Chesterton Tribune - august 27, 1885 Cont:
In the Chicago Tribune, of Sunday, August 9, we find the following:
THE PORTER EPIDEMIC
Unsatisfactory results of Dr. Eggleston's visit.
A reporter called on Dr. N. S. David last night to get some information
in regard to the epidemic said to be raging in Porter, Ind.
"My assistant, Dr. Eggleston, returned from Porter this afternoon," said
the doctor. "When he went down he was under the impression that the
epidemic was due to poisoned meat - another Memence case, perhaps, and
he wished to secure a quantity for examination. Many of those who were
ill insisted that the meat they had eaten of late was bad - so odorous,
in fact that it had to be washed in saleratus water. What do you think
of that, eating meat, that had to have the odor choked out of it before
one could taste it? Dr. Eggleston was unable to secure a specimen of the
meat and is rather inclined to lay the epidemic
TO DEFECTIVE SEWERAGE
Or rather the lack of it altogether. In regard to this, however, there
are as many cases of illness in parts of the town that are clean and
pure as in the filthy section.
"That is about all that Dr. Eggleston could learn. In a nutshell - he
didn't find out anything."
This does not sound as thought Dr. Eggleston was so very "emphatic in
declaring diseased meat to be the cause of the sickness." No, he is far
from being emphatic. To Mr. Wm. Beam and Mr. Buchler he declared
decidedly that diseased meat was not the cause. R. B. Lansing, a
well-known gentleman of Chesterton, was one of a number, who heard Dr.
Loring state that meat was not the cause of the sickness.
But the Vidette says:
Dr. Eggleston of Chicago, also continued his investigations yesterday,
and is emphatic in declaring that diseased meat is the primary cause of
the epidemic, and will admit of no other influences.
In Saturday's issue (Aug 8) of the Daily Vidette the following appeared:
Dr. Loring, county health officer Friday continued his investigations at
Hageman and last night made the following report.
I this day visited and inquired into the nature of the epidemic now in
progress at Porter, in this county and will say: I visited a great many
of those who were sick and have taken much evidence as to the cause of
the epidemic. From the facts and the evidence there obtained I am led
to believe the disease is of the character of the epidemic dysentery.
On questioning many of those who were sick they report to me that at
various times in the last two months they have bought meat of John Stick
and Martin Young, two butchers of Chesterton, which was not good and had
a very bad odor. In some instances they had to return the meat and in
others threw it away. They declared the meat to be unfit to eat. Some
parties who ate this meat shortly afterwards became sick. Others who
ate were not sick, nor experienced any unpleasant effects. I also found
others who were sick with similar symptoms who had eaten no meat at all.
I examined well the alleys, vaults etc., and found them in a deplorable
sanitary condition, probably sufficient to invite epidemic diseases.
That the cause of this epidemic is due to eating diseased meats look
very probably in many cases, or whether other causes are brought to bear
I am unable to say at present. I have placed the town and surroundings
under strict sanitary orders and shall exert all possible influence to
prevent further spread of the disease.
(signed) D. J. Loring, M. D.,
County Health Officer
This communication is the gem of all, Dr. Loring finds the disease to be
"epidemic dysentery" but is unable to tell the cause of it. "It is
probably due to the eating of diseased meats, and probably due from
other causes." He takes decisive step to check the "other causes" but
does nothing towards stopping the selling of diseased meats. If he is
in doubt, why in heaven's name don't he take steps to stop both probably
causes, and be sure of checking the disease? Will Dr. Loring please
explain why his course of action in this matter has been so strange?
The Size of It
Now let us size up this terrible epidemic and see what it amounts to.
There has been to date, seven deaths.
Mrs. Trowe was a lady 44 years old, poor and had been picking
huckleberries in the marshes. She became overheated, took "Epidemic
dysentery", and her system being weak, she was unable to cope
successfully with the disease. No medical aid was summoned in this case
until it was too late. The family were too poor to buy fresh meat and
went without it.
Mrs. Waggoner was an old lady, 72 years old, weakly constituted, and
feeble from old age. This family ate no fresh meat for a long time
before Mrs. Waggoner was taken sick. She died of "epidemic dysentery"
Gustafson was 12 years old. The family had eaten no meat bought of
Stick for nine days previous to the boy's taking sick. He died of
"Epidemic dysentery."
Nels Pearson was 19 years old, a consumptive, and had been doctoring for
that disease. Had worked on Purington's brick yard. His system was
broken down before he was attacked with "epidemic dysentery", and he
could not survive it. He ate meat but once since Christmas, and that
was three months ago.
Mr. Ericson's child was 12 months old, Seneca Bigelow's child was 14
months old, and Mr. Brown's child was 2 years old. These children all
died of Cholera Infantum.
Looking over the whole, the following facts stare us in the face. Dr.
Marr started a report which has damaged not only the butchers of
Chesterton, but also the towns of Hageman and Chesterton as well. And
not only that, but the butchers of all the surrounding towns feel the
effects of the report. Now why was it done? If Dr. Marr was acting
from honest and sincere motives, will any sane mind suppose that he
would have taken the course he has? Instead of rushing to Chesterton
and announcing so startling a story, and then to the telephone to notify
all newspapers, is it not more likely that on finding an unusual large
number of sick, that he would quietly notify other physicians, and then
hold a consultation. Then the chairman of the County Board of Health
could be summoned, and a thorough investigation be made. If the
sickness was found to be the result of impure meat, the butcher shops
could then be closed and the owners indicted. If on the other hand, it
was found that the disease was caused by the dirty condition of the
town, the proper steps could be quietly taken to remedy the matter, and
check the spread of the epidemic. This was not done. Dr. Marr wanted
notoriety. He wanted to be advertised. He did succeed in having
himself called the "principal physician of the town," in the Chicago
Tribune, and will perhaps succeed in being talked about for some time.
It was sensation that he was after and it is sensation that he has got.
Yes, the meat scare is nothing but a great big bloated sensation. After
getting cornered, a few physicians sympathized with him and thought not
daring to come out and say plainly that the meat was poisoned, and if
the cause of the sickness is to shield Dr. Marr, say, it might be the
cause.
Not only has it been a damage to business, but the getting up of this
scare has, we venture to say, caused as much sickness as all "other
causes." Well people have been frightened into sickness, and those
sick, aggravated by fears, loose hope and give up. Confidence is lost
in all physicians, and families in their fright, change from one doctor
to another, and as a consequence none get the most effective treatment.
Boil this "epidemic" down to facts, banish the fears of the people,
clean up, and in a very short time nothing will be heard of it.
Later news:
The infant child of Mr. Ekland, the hotel-keeper at Hageman, died
Wednesday. It was 12 months old.
The infant child of Al Brown died Tuesday. This makes a total of 9
deaths to date, from epidemic dysentery.
Davis, the Hageman Barber gone to other climes.
Frank Davis, the negro barber at Hageman, who was so thoroughly exposed
last week, has left the country, and it is thought, went to Chicago.
Pillman Bros, who owned the shop where he occupied, ordered him to leave
the premises and Mr. H. Hageman who owns the house, Davis lived in also
gave him notice to move on short notice. A man named Wheeler now has
possession of the barber shop, and is doing the business.
Dr. Jones received a letter from the two tramps who gave Davis away. It
was dated August 7, and written from Aurora, Ills. They ask him to
write to the ex-sherrif of Berrien county, Mich. They say that Davis is
a noted thief. The letter also asks Dr. Jones to write to Clinton, Iowa,
to City Marshall, Jno Witson, who wants the barber and his gang very
badly. They say the Detectives of Chicago want him for a neat job
there. He rented a basement on the corner of Illinois and Clark streets
for a barber shop. Over this room was a boot and shoe store. David put
in his spare time cutting thru the floor and carried off lots of boots
and shoes. When suspected, he skipped out and sold the goods stolen
under a false name. His wife, Mrs. Davis, is wanted for selling a new
Howe sewing machine left on trial at her house on the North side
Chicago, just before going to Berrien Springs, to visit her husband, who
was there in jail for burglary. The machine was sold to J. F. Koons, 40
North Halstead St., Chicago. The letter also claims that Davis has
stolen goods of all kinds "planted" in the vicinity of his house, and if
Davis is watched, it can be discovered.
At any rate, Davis is a hard citizen and the town of Hageman is lucky to
get rid of him.
Arrested for Forgery
Evening Dispatch
Fred Johnson, alias, Charles Seager, living near Furnessville, was
arrested yesterday afternoon by Constable Seymour, on a charge of
forgery. It seems that the young man, who is about 22 years of age was
to have been married soon to a country lass living near Chesterton, and
he was making preparation for that occasion. He came to this city
yesterday morning, went to the clothing house of John Bluett and
presented an order signed Edward Way, requesting Mr. Bluett to let
bearer, who represented himself as being in the employ of Mr. Way, have
what goods he wanted and charge the same to his account and he would
call in a few days and settle for the same. Mr. Way is well known by
Mr. Bluett and his supposed order was readily honored. The young man
selected a suit of clothes and a number of other articles which stuck
his fancy, after which he started for home. During the afternoon
another young man came into the establishment with a genuine order
signed by Mr. Way, he also stated that he was working for that
gentleman. Mr. Bluett informed him that he had but a short time
previously filled an order for goods, present by one of Mr. Ways men.
The young man informed him that he was the only man working for that
gentleman, and that the other order was forgery. Mr. Bluett reported
the case at once, and in company with Constable Seymour stated in search
of the forger, who was found at his home in Pine township. He was badly
frightened when approached and seemed to be disposed to deny his
identity, but when the constable told him he came after them clothes,
and led him to believe he would not be molested, the goods were speedily
produced, after which the young man was taken into custody, brought to
the city and lodged in jail. He had a preliminary hearing this morning
before Justice Snook and sent to jail in default of $300 bonds. His
post office address will be Laporte until the first of September, after
which his mail can be addressed to Michigan City in care of Warden
Murdock.
NOTICE;
The family burial lot of D. Lindahl situated in the Protestant cemetery
at Chesterton will be dedicated with religious ceremonies on Friday,
August 14th at 2 o'clock, p,m, All friends, relative of the family, and
others who wish, are cordially invited to attend. Sermons in both
English and Swedish languages by reverend gentlemen from home and
abroad.
NOTICE:
Stener & Henry, tubular well men of Valparaiso, wish to warn the public
against frauds representing themselves as belonging to said firm. Give
all order directly to the firm.