The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1853-08-31

Yellow Fever in New Orleans.

! NV l'N'"'h'S ob ANt
Orleans.
New ORLEANS, Aug. lG, 1853.
!, DEAR BARRETr:
One of the most fcarfr
> and fatal pcstilenccs that ever prevaile
on this continents devastating our bore
ers. The Yellow Fever made its n,
pcarance in May, and is believed to hav
been introduced in cofce-loadcd shi
from Rio Janciro. 1t continued to sprca
until it was pronounced epidemic, -fror
which time it has increased and extend
ed with remarkable rapidity and violence
the mortality being fully seventy pc
cent. of all that were attacked. From
the 2Sth May, to the week ending Aug
9Th, there have been 5674 deaths, o
which 1886 we're ofycllow fever. From
the uncommon early appearance Of tn,
disease and remarkable fatality, immens,
numbers of our population left the city
In fact, everybody that had the mean.
and could get away, of the unacclimated
left BY every course and scattered from
this plaguc-stricken city, to the foui
corners of the earth, reducing the popu
lation by LIST August, to at least 10000
\ GU can judge how fearful is the mortal
ity in this remnant cft,-and it is still
steadily on the increase, every week
showing greater mortality than the
prcvlons Notwithstanding the less
ened number to work among, dccimated
By death and emigration. My own family
had made up their minds to remain
through this season in our comfortable
homc,and we had anticipated much pleas.
ure from the delights of the season, and
the greater leisure for enjoyment of each
others society, no where does one
enjoy moe Of nature in her abundant
fruits, flowers and balmy air, than here.
We had begun to appreciate these with
our delightful rides, 1.-THE source of enjoy
ment in exercise hcre,) when the fever
came upon our city. We still fingered,
reluctant to break up, until it became
too gloomy and hcart-rending, and too
dangerous to render it pleasant or safe
to longer remain. [ then took my FAM
lily to the sea shore (near St. Louis, on
lake Borgne) where they will remain
until frost renders it safe to return.
ain left in our halls deserted" mon
arch Of the kitchen and pantry, with one
faithful servant, to play the part Of a
bachelor go
Those who are considered exempt, or
acclimatcd, have their ssympathies and
cxertions taxed to tho utmost, and, made
hcart-sick and shocked at the rapidity
with which death works, and the misery
and suffering around them, they are not
in mood to be joyous, but are seen dur
ing the day hurrying to and fro from one
sick-bcd to another, and from one scene
of voc, but to witness, if possible, an
other still moro heart-rend ding At
night the lights flash from the chambers
of the rich dying, and the murky
lamp glmmers from the howell of the
poor. AS the noise of the wake" over
the dead breaks in upon the stiffness Of
the lonely watchman's rounds, undisturb-
ed, save by the hammer and the plane of
the coffin maker, who drives his trade
night and day, and by the low whisper
ings of the friends of the suffcror,as they
gather in groups aside to discuss the
probabilities of life or death awaiting
him. From many windows and partially
closed doors, you see the lights passing
to and fro in hands of busy nurses at
tending the ailing, or of the undertaken
fitting the already dead for the morning
burial The morning dawns, the living
gather together to enquire who are dead,
and what is the report of the interments
of the previous night, which appears in
the most conspicuous place of the morn
ing journal. And the day again pass
es Oh, talking of the fever. and devising
ways and means to check its mo,oiHg
march and relieve the newly attacked
1t is a moment of awful seriousness, and
one that calls forth the noblest of human
feelings, charity, and philanthropy No
niggard heart, no pent-up scl6shness, no
little soul can live here. in such time
But money and personal effort flows forth
like living fountains from ALL in aid Of
the poor and destitute, and | could re-
late instances of this kind that would
make your heart rejoice in such evidences
of humanity, and tales could be related
too, of suffering and death, of desola
ton and of wo in families, that would
make heart of stone bleed with agony
Truly, the summer of 1853 is one never
to be forgotten in New Orleans.
Excuse me for having troubled you witt
so long an account of our suffering city
But it is the all-absorbing thought, and
in writing you to dispel the gloom of {