Southern standard. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1851-1856, 1853-09-24
Past Plaques.

Past Plaques.
The Philadelphia Ledger gives us an account of
the most fatal plaques which are known to history
1t shows that that Which has prevailed in New
Orleans falls in mortality far behind some of those
of the past. During the time of Justinian plague
lasted for iftytwo years, and Gibbon computes
the entire mortality at one hundred millions. At
Constantinoplc ten thousand died daily. The fol-
lowing is an account of some of the more modern
of these infections:
During the middle ages, the plague swept orer
Europe, several times, with frightiul Violence
Boccacco has left a vivid narrative of its appear
ance at Florence, about the middle of the four
teenth century. 1t bore the.name of the ''Back
Death, )" and closely resembled the old PLACE of
Athens Visiting England, it swept off forty
thousand Inhabitants of London alone, though the
British capital had not, at that time, probably
more than two hundred thousand inhabitants
Fifty years later, the plague appeared again in
London, when thirty thousand persons persisted
Of it within twelve-month. In 1917, an epidemic
called the ''Sweatng Sickness" broke out in Eu-
rope, and extending to England, deprived the
principal towns, according to Stowe, of half of
their inhabitants. In 1903, nearly forty thousand
persons died of plague in London. About the
same period, Constantinople is said to have lost
two hundred thousand of its inhabitants BY the
same disease.
awe come now to the pestience which devas-
tated London in 1865, and which is commonly
known 1.-The Great Plague" 1t does not APP
pear, after all, to have been fatal many which
preceded it, and really owes its pre-emincnce to
the vivid descriptions left Of it. This epidemic
appeared in September, 1864, and after lingering
all winter, began to rage violently early as May
The summer set in unusually hot In the week
ending the 18th of June, 10 had died of the dis
ease; the next week the number rose to 1853; the
next to 2G7 and the next to 40. Macaulay COM
putes the population Of London, at this time at
about half million. By the middle of July,
however two hundred thousand had fled to the
country. The pestilence now began to increase
with appalling rapidty. The deaths for the week
ending with the LIST of August, were 201O, and
they steadily in numbers till the fifth of Sep
tember having reached, for the week ending with
that date, 1888. The week following they were
| 1854; the week after that 1855; and the next
week 6533. The pestilcnce now rapidly abated.
The mortality for the ensuing five weeks was res
pectively, 1899, 1927, 1865, 1921, and 1881. BY
the 9Th of December the weekly deaths from
plague had fallen to 2l0. This, after the awful
mortality which had preceded it, was considered
trie the fugitives consequently returned to town,
and business was generally resumed.
''The fatality of the earlier epid, MICS it is thus
seen, far exceeded that of the fever now raging in
New Orleans. The London Plague of 1906, how
ever, seems to have been about mortal Esti-
mating the present population of the American
city at $4,000, and taking the mortality of the
week ending, August the l4th, which was 1908,
we find that one person died out of every sixty
three. In August, 1865, the population Of Lon
don, as we have seen, did not exceed 800 GOO;
the deaths for the week ending on the 9th of that
month about 500; consequently, per-
son out of sixty-sx had died By the 9Th of Sep
TENDER, however, the weekly mortality had risen
to G998, which one death for every forty three
inhabitants. Before tie epidemic at New Orleans
can be as fatal, the weekly mortality must rise to
1860.
"Other pestilenccs, since the London one, have
been very fatal. In $780, 60, coo persons per-
ished at Marscilles or quite half of the population
In Egypt, Syria, and Barbary, the mortality from
: plague has frequently trebled, and even quad
rupled, the present mortality at New Orleans. In
the ''Great Plague" London lost 1OO, 900 Of her
inhabitants, or one-third of those who stayed to
encounter the pestilence'
gzs~ Mr.. Means was formerly engaged in teach
ing in this city, the Principal Of the Columbus
Female institute
The metropolitan Female Institute, in Mont
! gomery was destroyed by fire about o'clock on
Friday Morning last. The Advertiser says:
The buildings were all of wood, and the exer
tons to save them proved fruitless. Much of the
furniture of the school rooms apd Of the family
r was saYed; though the most valuable portion of
the extensive apparatus Of TIE Institute and other
> articles were destroyed The property belonged
to the Rev. DR.. Lipscomb, and We sorry to
add that he had no insurance. The Institute was
in possession of Mr. Means, the Principal, who is
also heavy loser BY the calamity. The loss to
DR.. Lipscomb is a severe one, and has excited the
deepest sympathy in the community. He had
: spent much time labor and money in erecting and
suitably arranging the buildings and adjoining the
= grounds; all of which has been swept away in a
: moment. The loss is estimated at some $4,000,
Col. Benton and the Administration.
IS Washington, August 20.--Col. Benton is in
d dulging an unamabIe spirit towards the Admins
/ traton. gentleman asked him if he often visit
o ed the White House? He replied with Bentonian
I emphasis, NO, sir-No, SIR. l never go to the
e buzzard's roost."
The Secretary of the Interior sent message to
him to inform him that there was Register Of
d the Land Office to be appointed in the st. Louis
st Congressional District, and requested him to fur
e nish the Department with the name of person ts
fill the vacant office. ''OId Ingot said, Il have
y NJ name to present, and were | to live to be as
e old as Methuselah and this Administration should
exist SO long would have no favor to ask of it.
t The messenger then said Colonel, win inform
:, the Secretary that you have name to Offer
T. No SIR" said the venerable, but indignant
ID BulIionst, carry my answer, sir, in my own pre-
else language, sir - " Tribune.