Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1850-05-15
Terrible Sickness at Rio de Janeiro /!

The fast sailing. clipper built ship Grey
Eagle, Capt. Donley, from Rio Janeiro.
arrived in the Delaware, below Philadel-
phia. on Tuesday. after very short pas.
sage Of 80 days.
RIO DE JANEIko, April 4, 1850.
The yellow fever commenced here about
the middle of December last. 1t maniies-
ted itself in the harbor and city at the same
time. AT frs, it was looked upon as an
aggravated form of the Polka Fever"
which prevailed here some three years ago,
and gave but little alarm. But in one
month, its ravages had been so great. tha,
much apprehension was felt; numbers fled
to the mountains; and the impression be.
came general that for the first time the Vel.
low Fever had made its appearance in the
city and port of Rio. so long and Justly
celebrated for health,
A. the first, Danish, German and Swe-
dish shipping suffered most in port, but in
short time it spread to American and
English-indeeI 10 all vessels Of every
flag, and in every part of the harbor.
There have heen times, for weeks at u
time, that there we're not seamen enough
in health 10 man half the vessels in port.
What number Of seamen have Perished
here during few months past, have no,
as yet had the opportunity of of knowing.
The number. however. must be very great.
Scores Of vessels have lost every soul
on board. Many have LEI, with new
crew. and in few days returned again
with only men enough to &c, the vessel
back. and frequently tereft Of the captain,
and one or more subordinate officers. A,
one time GU, OF eighty custom house offic-
ers, engaged as guards, Sc, only eight re.
manned 10 do tie work. And 10 day i, is
no better among the shipping. ln few
days the steamer New World lost eleven
oi her men and her only passenger.
In the city and lis various suburbs. the
fever has been equally if no, more fatal. All
classes have suffered, but poor native resi-
dents and foreigners have mostly fallen
victims to this unexpected destroyer. En-.
tire families have been swep, away in n
fe" days. Strangers passing few weeks
at Rio, have been arrested and perished,
both on >hipboard and shore. California
vessels from England and America, stop.
ping here. have suffered much. Passen
gers exposing themselves by going ashore,
have taken the fever in short time and
found grave long before reaching the gold
region.
Governmen, some time ago, prohibited
he ringing Of church bells and the inter
men, Of the dead in the ninches Of church
es and other public buildings. For long
lime no report Of deaths was made; but
nov an official report has been made Of The
aggregate mortality since The commence
men, of the epidemic, and it amounts 10
be;a cen IL and $4,000. Probably about
IA ,O0O deaths of this fever in the harbor
and city in the las, three or four months.
The estimate is now 800 daily. and no
abatement either on shore or in the harbo-.
On Monday evening of this week. the
remains Of Mai. I. S. Morgan, Secretary
Of q. S. Legation, and the only son of
Gov. Kent, American Consul. were buried
al The English C.me,ry, Gamboa.
Such are few instances OF the terrible
scourge now prevailing amongst US. Blu,
hundreds Of heart rending cases remain to
lie told.
Doctors have been particularly unhappy
in the treatment OF Of this disease. Simple
treatment and good nursing have proved
far more successful.
Capt. Amity and Capt. Ilarris. both Of
hem in command Of American California
bound ships, had died. A report had ar
rived that there had been great mortality
on a q. S. store ship after leaving Rio.
This we fear, is the Lexington, which was
al Rio at the las: account. Ouc CONNER
cial house had Twelve clerks down with i,
a. once, and many houses had 10 be closed.
a Good Provision.