Untold Hardships

Ironwood, July 10. - S. A. Souther the former superintendent oí the Ironwood Waterworks company, who is charged with criminal neglect in his management of the waterworks, was arrested at Glidden, Wis., a small station south of Ashland. The impura water furnished while Souther was superintendent is alleged to have been the principal cause of the terrible epidemie of typhoid fever which has raged here for over a month. Indignation runs high, and as it was feared that violence might bedone Souther were he to be brough there he was taken to Bessemer for safe keeping. Threats of lynching1 are freely made, but it is believed better counsel will prevail and that there will be no violence. For over a month past there has been an average of 209 cases of typhoid fever in the city. For a time the deaths averaged nearly fif teen a week. The death rate is lower now, but the epidemie lessens very slowly. When matters assumed such a serious aspect in the middls of June, maas meetings were held and a committee was appointed to investígate the city water supply and the other causes which were believed to contribute to the epidemie. The committee, which included the mayor, the comtnon council, a couple of doctors and four prominent citiz.-'-'s. went to the waterworks plant atii. - ned the standpipe on Norrie hill. T' ■ revelation was appalling. Thebottoi.. of the standpipe wascovered to a depth of from 8 inches to a foot with a si. kening1 mass of dead fish, birds and other substances, the whole in a state of putrefaction. The stench was unbearable and some members of the committee were unable to stand the awful sight. It was alsp discovered that the superintendent had failed to filter the water as had been agreed upon. Dr. C. F. Baker, of the state board of health, also made an investigation and reported that the water supply had been the principal cause of the epidemie, though poor sewerage and defective sanitary arrangements had contributed to the spread of the disease. Superintendent Souther at once left the city and it was not until Sunday that he was located at Glidden, across the state line. The papers cali for his prosecution on charges of criminal neglect and murder. Within the past week many wells have become infected with the disease germs and Health Oöicer Nevins has ordered nearly all the wells closed. The city board of health advises all who can do so to leave the city at once. Added to the horrors of the plague, 3,000 miners are idle and the city and county poor funds are exhausted. Five hundred persons are now living on public or private bounty and thousands more are on the verge of requiring charity to buy food.