THE YELLOW FEVER PLOT: Conspiracy to Destroy the People of New-York Disclosed; Arrest of a Confederate of Dr. Blackburn in Bermuda (5/16/1865)

New York Times - Times Machine ^ | 5/16/1865

[Homer_J_Simpson]

We find in the Bermuda Advocate, of April 26, a very full report of the examination of a confederate of Dr. BLACKUBN, a Mr. SWAN, in the infamous conspiracy to introduce yellow fever into New-York and other Northern cities by means of infected clothing. Mr. SWAN was cited before the magistrates at St. Georges, and after an examination of a large number of witnesses was committed for trial. The pressure on our columns is so great that we can give only the principal points of the testimony. The examination occupied several days.

THE TESTIMONY.

Mr. Thies, President of the Board of Health for the town of St. George deposed substantially as follows: On the 10th instant I was informed by Charles M. Allen, United States Consul, that there was secret in the house of one Edward Swan, a resident of this town, three trunks said to contain clothing infected with yellow fever, and I was requested by Mr. Allen not to move immediately in the case and that he would convey to me additional information. On the 12th instant a meeting of the Board of Health was convened, and the circumstances of the case were made known to them by me. After considerable inquiry into the matter it was decided that two members of the said Board of Health, accompanied by the Town Inspector, should enter the premises of the said Swan, and obtain, if possible, the reported clothing; on arriving at the house of the said Swan I told him the object of our visit, and after some demur he acknowledged that he did have in his possession three trunks which answered the description given of them by me; I requested to see them, and he assented;

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TOPICS: History
KEYWORDS: civilwar

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Free Republic University, Department of History presents U.S. History, 1861-1865: Seminar and Discussion Forum
The American Civil War, as seen through news reports of the time and later historical accounts

First session: November 21, 2015. Last date to add: May 25, 2025.
Reading: Self-assigned. Recommendations made and welcomed.

Posting history, in reverse order

https://www.freerepublic.com/tag/by:homerjsimpson/index?tab=articles

To add this class to or drop it from your schedule notify Admissions and Records (Attn: Homer_J_Simpson) by reply or freepmail.

Link to previous New York Times thread

https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/4317131/posts

[Homer_J_Simpson]

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[Homer_J_Simpson]

The Yellow Fever Plot: Conspiracy to Destroy the People of New-York Disclosed – 2-3
The Collapse in the West: The Rebel Governor Brown, of Georgia, a Prisoner – 3
Department of the Gulf: Dick Taylor’s Surrender – 3
The Pirate Shenandoah: She Sails from Melbourne on the 18th of February, for a Cruise on the California Coast – 3
Trial of the Assassins: The Charges and Specifications Against the Prisoners – 4-8
From Washington – 9
Editorial: The Yellow Fever Plot – 9
Editorial: The Assassins and the Jurisdiction of Military Tribunals – 9-10
Editorial: A False Step – 10
“Extra Billy” Smith – 10
Editorial: The Capture of Jeff. Davis – 10-11
Seat-Quarantine Conference Commissioners – 11
General City News – 11
Loss of the Bark Victorine – 11

[CatHerd]

Um, there’s a little problem with this alleged plot. Yellow Fever can’t spread via clothing. Ya gotta have mozzies.

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Dang. I thought the science was settled.

[CatHerd]

There were Yellow Fever outbreaks in the US in the 18th and 19th centuries. I guess the most famous was the one in Philadelphia in the 1790s. I forget the exact year. It’s thought it began with infected refugees from Haiti. It ended when frost killed all the mozzies.