Columbus Democrat. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 18??-18??, 1838-03-31

SMALL Pox AMONG The IxDlANs.-Ex.ract
Of letter to Gen. Clark, Superintendent Of H.
dian Affairs, from Major Pitcher.
Il appears that the effects Of the SMALLPOX a.
mong most of the Indian tribes Of the ppe1 Mis-
SCUM surpass all former scourges, and that the
country through which 1t has passed is literally
depoaulated, and converted INTO one grsGt grare-
card. The MandaS, consisting OF l,600 souls,
had been reduced, by the lst OF October last, to
ihirty-one persons. The Ores Ieaires, or Mn
etarees, a tribe about 1000 strong, took the DIS
ease month later than their neighbours, the Man
dams. 0ne-half had persisted, and the disease
was still raging. They, no doubt, shared the
Same fate with the Mandans. The Ricayas, who
had recently joined the last named tribes, and
numbered about three thousand, were most OF
them out on hunting excursion when the dis
ease broke out among the Mandans, and conse-
quenty received 1t something later. One half of
them had fallen, and the disease was raging with
undated fury, not more than one cut Of fifty re-
covering from il. Most OF those that survived
subsequently, committed suicide, de>pairilg,
suppose, at the loss Of friends, aud the changes
wrought by the disease in their persons, some bv
shooting, others by stabbing. and some BY throw
ing themselves from the high mecpces along the
Missouri. The great band of Assnneboins, say
10000 strong, and the Grees, numbering about
5000, have been almost annihilated and, not
wilhstandiug all the Precauton used by the gen
tIemen engaged in the trade Of that remote re-
rion 10 prevent it, the disease had reached the
BIackfeet ofthe Rocky Mountains ; band of
900 lodges had been swept off, and the disease
was rapidly spreading among the different bands
of that great tribe numbering, think, about Co.
600 souls. have no doubt but the predictions
contained in my letter of the 9Th ultmo will be
fully realized, and all the Indians on the Colum-
bia river, as far as the Pacific ocean, will share the
fate of those before alluded 10.
Ferdinand De Solo, the diSeorsrer Of he Ms
siss'ppL--tIis stubborn pride was changed by
long dsappointments into wasting melancholy
and his health sunk rapidly and entirely under Il
| conflict Of emotlons.-A malignant fever ensued,
during which he had little comfort, and was nelih
er visited nor attended as the last hours Of life de-
mand. Believing his death near at hand, he held
the last solemn interview with his faithful follow
ers; and, yielding to the wishes of his compan-
ions, who obeyed him to the last, he named a
successor. On the next day, inlay 81, l542l
he died. Thus persisted Ferdinand de Soto, the
Governor Of Cuba, the successful associate Of
PIzarro. HIS miserable end was the more OBJ
served from the greatness of his former prosperl-
ty. His soldiers pronounced his euogy by gre-
wing for their loss the priests chanted over his
body, the first requiem that was ever heard on the
nf tIo Mi,s,soiOnt ~ nnpaal htc dontl
his body was wrapped in a mantle, and in the
stiffness of midnight, was silently sunk in the
middle Of the stream. The discoverer Of the
Mississippi Slept beneath its waters lie had
crossed large part of the continent in search of
gold, and found nothing so remarkable as his bu-
rial place. Bancrcfrs History Of the United
| States.
Observation-Disclosures duel is expected at
| Washington so say the letter WRITER'S We are
inclined TO think there will be none. The deep
disgrace with which Webb, the originator of the
late one, is branded-lhe remorse which the sur.
wing COMPLAINT must eXperience--and the hor-
ror which il has excited throughout the whole
country, will, we believe, not only allay the mad
ness OF the DULLES at Washington, but create a
reaction in public sentiment; and though duel
ling may never be suppressed, yet, so healthy a
tone will begin to peryade the community, that
men will not rush into such deadly strife from
trivial causes, for fear Of that Reproduction and scorn
which will be the portion o! the survivors Plea.
yuae.
These are very ATTENTIVE times EVERY
body seems disposed 10 help his ncighbor, so laI
as strong ATTACHMENT goes. There is
one consolation, however, as Long Ned says
having constable by your side, proves that yor
had credit once.
Caution to the Ladies.--Mr. Huntington, in
his lecture on Common and Statute Law, before
the Lyceum the other night, remarked That a la
dy when she married, lost her personal identity
her distinctive character, and was like "ds,C
drop swalIoped up By a sun-5eam."
A Pm IN Ebony" Well, Charley said a
gentleman this morning to his boot black, How
do you get along these hard times I" "Oh, wei
massa; we rub and 60"
Ornamental Lopeliness.--W What charms can
lovely and innocent girl borrow from other sour.
ces, that will not be inferior to her native ones
SILL she VIII borrow, like the Roman in Plny
who painted white lilies and white lambs Of diver.
colors.
A htniio Wooers.--" Women" observes some
writer whose name we do not remember, may
be compared to fruit those that fall to the groun(
Of their own Accord are generally tainted, goot
for nothing but those that will not fall without i
great deal shaking, are sound and worth having
DIED, in StarkviAe, on the 10th inst. Mrs. FRAs