Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1832-09-14
CHOLERA ON THE CANAL.

LEEsBuRG, (va.) Sept 3, 1882.
Ihe reports OF the existence of the cholera and
mortality along the line OF the canal, greatly exapge.
rated On Monday last, the four sections az mies) i'm
mediaely above The Point of Rocks Afforded out Of 2G6
most ordinary bilious fever From thence TO the head m
Harpers Ferry falls "a miles) all the contractors and la
boers were in good health, except that single death had
in church, Harpers Ferry the day Sunday PRECEDING
On nay return there last Saturday, il had asceraned
That tins was case OF cholera; and in the interim
fourteen deaths had occurred the three sections
at, Immediately above and below the bridge All
these cases were of the prevailing epidemic il is
now confidently believed; but till Saturday The dis
ease was confined to the shantcs on these sections
On that day the driver of the hearse which took the
10 ueir graves was himself taken and yesterday (Sunday
he died The Priest who attended the sick and the dy
ing was also taken, but much relieved on being i'm
mediaeiy bcd FINALLY, of the Physicians was seiz-
ed with the disorder early Sunday, and | left him I'M
As came down the line, through the infected sections
found no of any disease whatever and many of the
aoorers still remained and some apparent
ntoXcatton The alarm produced by the nortaliiy (or
al hau died who were taken except the PRIEST and Physi-
cian remaining at the town bridge had
some distance below and the Contractor at the entrance
oil The dehe oil Harpers Ferry falls who told me he had
neither lost hand had sick since he had been at
work on the ne had discharged his hands and left the
line OF canal with his family for Cbambersburg On reach
ing the sections immediately above the Point Of Rocks ten
miles below the place to which have last adverted /
found the reports from Harper Ferry greatly magnifed
and learnt that the preceding day two cases of cbo
next the Point. Wv ~
con the intermediate sections and on those above the
,l"PeI cry ias uncommonly good health prevailed
throughout the line of the canal where probab fifteen
hundred persons were at work during the last week.
From the facts which have gathered my own belief
IS mat me disease not contagious; that an endemic
winch asten on those pedposed its influences and that
alter death the air Of the confined apartments of the dis
cased becomes contaminated that those whose consttu
ons had before resisted the maady, become obnoxious to
us influence Even this effect may be by proper
guards. young gentleman, one of the assistant engi-
neefs on the line Of canal, whose office was at Har-
Pers Ferry, with intrepid benevolence worthy Of
al praise nursed and comioed the dying and laid out
X may be said, the diseased for nterneD when no nj
Gus hand was stretched out by others for their relief
lie used the spirits of camphor freely during these sad
but TO others seemingly dangerous Offices; and not only
escaped unhu but has been in better health dur
ing his four years service the canal II boud not Of
lend his delcacy TO say that he is of Connecticut or
dudte oil New Haven, Mr. Charles b. Fisk lie in form
cd me mat e general health of the valley Of the Poo.
mac had, within his knowledge never been so GOOD as
during Tue present autumn. In few dovs IL is 10 be
hoped the labor the deserted sections NAV he safely
resumed alter which, by the provision Of comfortable
quarters and proper nurses for the sick the laborers will
DC sure OF beng properly taken Of if the disease re-
turns; ana by ceasng 10 be fatal will lose nearly all its
eFros Tor the living This provision both policy and bu
mainly require from the Canal Company and lis OGcers"