The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-10-12
Funston Officers at Last Have
Upper Hand of Flu.
In a Few Days Epidemic Will
Be Entirely Erased.
MANY DEATHS At CAMP
On One e. p. Train Last Night
Were 40 Bodies.
Guards Around Cantonment
Keep Strict Quarantine.

TT is only matter of few days
until we will have practically wiped
Spanish influenza from the camp"
This was the statement made by
Lieutenant Colonel Jones, camp sur
geon at Funston, to a Topeka State
Journal reporter late Friday evening,
and it was substantiated by Major M.
A. Soger who is acting as camp adju-
tant for Major S. NJ. Williams who is
i'll. Lieutenant Colonel Jones also re-
ferred to his chart of new cases and
stated that while there were approx
imately 500 new cases Thursday, Fri
days total would not exceed 800.
No figures on the number of deaths
since the epidemic first started in
camp. or on the daily death rate,
could be obtained. The officers in
charge Of the statistics said that daily
that they could not give out the fig
ures without the consent of the sur
geon general. However, from infor-
nation gained thru unofficial sources
it is apparent that the death rate is
large.
One officer admitted that while the
number of new cases are decreasing
the number of deaths are increa sing,
but he stated this is a condition to be
expected for a few days.
Many Rumors Out.
All sorts of reports and rumors are
afloat around the camp about the
number of deaths, but the best evil
dence that the disease is proving al
most as deadly as boche bullets comes
from the number of flag draped COT
fins that are seen. On the Union Pa
cific train that left Funston for Kan
sas City at $40 Friday evening there
were forty-nine bodies, a train official
stated, and he said that more than
sixty other bodies were being prepared
for shipment.
One soldier who talked to a reporter
stated that recent call was made
upon his company for all men who
knew anything about embaln1ing, and
another stated that he understood
slxty-two deaths occurred in camp
Thursday. However, from all sources,
it was learned that the disease is not
spreading as rapidly as it was few
days ago. One private said it is gen.
orally rumored around the camp that
the strict quarantine will be lifted next
week. and another stated that two
hospital barracks that were formerly
full OF influenza cases have been en-
tfrely emptied.
Camp Is Guarded.
That the camp authorities are tax
ing every precaution to prevent a fur
ther spread is apparent everywhere.
Guards are to be seen at every turn
No one is allowed to visit the camp
and the guards stationed along the
Golden Belt highway even go to the
extent OF stopping automobiles and of
turning back those passing thru that
nave come from communities where
the disease is bad
Anxious mothers and relatives who
go to the camp to assure themselves
that their boys are not i'll are not al
lowed to enter and even statesmen who
regularly call on those in charge of
supplies are refused passes Every
entrance to every train that stops at
the camp station is guarded by IN.
rs" and no man in uniform is al
lowed to leave except in cases of ex-
IRENE emergency. Only one man is
aiioWed TO accompany a body that is
shipped home for burial.