Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1850-09-26
MISCELLANY.
New Orleans Thirty Years Age
ADVENTURES OF A BRITISH OFFICER.

g Nota Bena," in his last letter to the
Concordia Intelligencer, quotes para
graph from the Boston Transcript about
a 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
TRANSFERRED few weeks ago. Having
dined at the Painters first rate fami-
ly hotel, kept by Murray, formerly of
the Natchez Mansion House, and repair
ed TO the balcony, overhanging Canal
street TO enjoy the sea breeze, l fell into
conversation with gentleman registered
on the books as Maj. 1t, late of
the British Army. Like all others of
his class he had seen much of the world,
and was courteous and communicative.
He had served in India, in the Peninsu-
la, in Belgium, in the war of this coun-
TRY, and subsequently was an aid-de-
camp to Bolivar.
More than thirty years ago, said he,
/ was at this hotel, then known as Beal's.
1t was in September, and the yellow fe-
yer was prevailing, but as | had long
been in the tropics felt no apprehen-
sions. My us vis at dinner was Mr..
Cameron, young Scotchman in the
prime of life, commercial agent of a
Glasgow house. For three days we
dined and spent our evenings together.
On the fourth he did not appear. While
slipping my sherry after 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 l will conduct you to
him."
Struck with these words though ut
tered with polite nonchalance, they had
something ominous in them Il rose
! from the table, and in silence followed
Mr.. Beale. He threw open a small
parlor, and there lay my young friend,
with whom had parted at two o'clock
the proceeding evening DEAD! Sir, /
have had my comrades cut down by a.
cuirassier at my elbow; | have seen
whole battalions cut down by artillery !;
] have seen storming party torn into
fragments by the explosion of mine
| have seen brave men sink at sea, and
hundreds perish in hospitals by the was
ting ravages Of wounds and disease :
but never have | been so much shocked
and appalled, as by the livid corpse of that
young Scotchman. He had been seized
with fever immediately after leaving my
room, and expired at daylight; and so
little impression had it made, and so much
was such a death within the every day
line Of incidents, it had not disturbed the
business of the house, nor had the land
lord, who knew our intimacy, nor the
waiter, who attended us table, and
served us with champagne the evening
previous, thought it Of sufficient impor-
lance to name it to me.
In those days, in New Orleans, resi-
dent gentleman never appeared at break
fast. They took their coffee with char
anne, some beautiful quadrOon; but 81
they were absent at dinner, you might,
without further inquiry, apply for let
tiers OF administration on their estates
My poor friend was already in his coffin,
and even in my grief / could not avoid
noticing its elaborate finish, solid maho-
gany, trimmed with velvet, with silver
plate, his name and escuteheoD beauti-
fully engraved. | expressed my sur
prise that these could be produced when
the subject had only been dead few
hours.
" Major" said Mr.. Beal, "that is