JOURNAL OF THE PLAGUE YEAR, TUESDAY, MAY 22ND, 1900

2020: DAY 59

SMH p6

Exeter Place, Sydney, 1900 - Source: State Library of NSW

(P5) – LATE EDITION. HERALD OFFICE, 6.45 a.m. THE WAR / RELIEF OF MAFEKING OFFICIALLY CONFIRMED. BOERS OBJECTING TO SACRIFICE OF LIFE. LORD ROBERTS AWAITING SUPPLIES. LONDON, May 21.

 4.30 a.m. THE RELIEF OF MAFEKING. OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT. LONDON, May 21. Major-General G. Barton, commanding a brigade in Lieutenant-General Sir A.Hunter's Division, has wired to Sir Alfred Milner from Taungs, on the railway line south of Kimberley reporting that Mafeking was relieved on Thursday.

SURRENDER OF PRISONERS AND OF ARMS, LONDON May 21

THE USE OF EXPANSIVE BULLETS. LONDON, May 21. Mr Smith, an engineer has informed Lord Roberts that while the Boers were besieging Ladysmith Commandant Erasmus, who was in charge of a Transvaal laager outside the town, sent to the Free State burghers who were aiding in the siege 12,000 soft-nosed bullets to be used in the Maxims.

DEMONSTRATIONS IN ADELAIDE. / A GROCER'S SHOP ATTACKED. ADELAIDE, Monday.“To-day the demonstration in honour of the relief of Mafeking was continued with unabated vigor, and gradually gathered in strength until towards evening the whole of Adelaide's residents appeared to be in the streets singing, shouting, or industriously waving Union Jacks and banners bearing patriotic mottoes and devices. “ Mid afternoon ‘a dense and thoroughly excited crowd discovered that a leading firm of grocers was not closed’ – the shop was attacked, all its glass broken. 

FEDERATION./ DELEGATES ENTERTAINED BY LIBERALS AT CAMBRIDGE /.LONDON. May 21.

THANKSGIVING AND CELEBRATIONS LONDON May 20 Lord Mayor London attends Te Deum in St Pauls; members of the Stock Exchange sing “God save the Queen”. Inviting members of the Paris Bourse to listen to it through the telephone.

THE QUEEN SERENADED In honour of the relief of Mafeking, the Queen was serenaded at Windsor Castle by the boys from Eton

THE PUBLIC HOLIDAY / ARRANGEMENTS OF THE GOVERNMENT

HOLIDAY TRAIN ARRANGEMENTS

(p6) – REJOICINGS AT NEWCASTLE/ REJOICINGS IN QUEENSLAND / HEAVY REJOICINGS IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA /CELEBRATIONS IN TASMANIA / INTENSE JOY AT LAUNCESTON / ENTHUSIASM IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA / MELBOURNE CELEBRATIONS, CONGRATULATORY CABLES

BUBONIC PLAGUE / 
INSPECTIONS IN THE GLEBE AREA – 
2 cases
 863 rats
. City Garbage Carts
 - Mayor held competition to design a cart. Can't be used because existing contract requires another cart.


(P7) – THE FEDERAL BILL / TO THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD “ … Let the leaders be up and doing and quit themselves like men at this great crisis in Australian history. Let them hold meetings throughout the country, at which the electors may express their protests against any alteration of the bill, and let these protests be cabled to England, thus strengthening the spirited appeal of our bravely-fighting federal delegates. Now is the time for a true display of patriotism….”

JOURNAL OF THE PLAGUE YEAR, MONDAY MAY 21ST, 1900

2020: DAY 58

SMH, p5

Rear, 16 Wexford St, Sydney, 1900 - Source: State Library of NSW

p5 BUBONIC PLAGUE / 
INSPECTION OF CHINESE QUARTERS
 / THE WEEKLY RETURN 
- To-day a house to house inspection will be made of the houses in the Chinese quarters of Sydney, and Dr Ashburton Thompson, speaking on the matter last night, pointed out that cases of plague amongst Chinese were discovered on April 9, 10, 23, and 26, and on May 8, 9, 15, and 17. It is just possible , he says, that the later cases show an inclination on the part of the disease to fix itself on the Chinese… [Unproven assumption]

WHARF RESUMPTION
 / THE INSANITARY CONDITION OF DARLING HARBOUR / 
PREVIOUS ACTION IN THE MATTER
 April 1875, Commodore Goodenough complained of poor sewearge system (into the harbour)
 Nov 1875: Works Dept calling for fresh tenders to dredge harbour. Only one tender received and considered too dear.
 1877: Dredging in operation …

Letter to Editor calling for rebuilding of wharves / Letter to Editor from London Missionary Society Agent complaining that presence of plague in Sydney is affecting their work in the South Seas (Landing refused at Raratonga)


p7: LATE EDITION HERALD OFFICE, 6.30 am THE WAR / BOERS REPORTED TO BE ASKING FOR PEACE. LONDON, May 20. The correspondent of the " New York Herald " at Delagoa Bay announces that the Transvaal has asked Lord Roberts to agree to a cessation of hostilities.

SCENES AT THE PARIS EXHIBITION, LONDON, May 20. The English people at the Paris Exhibition assembled and sang “ God save the Queen” when the news of the relief of Mafeking was announced. The French then applauded the Boers and the police silenced both parties

p8: P8 MILITARY DEMONSTRATIONS / BANDS, AND REGIMENTS PARADE THE CITY. The news of the relief of Mafeking aroused the greatest enthusiasm amongst military people, and during the afternoon and evening many corps and bands paraded the principal city streets in celebration of the event.

ON THE HARBOUR / AN ANIMATED SCENE Songs of triumph and shouts of joy could be heard in every part of the harbour, equally from the 6000 tons steamer as from the tiny sailing craft that skimmed the surface under the veriest “parish rig”. And the variety in the mode of decorations could scarcely be excelled …

JOURNAL OF THE PLAGUE YEAR, SUNDAY MAY 20TH, 1900

2020: DAY 57

WEEKLY REPORT OF BUREAUCRATIC ENDEAVOURS,
MAY 13th – MAY 19th

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

Register of Letters to the Colonial Secretary:* Main content - Admissions to asylums, allowances to asylums, rail passes to state employees and worthy cases, volunteers etc for South Africa
May 15th, From A Ross, MP sending thanks for the printing of a paper on public health. From the Commandant re typhoid in army camps. 
May 16th From Chief Medical Officer re Sale of old clothes wringer at Coast Hospital; May 17th, from Ah Hong re compensation; May 18th, From B.Bogan, re compensation; May 19th, From Secretary of the Board of Health re danger run in contracting plague by fire companies from country districts camped in Sydney.

Extracts from the Minutes of the Board of Health
May 15th: Mayor undertook to give instances where premises declared clean which hadn' t been entered by his inspectors.
May 17th: Letter from Dr Richard Arthur forwarded by Treasurer, suggesting that Prof. Simpson should be invited to colony in connection with plague outbreak. "Resolved, as defects in regard to sanitary conditions of Sydney are thoroughly well-known and understood and can be remedied by strict administration of existing laws, Board sees no reason for securing services of Professor Simpson at this juncture."

NSW Govt. Gazette, 1900, Vol 2, Govt. Printer, 1900
Further extensions of scheduled areas – and release and rescision of earlier scheduled areas.

Register of Deaths
Between May 13th & May 192th, there are 10 deaths from Bubonic Plague – 6 men (John Isaac Nutt, 25, Bow You, 28, Ah Hern (age unknown), Ah Chong 38, James Doherty, 70 and Joseph Sudbury Redman, 45), 3 youths (Henry Milne McDonough, 20, Bernard Sullivan, 19, David Oatzeus, 20) and an 11 year old girl (Stella Patmore) - the same number of deaths as the two previous weeks.

JOURNAL OF THE PLAGUE YEAR, SATUDAY MAY 19TH, 1900

2020: DAY 56

SMH, p10

27 Sussex, Sydney, after demolition, 1900 - Source: State Library of NSW

P4 QUEEN OR PRESIDENT "British hands… have made two blades of grass grow in South Africa where only one grew previously; British enterprise developed its resources, and British statesmen delivered the native tribes from slavery. We found the Transvaal poor ; we made it rich. We protected the Boers and fought their battles to maintain the supremacy of white over black. We gave the Boers their internal independence under conditions which they have never respected-conditions which were so moderate and fair that the Boer failure to fulfil them stamps the Boer Executive as a treacherous and dishonourable body. In return for our generous treatment these simple farmer soldiers have compelled us to take up arms against them in order to avert such a catastrophe as the formation of South Africa into a Dutch Republic under a Dutch standard."

P5 TELEPHONE INQUIRY BOARD. / REPORT AND RECOMMENDATIONS. / THE METALLIC CIRCUIT SUGGESTED. As a great many of the present troubles having been attributed to the working of the new switchboard, the inquiry board took this as a starting point for investigation. …Recommendation that ‘complete metallic circuits be adopted throughout the whole service.’

P9: THE SITUATION. MAFEKING. So far as reliable information is concerned we are no nearer to Mafeking than, according to a Boer announcement, we were yesterday. We may entertain opinions that a relief column is already in the town, but we have no reliable authority for declaring that this is the case. However ardently we may long to tell the public that Mafeking has been relieved, we are unable to positively do so, although a careful study of all the cablegraphic intelligence forces one to the conclusion that if the relief has not already been effected a British column is fighting at some point between Kralipan and Mafeking. .. We may be certain that if Mafeking is relieved telegraphic communication with Pretoria is cut off. …

P10 FEDERATION. THE COMMONWEALTH BILL. / THE APPEAL TO THE PPIVY COUNCIL. / CLAUSE 74 EXPUNGED. / LOCAL FEELING ON THE QUESTION. – a series of views expressed

BUBONIC PLAGUE 
/ WAGES IN THE QUARANTINED AREAS 
- Inspectors 15s per day; men with horses and drays 10s; and labourers, 7s. 3 cases, 1 death
811 rats
204 inoculations


HAFFKINE SERUM – 20,000 doses coming from Mauritius by British India Company steamer leaving on or about May 18, via Ceylon.

MOORE PARK TIP / 
INSPECTION BY THE PREMIER
- 1/2 dozen women just leaving with rags and rubbish. "Mr Lyne did not notice any bad smells"


JOURNAL OF THE PLAGUE YEAR, FRIDAY MAY 18TH, 1900

2020: DAY 55

SMH, P6

293 Kent St, Sydney, 1900 - Source: State Library of NSW

p5 - LATE EDITION. / HERALD OFFICE, 7.15 a.m. / THE WAR. / REPORT OF THE RELIEF OF MAFEKING /ANNOUNCEMENT IN THE HOUSE OF LORDS, / CAPTURE OF GENERAL ELOFF / LONDON, May 17.
Large crowds are at the Mansion House awaiting news confirming the reported relief of Mafeking. There is intense excitement. Lord Salisbury read a fresh cablegram announcing the relief in the House of Lords, but stated that the news was unofficial. The Boors have lately increased the number of the investing army to give combat to the relieving column, which is formed of picked men from the Imperial Light Horse, Roberts's Horse, Briar shiili's Horse, and- the Imperia "Volunteers. It is reported from Delagoa Bay that Colonel Baden-powell captured General Eloff (grandson of President Kruger) and 90 prisoners in the desperate fight which took place at Mafeking on Saturday.

p6 - WHEN MAFEKING IS RELIEVED A PUBLIC HOLIDAY
AT THE THEATRES, SCENES OF ENTHUSIASM

BUBONIC PLAGUE
 / QUARANTINED AREAS RELEASED / WORK ON THE WHARFS


THE QUARANTINE OF “CONTACTS”
 / DEPUTATION OF MEDICAL MEN
 / RELAXATION ASKED FOR AND CONSIDERATION PROMISED
- "... if a patient were taken from a building where dirt abounded and the people were huddled together, all those in contact with him should be sent to quarantine. If...a patient were taken from a well-kept house, thoroughly healthy in every respect, they could not see the necessity for quarantining those who happened to reside in the same house as the patient."


CITIZENS VIGILANCE COMMITTEE / SECOND PROGRESS REPORT
 / SOME INTERESTING DETAILS
- Exec met every day; abt 20 turned up. 34 complaints of nuisances reported to Board of Health, 46 to City Council. 12 top Water Board. 14 were "otherwise dealt with" Total 106 - 76 previous week.
 ” instructions have been issued to all conductors that rats must not to be permitted to be carried in the trams” 
- Establishment of suburban receiving depots as result of committee pressure
- criticism of people who set up "private hospitals" without qualifications
- connection b/w plague and insanitary stables made
- Ref to plague in Calcutta in March: 
Over 3 days: Day 1, 148 cases, 133 deaths; Day 2, 119 cases, 112 deaths; Day 3, 117 cases, 109 deaths.
”From these figures it would be realized that even if the disease had a peculiar affinity for Asiatics, where theplague once got a footingeven amongst the Europeans it was very difficult to eradicate 
- Cleanliness. Washing on Sat. night not enough; daily washing required
- Call for infectious diseases hospital

SOME EFFECTS OF THE RESUMPTION / THE GOVERNMENT AS LANDLORD

JOURNAL OF THE PLAGUE YEAR, THURSDAY, MAY 17TH, 1900

2020: DAY 54

SMH, p8

Johns’ Cottage, off Margaret St, Sydney, 1900 - Source: State Library of NSW

p4 - SANATORIUM FOR CONSUMPTIVES AT MT KOSCIUSKO - Letter from P. Sydney Jones supporting J.H. Maiden's & Dr Angel Money's - & the SMH's sub-leader - on desirability of sanitoria at Kosciusko. Most of German and all Swiss sanitoria are above 1300ft


BOARD OF WATER SUPPLY AND SEWERAGE / VISIT TO THE BOTANY SEWAGE FARM - Sewerage news - Meeting of Water & Sewerage Board at Botany Bay works

p6 – “The date fixed by Lord Roberts for the relief of gallant little Mafeking approaches.” Set for 18th May


p8 – BUBONIC PLAGUE
- 4 new cases
- 95 now in hospital
 224 inoculations
6 54 rats


LOSS TO QUARANTINED SHOPKEEPERS / REQUEST FOR COMPENSATION


CITIZENS VIGILANCE COMMITTEE
 / MEETING IN DENISON DIVISION
- "There was a good attendance, including a number of ladies"
-

(Another) Letter from J. Horbury Hunt – remodelling city should be placed in hands "of a small commission of men having ripe qualifications for the masterly conception of making Sydney a great commercial city" - - ref to street widening in London and Paris


THE PLAGUE AT HONOLULU
- Impressions of Lord Henry Thynne, who'd been detained because of outbreak; not able to move around very freely, which he resented; - natives more likely to be affected - because of poor drainage.


Filler - "The mind is like a merchant's ledger; it requires to be continually posted up to the latest date."

JOURNAL OF THE PLAGUE YEAR, WEDNESDAY, MAY 16TH, 1900

2020: DAY 53

SMH, p8

Removing floor, Huddart Parker's Wharf, Sydney, 1900 - Source: State Library of NSW

p5: LETTER: DUTY OF CITIZENSHIP / TO THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD from J. Horbury Hunt
-> "Our city improvements must be of that character as shall be of the highest service to our merchants in trading on our behalf with the whole world - not forgetting that a highly commercial city can be made at the same time a beautiful place of abode for her general citizens also securing for our city labouring community homes within the city well placed for that early morning call to work. These homes must be healthy and comfortable. We should fall short of an ideal commercial city if this great factor in its commercial strength be not well provided for. Science now bids all forces to give of their best. Man must be healthy and comfortable in his abode to give the best of his force, namely labour."

Advt BUBONIC PLAGUE POSITIVELY PREVENTED by sprinkling Eckersley’s Mentholine in your underwear. All chemists 1s. Australian Drug Co., wholesale agents  

THE COMMONWEALTH BILL / PROSPECTS OF THE MEASURE / DOINGS OF THE DELEGATES. / THEY STAND BY THEIR GUNS./ (FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT) LONDON, April 13

DEPUTATIONS /THE LABOUR QUESTION / UNION RATE OF WAGES

P7: FEDERATION / COMMONWEALTH BILL INTRODUCED / SPEECH BY MR. CHAMBERLAIN / AN ERA IN AUSTRALIAN HISTORY / THE MOTHERLAND AND THE COLONIES, LONDON May 14


- 1000 men employed yesterday in quarantine areas


P8: BUBONIC PLAGUE
 / YESTERDAY'S CASES
- 2 cases, 2 deaths 
652 rats
 86 inoculations; ladies and children's day, at the Town Hall for inoculation purposes.s

MANLY
 HARBOUR POLLUTION / 
A DANGER FROM SHIPS REFUSE


APPOINTMENT OF SANITARY INSPECTORS - LEICHHARDT 

PRECAUTIONS AT PADDINGTON

POSTAL REGULATIONS - no second-hand clothes to Vic. from NSW

JOURNAL OF THE PLAGUE YEAR, TUESDAY, MAY 15TH, 1900

2020: DAY 52

SMH, p6

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

Editorial on reform of City Council 
- doesn't seem to be against property franchise; just wants less apathetic ratepayers.
- Editorial on advantage of setting up a "high-level sanitorium for consumptive patients" subsidised by Govt because of high costs, at Mt Kosciusko - > "The climate is healthy and bracing, the atmosphere is pure, and there is plenty of eucalyptus."
- State has seen that milk and meat for human consumption is good and has improved sanitation. 

P3 AGITATION FOR INCREASED WAGES. / BROKEN HILL, Monday
The machine men working in the various mines along the line consider themselves underpaid at 9s per shift, and are endeavouring to get the price raised at least 1s. The matter originated at th British mine and a meeting was held last Sunday week to ventilate the question … As many o the machine men were not members of the AMA, it was decided that the meeting recommend all men to join the association …

 P5 VICTORIA ANTI-SWEATING LEAGUE, MELBOURNE, Monday
At the sitting of the Anti-Sweating League today large numbers of oomplaints were received from persons as to their hours of labour. It was stated that cooks in public establishments worked from 80 to 110 hours per week, and that Government employees in freezing works worked on an average 70 hours, and that there was no proper half-holiday. A complaint was also made that the Government reduced the wages of skiilled instrument fitters from 9s to 7s a day.

The Unemployed - found work in quarantine areas


MR RUSKIN'S ESTATE
- John Ruskin's estate work only £10,000, even though he'd inherited a fortune of £200,000
- Antisweating League - cooks were working 80-110 hrs/wk in some places


P6 BUBONIC PLAGUE / 
INCREASED NUMBER OF CASES
 / SUBURBAN DEPOTS FOR RAT RECEPTION
-
5 cases
731 rats Depots at Waverley, Woollahra, Paddington, Leichhardt, Annandale
- 200 inoculated


On inspection
 1899 - 2263 official visits to factories. Of 301 factories inspected in current yr, 210 were instructed to either limewash, scrub, improve ventilation or sanitary provisions. There were then 1909 registered factories in metropolitan area. Three inspectors were employed, 2 men and one woman. In 1899, they made 2263 visits, no more than one or two/factory (Less, in fact)