The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1849-04-06
The Cholera.

| The Route through Nexico,- EmiprdRfs
Passing Brornsrile,-RenGes rous, &c.
The following extracts are from two let
tiers received, during the past week from n
friend Of ours residing at Brownsville. We
! have thought some heretofore of speaking
| of the advantages Of this route over most
others, but have been deferred from so do
ing on account Of the choleta's prevailing,
not only along the Lower Mississippi, but
at every port on the Gulf. These letters
show TO what eNteut this destroyer Of hui
man life has been raging ON the Rio Grande.
There is no doubt, should point on this
river be designated as rendezvous, for
any considerable Number Of emigrantS, that
this dreadful disease would carry of more
than would ever reach the golden sands Of
California. There are many reasons for
fearing the effects Of the cholera on the
more northern route. The manner Of living
of the emigraut, his exposure day to a
hot and burning sun, and almost sutloCatinG
in the dense clouds Of dust that rise from
moving tran-to- morrow, drenched with
rain, and shiveriIS in the chilling norihcrs
SO common upon the plains; his half cook
ed food, and necessary tilh, are all greatly
calculated TO render him fit sub
iect for this enemy Of human life. We a
wait with anxiety the approach of summer
the departure from the different poiuts on
our frontiers of the emigranls-- and the
course taken by the cholera.
But let il do its worst upon the road, and
il can be regarded as bat drop int The buck
ct compared to what it would do should it
break ont among the miners III California !;
and we can see no reason why It will not.
The rapid strides it is making over every
part Of this continent, prove conclnslvely
that California will not escape; and with
such certainty can its progress be traced,
that we can, with almoS, mathematical &c
curacy predict the day it will invade the
placeres OF the Sacramento. Why it will
be worse there than any where else can be
inferred from the annexed letters. Friends
and associates, who in time of health and
prosperity would stand by each other even
unto death, have every tie Of affection bro.
ken. the bonds Of friendship and esteem
rent aSunler BY this fell destroyer, and
friend leaves friend to die alone without e..
ven offering a helping hand or word Of
consolation.
In view Of all these circumstances then,
were we to recommend anything TO our
friends, touching this matter, i, would be
to stan u. home. Instead Of advising them
to take this or that rout to California, we
would say, 20 to your work shops, to your
farms. or to your professions. Here there is
no danger Of starvation; and though, per-
haps not broken down by logging gold, yet
when you are sickyou have the sympathies
Of kind friends and the aid Of able phys-
clans TO hasten your recovery, which is
worth moIe than all the gold in California.
BROWNSVILLE, Feb. %, 1919.
MSsrs. OSnlqa This leaves me in good
health. but how long may remain so is
hard To- tell. The cholera has brok G out here
and thrc atens 10 DO its worst. Yesterday
even last night, several Of my friends
were hale and heary-now they are sleep.
ing. IN the cold and icy grave.
though the number that iaIl by the
hand Of this destroyer is but small per dav,
vet their absence tiom amongst Us is felt.
But this ia not all the eyi! it /, doing: il has
struck terror and CONSERVATION TO the heart.
Of our citizens all kinds Of business have
been stopped: and crowds are daily leaving
town-Cenerally more scared than hunt.
The taHdGngo rooms have been convert.
ed into hospitals which are gradually filling
up with cases Of cholera.
\ company Of ten Calfornians arrived
here yesterday. The point for rendezvous
will be at Davis Rancho, near CsmarCo,
which is the head Of navigation Of the Rio
Grande. From here they viii proceed
across the country by way of Camargo.
Monterey, Saltlllo, Parras, Durango, and
Maza,an on the Pacific. have also con-
cluded to 90 and shall leave some time in
April. X.
I. S.-While writing this letter three
deaths and several new cases Of cholera
have occurred.