Year: 1879

How Diseased ChinAsnen are Sent Back


to China.


San Francisco Bulletin.


The city has at last been relieved Of q
large number of so-called lepers, seven"
teen of them having been shipped to day
on the steamship China to Hong Kong
For some three months past Supervisor
Gibbs has been trying to send away the
fifteen Cinnamon who have been COM
fined at the smallpox hospital, but up
to day failed, owing partly to the opposio
tion of the Chinese merchants and the
unwillingness of sailors to 60 in any yes"
sci carrying Cinnamon said to have the
leprosy. It was the intention to send
the Cinnamon by the Alaska, and &C.
commodations for them had been pre-"
pared, but before the vessel sailed the
authorities were notified by the officers
of the Pacific mail company that the
sailors had expressed the determination
to desert the ship if the Cinnamon were
brought on board. The attempt was
given up for the time being, with the
determination to ship the men by the
next steamer. In the meantime, the
Chinese consul, Sit Muy Cook, took the
merchants in hand and gave them to
understand that they must not make
any opposition to any attempt on the
part of the city authorities to ship their
sick friends to their native country. He
gave all the assistance in his power, as
did Frederick A. Bee, vice consul, to
Mr.. Gibbs and the health officer, and the
arrangements for shipping the men toN
day were completed in secret. On
Saturday Consul Cook visited the small
pox hospital, and told the unfortunate
Cinnamon there confined that they
would be obliged to leave and
90 home by the China to-day. Ali
demonstrated against the compulsory
departure, but they were informed that
they must 60, and that they would be
sent to the hospital at Canton, where
thew would be cared for. During the
past few days the Chinese consul, assist
ed by officers Avan and Hogue, has
been trying to discover any other cases
of disease among the Chinese population
that may be considered to be leprosy,
and last night two were found One
man was found on Pacific street and one
on Washington street. Both men were
taken charge of by the officers, and were
shipped to-day. Fifteen men were sent
from the smallpox hospital, and two
found last night in Chinatown, making
seventeen in all. Comfortable quarters
were fitted up for them ON the China
and they were taken On board quietly al
11:45 O'Clock, just before the vesse!
sailed. None of the crew knew that the
men taken on board were considered
lepers. Each Chinaman was furnished
with $40, blankets and food TO- two day.
by the Chinese consul, the city paying
the passage money, amounting to SS'
per head. On the way down from thu
hospital one of the Cinnamon attempted
to escape, and jumped from the covered
wagon, taking part Of the covering witt
him. He ran down Fifth street, bu
was caught and forced to go to the dock
Some of the Cinnamon were very badl,
diseased, having lost portions of thel
feet, but the majority OF them did no
appear repulsive. One or two had bsdI
,, marked faces, and some faces were ridge
scanned badly. They all appeared
! take things philosophically when put o
board the vessel, and at once began


make themselves comfortable. Thos


whose feet were in bad condition wei


forced to put on shoes when they wei


on board, in order that no one migi


suspect that they were diseased. Ju


be lore the ship moved away from tt
a wharf, captain Iaehlan assured M
Il Gibbs that the Cinnamon would recei'
j. good care during the voysge.