The Ohio union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1849-1854, 1853-08-24
Yellow Fever in New 0rleanS-Dreadful
dafai1a
D. s. SAMPsEL, Sec'ry.

Or ~ 10 o'oNNh W Wv ~ HhlN'o-hhS Nv
statement has been current for some DAYS
past-lhat dead bodies in considerable
numbers, are lett 10 lie unburied on the SUR
face of the earth, in some of The grave
yards, for The want of hands 10 dig graves
in which to bury them. Are these unbu-
ried bodies reported in the list Of inter-
ments or are they not!
The Daily Della, under the head of
Horrible spectacle relates dreadful cir.
cumstances in the condition Of the cemete
ry of the 4,h district. This is the place,
says the Delea, in which the dead bodies
are buried by the corporation. That journal
then proceeds as follows:
1.-The carts of The street commissioners, or
the eoplrsclors, 1--WE do not know which)
90 around daily and collecting a load Of The
victims of the epidemic who have been
previously nailed up i'll corporation collins,
take them to the cemetery in the rear Of 4Ih
District, where graves are dug to The depth
of two feet or eighteen inches, wherein til e
collins are deposited, and the dirt thrown
upon them. We understand lha. six men
have been kept busy digging these graves
for a week past. The number Of corpsts
increasing, these laborers found their work
too severe, and either some Of them left,
or they were unable to supply the demand
for graves on Friday last, when the mum
Der carried o the cemetery alone was sew
enty one. The cofins were dep osited on
the ground by me cart which left them,
There forty of them remained until yes
te rday morning, unburied. The action oI
the sun through the frail enclosure produ
ced a rapid decomposition of the bodies
several of which swelled so as to burst the
collins. Attracted by the unusual violent
and offensive %efluvia several of the citizens
in the neighborhood visited the spot, when
the horrible sight was presented Of forty
collins unburied, through which the ghast'
ly, reekiug bodies Of as many victims Oj
the pestiIence might be seen whilst the
oder was almost overpowerlng. The Stree
Commissioner was informed Of this disgust
ing situation Of affiirs, and that Officer
manifested his Willingness 10 repair this hor
rible neglect. but stated that It was difficult
to obtain Iaborers for his duty. The May.
or was also informed of the facts, and hi
honor directed his attention to the subject
but at the same time stated that il did no
fall under his line of duty. 1t is quite al
doubtful whether it is the duty Of the Stree
Commissioner.
Such islhe beautiful confusion ofourlaw
and ordinances, the effect Of the tampering
and changing to which they are continual
ly subjected. Our city government, on oc
c%asions of public emergency and danger i
a mere farce"
This is truly an appalling description O
one graveyard. We have been informe'
that The condition Of one Of the grave yard
in the third district is not much better
We would respectfully enquire whelhe
The forty dead bodies, left on the surface G
The earth uuburied, were put on the list q
burials! We would ask moreover, if it b
possible for a sexton or gravedigger 10 kee
; an accurate account Of the bodies whic
I are brOughtto bis graveyard through ditieI
, ent entrances, and make a correct accour
of them amid the confusion and terror q
: the scenes that surround hint Admitlin
! that he has nerves Of iron, he would nc
: be able ~ fulfil the task, unless he had
dozen pair Of eyes 10 oversee all parts {
his domain at once.
The New Orleans PicWme of the foI
|. inst says:
a We deem il duty to appeal to those
our citizens who are absent at the Eas
4. the North, and the West, or wherever I'll
L tide OF travel leads, in behalf of those
v their fellow townsmen who remain here
bear The brunt 0f the severe and distress
ing labors whicka ready charity, a Sama
itan benevoknce. indnGes them 10 encouI
10 ter for The sake of Humanity. The sic
and The dying are in our city by seorC
and hundreds, and they are principally
II that class whose members have not ii
:. means 10 pay the expenses atlendaN a
sickness. 'Phoso WIN die leave, foe Il
most part, families who must be asSistt
for awhile.
There arc many courageous and gene
Gus hearted men in our city, who devo
20 themselves III assuagiug the suffering
The sick. comforting tho dying, and assi'
ind ,hn nrnhoa anI thn m,Io,u Rim ihf