Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1850-08-02
NEW ORLEANS THIRTY YEARS
AGO.

| NOta Dene, IN his last letter to
the CoDcordia Intelngencer, quotes a
paragraph from the Boston Trans
cript about gentleman who once
narrowly escaped premature burial
IN this city during the yellow fever
season, and then proceeds to tell the
following story:
This reminds me of an incident
that transpired few weeks ago
Having dlned at the Planter, first
rate family Hotel, kept by Murray,
formerly of the Natchez Mansion
House, and repaired to the balcony,
overhanging Canal street, to enjoy
the sea breeze, | fell into conversa-
ton with gentleman registered on
the books as Major 1t, late of the
British army.-Llkc all others of his
class he had seen much of the world
and was courteous and communica-
tive. He had served in India, in the
Peninsula, in Belgium, in the war
with this country, and subsequently
was an aid-de-camp to Bolivar.
More than thirty years ago, said
he, | was at this Hotel, then known
as Beale's. 1t was in September,
and the yellow fever was prevailing;
but as | had long been quartered IN
the tropics, | felt no apprehen ,ions.
My ols a Uis at dinner was Mr.. Cam
eron, young Scotchman in the
prime of life, commercial agent OF a
Glasgow house. For three days we
dmed and spent our evenings to-
gether. On the fourth he did not ap-
pear. While slipping my sherry af-
ter dinner, / sent for the landlord,
and inquired for Mr.. Cameron.
Major" said he, 'your friend will
never dine with you again, but when
ever you please | will conduct you
to him.
Struck with these words which.
though uttered with polite noncba-
lance, had something ominous in
them, rose from the table and in
silence followed Mr.. BeaIe. He
threw open small parlor, and there
lay my young friend, with whom |
had parted at two o'clock the pre-
vious evening, dead! Sir, | have had
my comrade cut down by a cuiras.
sler at my elbow: | have seen whole
battallons swept away by artillery;
1 have seen storming party torn in
to fragments by the explosion of a
NINE; have seen brave men sink at
sea, and hundreds perish in hospitals
by the wasting ravages of wounds
and disease; but never have [ been
$: SO shocked and appalled, as by the
llvid corpse of that young scotchman!
He had been seized with fever imme-
dlately after leavieg my room, and
expired at daylight; and SO little inn.
preston had ii made, and SO much
was such a death within the every
day line of incidents, 1t had not dis
turbed the business of the house, nor
had the landlord, who knew our init
macy, nor the waiter, who attended
usat table, and served us with cham
pagne the evening previous, thought
1t OF sufficient importancet o name it
to me. In those days, resident gen.
tlemen never appeared at breakfast.
They took their coffee with cher
anne, some beautiful quadroon; but
if they were absent at dinner, Won
might, without further enquiry, an
ply for letters of administration on
their estates! My poor friend was
already in his coffin, and even in nv
grief i could not avoid noticing it's
elaborate finish, solid mahogany,
trimmed with velvet, with q silver
plate, his name and escutcheon beau
tlfully engraved. 1 expressed nv
surprise that these could be procured
when the subject had only been dead
only a few hours.
Major said Mr.. Bealc, "tbat is
easily explained. We have am un.
dertaker attached to this house.
Cameron's coffin has been ready
twelve months"
What, sir, had he presentimet of
DEATH
mo, Major, not at all. But in
this city the march of disease is rap
id; our fevers kill in afew hours;
modification immediately ensues, and
it is the rule of nay house, from July
to October, to measure every man
for his coffin the moment he regis
ters his name. The chances are ten
to one he will be dead in fortnight.
AS looked incredulous at this
statement, Mr.. Bealc continued, II
perceive you do,not credit this, Ma
jor, but follow me, if you please, and
! you shall be convinced" 3 *