The Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1846-1852, 1851-01-03
NEW ORLzANs THIRTY YEARS AGO
ADvENruars on A parrish oFFlcRR.

'C"ncordia lntelleeueer, quotes para
graph fromthe Boston Transcript, about
gentleman who once narrowly escaped
premature burial in this city during the
yellow frversea ason, and then proceeds to
Tell The following story:
This reminds eHf an incident that
iranspire1 few weeks agn. Having
dined at the Planters first rate family
hMel. kept ly Murray. formerly df The
Naichez Mansion House, aud repaired
to the balcony nysoyerhangiue CaUal street.
eujoying the sea breeze, fell inIo con.
versatipn with a gentleman registered on
the books as Major H----I. late uf the
British army Like all others Of his class.
he had served in India. in the Peninsula.
IN Belgium. in the war with this country.
aud. subsequently,. was an abide, camp
Ia Bnlivar.
More than thirty years ago, said he, !
was at this hotel. then known as Beale's.
II was then in Seriember. and :he vel
bw fever was prevailing. but as had
hong been guartered in the ir"pics | lelt
no appreheusinns. My ris cis al din
ner was Mr.. Cameron, young Scoich
man. in lhe Prime of life, commercial a
gent of Glasgow house. For three days
we dined and spent our evenings t"g-th
er. On the fourth he did not appear.
While sipping my sherry after dinner. |
sent fur the landlord, and enquired for
Mr.. Cameron.
Major said he. your friend will nov
er dine with you again. but whenever
yon phase. win cpnducI you to him
Slruck with these words. which. thu
uttered in pnlne nOnchalance, had some
thing omiunus in them. | rose trnm the
table, and in silence followed MIR, Beaie
lie threw open small parlor, and there
lay my young friend, with whom ! had
parted al 2 o'clock .Iheprecediug evening.
deddi Sir, | have had my c"mrade cut
down by cuirassiers at my elbow; l
have seen whole batIalinns swept away
by artillery; | have seen astorming party
torn into fragments by the explosion of a
mine; have seen brave men sink at sea,
and hundreds perish ia hospitals by the
wasIing ravages Of wounds aud disease,
hut never have been So shocked aud ap
paIleI as by the livid corpse nfthe young
Scutchmsn! He had been seized with
fever immediately after leaving my rnom
and expired at day light; aud 50 little i'm
preston had it made; aud so much were
such deaths within the every day line "i
incident. it had not disturbed the husi.
ness nf the house. nor had the landlord,
who knew our intimacy, nor the waiter,
whD attended Us Mt table. aud served Us
with champagne the evening previons
thought it of sufficient Importance I"
name it to me. In those days, in New
o leans, resident gentlemen never ap-
peared al breakfast. They to''k their c"f
fee with chere amie. sume beautiful
quadroun. but 'flhey were absent a, diu'
ner. you might. with out further inquiry
apply for letters of administration nn iheiI
cslates! My poor friend was already in
his coffin, and even in my grief cnnld
not avid nnlicing its elaborate 6uish
solid mnhogany, trimmed with velvet
with a silver plate. his name and escutrh'
rnn beautifully engraved. | expressed
my surprise that these could be pr"rured
when the snbjec, had only been dead Il
few hours.
Major said Mr. Beale, that is easily
explained. We have an undertaken nt
tachvd tu this house. Camernn's c"ffii
had been ready twelve months
What sir, had he a presenIment %
dea,hl' 81
No, Major, not at all But in this cit!
the march of disease is rapid; our feve
kills in few hours;mmtificatiun immedi
ately ensnes, aud il is the rule Of m,
house, from July to October, to measure
every mau fnr his coffin the mnmeni l.,
regis,ersbis name. The chances are tel
10 one he will be dead in inrmighl!'
A. looked increlulous AT this state
ment. Mr.. l|eale continued, 81 perceive
you do not credit this Major, hut follow
mr.. If you please. and you shall be con
vinced."
He led the way to the attic oflhe house
aud there, ranged around in grim array
slrod sixty coffius nf different fnish ant
dimensions one for each bnarder, with my
own conspicuous amnng them, with m,
name aud cont Of arms hlnz"ned upon il
'Mojor, said the landlord, 'yonr meas
ure was taken the moment of your arri
val. You announced your intention "
staying three months. aud while register
my ynur name. my undertaken, wh'
watches the arrivals. and is very adruit
applies the tape In you. h"pe. sir, yo'
are pleased. Inspect the heraldry. |
1 all righll We cnnsult the best author
ties on the British peerage.' w.
y was TOO much shocked TO reply. bu
Immediately re,rea,ed To my room, pack
ed my bag gage, and ruug for my bill. de
,ermined not Ia sleep another night in
city where cnffins were made, aud proba
bly graves dug. before hand My bill wa
as follows: Major HIT, I" Bealr's Hoie
Dr.-F ur days board at SO, Sl2: nights
81 so: Cigars. 81; Paper. 20 cents: Win,
500, Coffin. $3.50; Z. L. $lSl.75.
descended to the bar in uo amiabl
mnod. threw down $3l rs. but refuse
to pay for the coffin. had never "rie
ed such thing, on the contrary it was
liberty | should not excuse.
Very well. Major said Mr.. B.. vii
low how. aud one of hiS blandrst smile
'iasi as you please. il mrkes u" difference