Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 38, Number 2, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 August 1905 — NATION TO FIGHT PEST. [ARTICLE]

NATION TO FIGHT PEST.

President Acts on Request of the Louisiana Governor. The federal government will take full control of the yellow fever situation. Gov. Blanchard of Louisiana Friday afternoon sent a request to that effect to President Roosevelt, and the latter immediately directed Surgeon General Wyman to take every step in his power to meet the situation. Gov. Blanchard’s appeal to the President was the result of the action of a mass meeting of citizens in New Orleans, at which the opinion was expressed that federal control would result in an immediate restoration of confidence throughout the South, and would do away with all danger of conflict between the States over quarantine regulations. While it was declared there was no intention of admitting that the situation had got beyond the control of the local authorities, it was the belief of those present that Surgeon Genial Wyman would be able to send a force of physicians to New Orleans thoroughly equipped for handling the fever situation, because of their experience in Cuba, Mexico and at different points in the United States, and that the government would have the facilities for enforcing a scientific campaign not possessed by the local authorities. President A. Brittin of the cotton exchange presided at the meeting. The announeement of the action taken at first created some alarm in the city, which was quickly allayed when it became known that the authorities had acted simply in the belief that the prompt action now in turning over the direction of affairs to the marine hospital service would almost certainly avert aii epidemic. Friday morning the launch Tom of the Louisiana fleet, with Lieut. Ivy in command ami Sheriff Nunez of St. Bernard Parish on board, captured the Mississippi boat Tipsy, in command of Captain English. Tlie captain and crew, were placed under arrest by Sheriff Nunez and sent with their boat to St. Bernard Parish, where the officers and men were taken to the parish prison. The Tom was running through Lake Borgne when the Tipsy attempted to head it off. The Naval Reserves on the Tom concealed themselves and allowed the Mississippiaus to board their boat before disclosing their identity. The Mississippi quarantine boat Grace was also forced to haul down its quarantine flag while in Louisiana waters. Four other launches joined the Majestic and Marie and nearly all of the 100 available men of the Naval Reserves are on the scene, only enough being held in New Orleans to man the United States steamer Stranger, which is unable to navigate Lake Borgne, but is held in readiness to proceed to Mississippi sound in case she is needed. Hundreds of people are teraporarly moving out of New Orleans into St. Tammany parish, which is practically the only nearby haven to which people from the city can go. The parish has refused to put a quarantine, and has opened its doors to all refugees. No ensq of yellow fever has ever developed there, even during tlie most serious epidemics. Cases have been taken to tlie parish, but whether the patient died or recovered there has never Teen any extension of the infetion. The reason for the immunity of St. Tammany is that the stegomyia has never existed there.