Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1850-09-20
From the Saturday Evening Post.
WESTERN FEVER.
BY THE WIFE OF WESTERN PHYSICAL,

1
BY THE WIFE OF A WESTERN PHYSICIAN.
Dear reader, have you ever lived in
the far-famed "Great West?" Have
you ever been ''tuk in.'' as the boys say,
by buying water lots in some muddy
little town situated on the bank of a
certain river, which / will not name,
where ague reigns supreme nine months
out of the twelve, and lung fever pre-
walls during the other -three! Did you
ever spend your little all in moving out,
and then find it impossible to sell your
Improvements for enough to move back
on? If you have not been Through the
mill, you will not feel interested in this
sketch; if you are one of the seasoned,
we have only to write and you will read.
In the Spring of 1896 most terrible
epidemic prevailed over the Union, more
dreadful in its effects than cholera or
smallpox; il was called the Western Fe-
yer, from the fact that the first symptom
of the disease, was perfect horror of
turning the face or steps towards the RI
sing sun. all who took the fever seemed
determined to see where the sun set
Those who lived in the East, moved
West, and those who lived West were
not content until they moved little far
ther West. Good old homesteads were
sold for triile TO procure the means OF
travelling. Young wives left their par
ents and friends to follow their fever fe-
ver-stricken husbands. Young men babe
adieu TO their widowed mothers. Sisters
begged to go with their brolhers.-
Whole neighborhoods were broken up,
all was confusion and excitement. The
only remedy known for this violent fever
was, TO let them go. And did this cure
them! We shall see. Let us look in
upon some of them in their new homes,
in the fall of the same year. Do you
sec that low frame building near the river,
the slough Tor slew in front of it looks
rather green, and the frogs are too nearly
roasted by the broiling sun to utter their
accustomed cry. The house seems un-
finished, shall we enter! II will be an
easy matter, Tor there are no doors hung
40 yCss VIC hdNC OHlN W I'LL uidt oOileu
blanket. Now we are within, what do
we see! There sits pale shivering
man on The clay hearth trying to still
The cries of a poor emaciated babe on
his knee. All, methinks his fever is
over now. On the bed lies his sick
wife, insensible 10 the cries OF her in
fant--by her side are two more children,
calling for water. Poor things! they
have the fever now. No kind aunt or
grandmother, is there TO administer to
their wants; their tender mother is too ill
to heed them, and the father is obliged
10 give all his attention TO his Youngest
child. Miserable, indeed, is that father
and husband, and he had left comforta-
bic home in Kentucky; left his parents
and friends; left a thriving and pleasant
business, with high hopes aud consider
able ready money. Now he is penni-
less and hopeless; he cannot sell his in
tercst in this embryo city-who would
buy il! Pride deters him from writing
20 his friends for assistance, they had op-
posed his wia project from the first,
and he would not have them know his
misery. He thinks he could bear i, bet
ter, if he was the only sufferer; his in
n0cent children, must they suffer for his
folly! Poor man! can he ever know
happiness or prosperity again9 We
shall see.
Now let us step into that log cabin on
the prairie. What, Brussels carpeting
on this floor of split logs! Yes, and
damask curtains covering windows with
out glass! How strangely out of place
seems these costly articles. On a splen-
cid, but much injured sofa, lies an old
lady, her withered cheeks are flushed
with fever; by her side, seated on what
would once have been called handsome
ottoman, is pale young girl, tears are
streaming from her sunken eyes, as she
listens 10 the feeble means of hersuffering
mother. Her brother is lying before the
fire, with his feet wrapped in the hearth
rug, he tries in vain to warm his ague-
shaken limbs. Poor fellow! he brought
them TO this, what can he do for them
now! They are all home-sick and ms
cradle. The sister wished to accompany
her brother to "prairie land" and the
mother would not be parted from her
children. They brought with them the
most OF their good furniture, thinking TO
build suitable house wherein to place
it, but before the first nail was driven,
they were all stricken with that scourge
of the West fever and agne. A poor
leaky cabin was all the shelter TO be OBJ
tanned, here they are, huddled together
in one small, damp room, without friends,
and destitute of the common accessories
OF life. Not man can be hired to cut
wood, or bring water; their neighbors
are as badly off as themselves. What
a change for that delicate girl; she has a
severe chill every second day, and on
her sOeH day, as it is called, she must gel
up, i'll as she feels, and gathers sticks
from the bank Of sluggish river, and car
ry waller from that Shiny slough, she
must do all that is done for their comfort,
for no one else is able, her mother never
leaves her bed, and her brother shakes
every day. Think you they mourn
their rash move now--will. they ever re-
! turn TO their dear eastern home? We