The Small Pox Problem 1904/5

A small pox epidemic broke out in Dewsbury in late 1904 – the impact of which seems very familiar!

Bramley asked that their game at Crown Flatt be postponed but Dewsbury refused. The Northern Rugby League were consulted and ordered the game to be played. Dewsbury offered special travelling arrangements and a special isolation tent for the Bramley players. Dr. Cameron, the medical officer of health for Leeds, advised against playing but the Bramley players agreed to go. The committee said that they would not accompany the players and the game was postponed.

The NRL held a special meeting to discuss the matter. Bramley were not fined for refusing to play but were ordered to pay £7 expenses to Dewsbury.

Castleford away were next on Dewsbury’s fixture list and again the NRL ordered the game to be played. This game took place before “a small attendance” on September 27th .

Rochdale Hornets were due next at Dewsbury and the players refused to go. The Dewsbury team together with the referee and touch-judges took to the field and the Dewsbury players went through the motions of scoring a try to claim the two league points

The NRL circulated the clubs on November 12th regarding smallpox in general and Dewsbury in particular.

They were to call a general meeting to discuss the matter and asked the clubs to consider the following points.

1. That smallpox is a decease occurring in one district or another every year.
2. Whether or not in case of a serious outbreak a club is justified in re using to fulfil its engagement with a club situated in an infected area.
3. If a club breaks its engagement under circumstances already referred to should its liability be ..

(a) none (b) expenses of opponents (c) damages for breach of engagement.

The management committee considered that they now required the views of all clubs before dealing further with the situation and they were of the opinion that it was a matter of life or death for the Dewsbury club.

The meeting was held on November 18th and agreed the following.

1. That this meeting expresses its strong disapproval of the action of the clubs in breaking their engagements with the Dewsbury club.
2. That the management committee be instructed to award substantial damages against any club breaking its engagement, and to see that the amount of damages assessed is promptly paid.

On November 26th Dewsbury played at Barrow. It was their first game since October 22nd . They were four or five games behind most other clubs in the second division and were 10th in the league.

Before Dewsbury’s next home game the NRL pointed out that only three of the players lived in Dewsbury, no schools or other public buildings had been closed, visiting teams could travel via Woodkirk station and not enter Dewsbury at all, special changing rooms were provided and were thoroughly disinfected.