JOURNAL OF THE PLAGUE YEAR, FRIDAY APRIL 27TH, 1900

2020: DAY 34

SMH, p6

BLACK LABOUR IN QUEENSLAND - LETTER TO THE EDITOR (p3)  “… Buildings, road work, bridges, railway works, and every description of heavy graft, whore bone and sinew are required, are almost invariably carried out by white men, and when coloured labour is employed it is on grounds of economy, not because white men are incapable….”

BUBONIC PLAGUE
 (p6)
THE CAPITATION BONUS FOR RATS
 - capitation fee raised threefold - from tuppence to sixpence.per rat delivered to the rat incinerator. [Note: At the time, nurses working in the Quarantine Station were paid one shilling & ninepence a day – less than the capitation fee on 4 rats ]
NEW CASES YESTERDAY
- 3 cases - one was too ill to be moved.

MINISTERIAL INSPECTION OF THE WHARFS

PROPOSED RESUMPTION OF THE FERRY SERVICE

PREMISES TO BE REPAIRED AND CLEANED


THE CITIZENS VIGILANCE COMMITTEE

ADOPTION OF EXEC'S REPORT

A FULL PROGRAMME
- (A bureaucratic mapping) proposal - to divide up city into 11 divisions, same as electoral boundaries; 2. to call for 5 volunteers within divisions whose job  is to call meetings etc and to appoint local committees. Complaints referred to local committees sitting with general committee. Each committee to have one male and one female inspector at least, empowered to enforce Health Act.
 … That the Water and Sewerage Board be requested to fix one night on which the whole sewerage system of the metropolitan area be filled with sulphur fumes, and that a big public and private effort be made on that night to kill rats…  That inoculated men be appointed to each municipality to act under orders of the Mayor or local committee …
Question of fleas - an onslaught had been made on rats, but what about fleas (which were being linked with transmission) Dr Tidswell said he'd address the General Committee on the plague and its causes. "The matter of the flea" would be included.
" A member of the committee said he noticed there were a few fleas in the room."


Interior, 120 Sussex St, Sydney - Source; State Library of NSW

JOURNAL OF THE PLAGUE YEAR, THURSDAY APRIL 26TH, 1900

2020: DAY 33

SMH, p8

Note: Overall, I’m focusing on the Bubonic Plague stories in this account, but, given the time of the year - and the time of the planet - it’s worth mentioning other major stories covered each day. - such as the syndicated and extensive reporting on the Boer War, taking four months to reach readers. Navigate around the Trove SMH links if you want to read more …

AT LADYSMITH.: BY OUR SPECIAL WAR CORRESPONDENT, D. A. MACDONALD. (p4)
CHRISTMAS TIME.
FACETIOUS BOERS.
PLUM PUDDING INSIDE A SHELL.
AN AUDACIOUS VEDETTE.
BOERS' CAMPING PLACE.
THE NAVALS' HURRICANE.
FOUR SHOTS IN TWENTY SECONDS.
THOSE WHO DIE IN BATTLE.
PITIFUL PATHOS.
"LIVE-DEAD" BOERS.
HOSPITALS SANS COMFORTS.
PATIENTS DYING FROM STARVATION.
[ALL RIGHTS RESERVED ]XIII
LADYSMITH, New Year’s Day

QUEEN VICTORIA CONSUMPTIVES HOME
- (p4)
Open-air treatment of consumption
- exec committee meeting
Mrs Langer, Miss Dibbs, Miss Harris, Messrs R. Teese, F. Grimley, & H. Levy (Hon Treasurer) Drs C Purser (hon sec) Sydney Jones & Camac Wilkinson
- Jones read report of o/s trip (left Sydney Jan 1898!) on fact-finding tour to look at sanatorium or open-air treatment of consumptives. This system had been in operation for 40 yrs in Germany but not done in G.B. where 60,000 die annually; 4000 in Oz; "One-seventh of mankind die of tuberculosis" and a great many more are affected by it, three-quarters recovering. (post-mortem evidence of damaged lungs in cases of death from other causes)
- "pure air" "mephitic vapour" dietetics"
- "Mental rest is also essential ... Reading exciting books, much talking and loud laughter are therefore forbidden."
- soil should be dry and well-drained. Air dry and light. Fresh air, sunshine, good food.


BUBONIC PLAGUE - p8 - (308 words)
YESTERDAY'S CASES - 5 cases, 2 deaths
 279 rats caught.

A CHAT WITH A RELEASED PATIENT

HIS OPINIONS ON THE QUARANTINE STATION
- - Mr E.C. Bevan - had no complaints of trip to Quarantine Station


CITIZENS VIGILANCE COMMITTEE

MEETING OF EXEC

.RATCATCHING AT DRUMMOYNE


Bradley’s cottages, off Sussex St, Sydney, 1900 - Source: State Library of NSW

JOURNAL OF THE PLAGUE YEAR, WEDNESDAY APRIL 25TH, 1900

2020: DAY 32

SMH, p10

NOTE: Lest we forget … as it is 1900. today is not ANZAC Day - this is still in the future.. The Boer War is happening now – but no Australians will die there, because there ARE no (white) Australians at this time: only New South Welshmen, Victorians etc.

RESUMPTION OF HARBOUR FORESHORES
 (p5)
IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT BY MR LYN
E
IMMEDIATE RESUMPTION AT DARLING HARBOUR

COMMENCEMENT OF A GENERAL SCHEME

SOME ASPECTS OF THE PLAGUE
- deputation urging resumption provided opportunity for announcement.
- deputation members: Haynes, MLA (head) Wilks, Law, Smith, JCL Fitzpatrick, Carroll, Bryce.
(89 out of 125 members signed petition in favour of resumption)

”We, the undersigned members of the Legislative Assembly, desire to urge upon you the expediency of at once resuming the whole of the wharf property lying between the Government property at Darling Hirbour and that at the Circular Quay.  We urge this action for the twofold reasons that it is advisable that the Government should own this property , and that radical limprovements should be effected in this quarter at once as the only guarantee against the present disastrous plague getting a permanent hold on Sydney, to the great loss of life and ruin of our commercial interests. “

BUBONIC PLAGUE (p10)

ONE CASE YESTERDAY


NEW QUARANTINED AREAS PROCLAIMED


THE CITIZENS VIGILANCE COMMITTEE

ITS PLAN OF OPERATIONS 
SOME SUGGESTIONS ASKED FOR
- members of committee: Messrs Pulsford (MLC) Archer, Wilks (MLA) Dr G. O'Neill, Aldermen T. Hughes & Waterhouse, Messrs G Lewis, JD Fitzgerald, G. Wallace, HE Farmer, Atlee Hunt, WA Notting, PC Mitchell, Mesdames Gibson, Hawley Wilson & Courtenay Smith
- meeting adjourned to 8 Thurs night.

Letter from Stockman suggesting that plague patients should be bled, since this works in cattle for blackleg and quarter evil and the symptoms are similar - sudden onset, high temp.
 - “As soon as a cattle owner who knows his business discovers a case of blackleg the first thing he runs for is the lance. Plague symptoms, as far as I can learn, are very similar to those in cattle …”

Letter - build QS at South Head to save the sea trip


DISAPPEARING SYDNEY – TO THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD - Letter from G. Sydney Jones, Hon Sec. Institute of Architects
 - Institute has been collecting prints and photographs as record for archeologists and historians of future. Refers to leader in SMH on Sat 21st calling for pictorial record to be kept of changes taking place in Sydney - railway extension, north shore bridge, Darling Harbour.

Off Druitt St, Sydney, 1900 - Source: State Library of NSW

JOURNAL OF THE PLAGUE YEAR, TUESDAY, APRIL 24TH, 1900

2020: DAY 31

SMH, p3

BUBONIC PLAGUE

SEVERAL CASES YESTERDAY

DR THOMPSON ON THE SITUATION 
- “The cleaning up of the city does not stop the plague, and there is no country in the world where mere cleaning up has ever done so. The chief thing to be done is to kill all the rats. We may clean up as much as we like, the rats carry the disease about from one place to another-one house to another, one district to another-and we must kill them."

AN APPEAL TO WOMEN
- Instructions from Ladies’ Section of the Woollahra Sanitary Committee: – “Women of New South Wales, – Help the authorities to conquer the plague. Remember that the dustboxes and all household refuse are in your charge. Remember that evil-smelling dustboxes make evil-smelling carts and evil-smelling tips, encouraging rats and plague germs. 1st : Burn in your kitchen fires daily all animal and vegetable refuse, such as parings of fruits and vegetables, scraps left on plates. Put them in the stove when your cooking is finished. There will be no bad smell, and they will keep your fire alight. 2nd: Cut up small all ends of mutton chops, pieces of suet, or fat, and boil them in a saucepan of water till all the water has evaporated. Strain this fat: you can use it instead of butter in cooking. 3rd: Boil down all bones (except those left on plates) and when the water is cold take off the fat. Add vegetables, rice, lentils &c., and this will make a good soup. … Pour off all melted fat into a kerosene tin, and get a man to call from the soap works and exchange it for soap. 4th: If you have fowls keep all scraps for them in a covered tin … 5th: Keep your dustbox free from bad smells … let it contain only clean ashes. 6th: In trains, trams and omnibuses, and in your own homes, open windows, pull up blinds; air and sunshine will protect you from plague germs….”

OTHER COLONIES

CAPTURE OF A RAT IN BRISBANE
 FULL OF PLAGUE BACILLI


PLAGUE ON OPORTO - more very detailed medical material


REMOVAL OF PLAGUE PATIENTS
- letter to ed questioning safety of removing patients to Quarantine Station -> injurious to their health.

Rear, 383-385 Kent St, Sydney, 1900 - Source: State Library of NSW

JOURNAL OF THE PLAGUE YEAR, MONDAY, APRIL 23RD, 1900

2020: DAY 30

SMH (p8)

THE IMPERIAL BUSHMEN’S CONTINGENT (p7)
EMBARKATION TODAY
ON BOARD THE TRANSPORT ARMENIAN
ARRANGEMENTS FOR DEPARTURE
VISTIORS INUNDATE CAMP – departure of Imperial Bushmen's Contingent for South Africa - patriotic editorial


FEDERATION (p8)
THE CONFERENCE OF PREMIERS
THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS
PRIVY COUNCIL APPEAL
PROTEST FROM THE COLONIES
RESPONSIBILITY THROWN UPON THE IMPERIAL GOVERNMENT
AMENDMENT RATHER THAN DELAY

BUBONIC PLAGUE
 (p8)
CASES AND DEATHS FOR 2 DAYS
 - total cases to date – 129 cases, 46 deaths
A QUARANTINED AREA COMPLETED
 – In one of the quarantined areas of the city proclaimed on Friday night work was carried on yesterday in order that the cleaning up might be completed in the shortest possible time. The area is bounded by Liverpool-street, Sussex-street, Dixon-street, and Harbour-street, the Darling Harbour railway line, and hence to the water frontage at Moriarty's wharf. Within it are many large business premises, and great public inconvenience, to say nothing of the inconvenience to the business men themselves, would be caused by prolonging the quarantine even for a single day, therefore Sunday was utilised. Generally speaking the premises were in very fair condition, though one or two were found which badly needed attention ; but the full strength of the quarantine gangs was utilised, and everything was done and the men withdrawn between 2 and 3 o'clock in the afternoon. This area will now be released from quarantine

THE QUARANTINED WHARFS

COMPLAINTS BY ERSKINE ST RESIDENTS
- area b/w Erskine St & Adelaide Wharf


CHINESE DWELLINGS AT BOTANY
- "special attention" given to inspecting premises. While they were considered to be clean internally, the structures were unfit for human habitation.


110 Sussex St, Sydney, 1900 - Source: State Library of NSW

JOURNAL OF THE PLAGUE YEAR, SUNDAY APRIL 22ND, 1900

2020: DAY 29

WEEKLY REPORT
APR 15TH – 21st

Register of Letters to the Colonial Secretary: 
April 17th: Letter from Dr Deeph Sing (sic), offering services re plague outbreak (it takes 10 days before this letter is referred to C.M.O); H.J. Dunlop writes re employment during plague outbreak (Ref. to Treasury 18/4); Wong Kwang writes seeking monetary assistance on account of being quarantined (No action taken...). Numerous letters from medical superintendents, different hospitals re admission of patients.

April 18th: Otto Kong Sing (sic) writes re formation of a company of Infantry among the Chinese;

April 19th the Attorney-General writes re Mr Harry and his treatment as a cook at theCoast Hospital; Lands Department writes requesting papers relating to application of F. Mitchell to reclaim land at Darling Harbour; Chief Clerk, Woollahra writes re Capitation fee on rats; C.M.O. advises on Promotions at Coast Hospital and Provision of funds for purchase of scientific equipment.

April 20th Works Department advises Tender accepted for certain public works; J. Curtin writes Re dilapidated condition of Police Building in Hunter St.;

April 21st: C.M.O.     writes Re Coast Hospital, appointment of nurses and inspection of accounts at Coast Hospital.

Extracts from the Minutes of the Board of Health

April 17: Meeting of the Plague Conference (exclusive group of doctors who spent their Sundays inspecting Quarantine Station etc. – City Hotel King & Kent Sts. - alleged unsatisfactory treatment. Inspector of Nuisances wrote to City Council (to Town Clerk) complaining that place was still filthy after it was certified clean by Board of Health – Case of Guitano Dallardi - Italian of uncertain address who contracted plague. Question of whether provision should be made to better notify Italian community of danger. Not thought necessary.

April 19 – Treatment of City Hotel: President visits place and says that Inspector of Nuisance's report is incorrect. Admits though, that hotel not up to scratch and should be reconsidered when it comes to license renewals. – Plague bacillus in fleas. –  Thanks from Messrs Sheppard, Harvey & Walker, - thanking Board for cleansing their premises. – Condemnation of premises in Wexford St. – Condition of certain Govt. properties (considered unsatisfactory) –  Disinfection of Letters from Quarantine - letters from Quarantine Station disinfected before despatch.

Register of Deaths

Between April 15th and April 21st, there are 6 deaths from Bubonic Plague: all men – 7 fewer than the previous week.

Illegally-covered laneway, beside 72 Sussex St, Sydney, 1900 - Source: State Library of NSW

JOURNAL OF THE PLAGUE YEAR, SATURDAY, APRIL 21ST, 1900

2020: DAY 28

SMH, p10

[Note: it is the weekend after Easter, the Bubonic Plague cases have fallen and reporting in the SMH has slipped back to page 10 & instead of whole columns, it is only a few column inches.]

BUBONIC PLAGUE

CASES YESTERDAY

NEW QUARANTINED AREAS PROCLAIMED
- 243 rats cremated


PUBLIC MEETING OF CITIZENS

A VIGILANCE COMMITTEE FORMED

SPEECHES BY MESSRS WISE AND REID
- several hundred attended
- new Building Act called for.
- committee's function "to urge reforms"

’The Chairman announced the object of the meeting and said that experience had taught that wherever the plague had manifested itself it had been found very difficult to eradicate, and had also played great havoc with human life. They were also aware that the only way to cops with it efficiently was not to rely alone on the authorities, but to invoke the assistance and co-operation of individual citizens. (Hear, hear.) The meeting was not of a political character*; it was called to enlist the co-operation of everyone. No particular person could be blamed for the occurrence of the plague ; it had come from over-sea, and had occurred in India, in Hongkong, in New Caledonia, in South Africa, and in many other places in the world….

J.S. Brunton: ‘They had now an opportunity of demolishing unhealthy tenements and insanitary localities, and he hoped and trusted that this would be done, and that once and for all they would provide for the reclamation .of the foreshores of Sydney Harbour. (Cheers.) The outbreak of plague had had the effect of strangling the trade of Sydney ; trade in fact had been diverted to the other colonies, because Sydney was declared to be an infected port ; and they could not blame the people of other places for seeking to protect themselves against the introduction of such a disease as was now in ounr midst, (Hear, hear.)

{*Not strictly true: the majority of the eminent men attending were associated with the Free Trade Party]

MEETING OF RESIDENTS AT ASHFIELD


PADDINGTON VIGILANCE COMMITTEE

Huddart Parker’s Wharf, Sydney 1900 - Source: State Library of nSW

JOURNAL OF THE PLAGUE YEAR, FRIDAY APRIL 20TH, 1900

2020: DAY 27

SMH, p3

BUBONIC PLAGUE

A CLEAN SHEET

PROGRESS OF THE CLEANSING OPERATIONS


- no new case for day. 
Ashburton-Thompson (Chief MO) commenting on relatively low mortality rate in Sydney -> due to Dr Salter's efforts in attending patients - "literally stood over them administering stimulants to keep up the heart's actions" Strychnine was the most used "stimulant"
- inoculations not being carried out because of lack of supplies. Haffkine's from Colombo to arrive 1st week of May. Then Yersin's from France and Italy.
- Dr Tidswell's discoveries of plague bacillus in the stomachs of fleas taken from rats.
- 200 rats disposed of (HG: These daily totals are vastly different from numbers mentioned earlier.) 
- municipal authorities from Alexandria say that a case was wrongly reported to have come from there, when it really came from an adjoining suburb. (probably a Botany case - Chinese)


SEWERAGE EMPTYING INTO DARLING HARBOUR

THE BELMORE PARK AREA

COMPLAINTS OF RESIDENTS
- houses made uninhabitable by cleansing gangs, or pulled down without notice, rendering people homeless.


WOOLLAHRA SANITARY AFFAIRS

INSPECTION BY DR ARMSTRONG

THE PADDINGTON TIP

INSPECTION BY THE VIGILANCE COMMITTEE


PROTECTIONIST CONFERENCE. - it could be argued that free trade had given us Bubonic Plague (Laughter)

Illawarra Wharf, King St, Sydney, 1900 - Source: State Library of NSW