
It is feared that tho cholera Will
make further gains for at least another
fortnight, this being figured on ne has,
is OF former epidemics, All varieties Of
Asistic cholera have now developed
here, there being numerous cases Of
the Alsid type, which Ia accompanied
by the eratest suiferings.
The metropolitan Of st Petersburg
caused prayers for delversnce to he
read throughout the diocese to day, In
which the pestilence Is described as
a punishment for the peoples lawless
ness
Premier stolypin has sharply repri.
| msnded the municipal officials for the
appalling conditions
Practically nothing has been done NJ
TO the present to put the city's market
places In a sanitary condition, they are
places of indescribabe filth, with thu
atmosphere rocking WIN Ioui ouols
One hundred carloads Of fruit have
been auctloned off and forwarded t
Warsaw, wilma and other towns, which
the cholera has. not Invaded, and the
possibility Of infection from this source
Is very great
AS a city st Petersburg Is wofullN
unsanitary and the dread disease hnd'
here the conditions most suitable fo
lis propagation, II first made its ap
pearance among the poor people herdet
In wretched tenements, but IT is now
spreading to the better classes, and /
has broken out In the barracks among
the troops.