Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1850-1854, 1853-12-09
HISTORY AND INCIDENTS OE THE
P L AGUE IN NEW ORLEANS

P L AGUE IN NEW ORLEANS
The Board Of Health commenced its oner-
atlons about the first Of August. Daily re-
ports We're then published OF the interments
IN all the cemeteries Of thecity. Commencing
On the LIST Of August with 100 deaths by Vel
low Fever, AZ deaths by all diseases. the
number increased daily until orthe first week
ending on the 9Th they amounted to 600
death' by Yellow Fever, llS6 of all diseases.
Inc next week showed continued increase ;
1883 Yellow Fever, 1926 Of all diseases This
was believed to bethe maximum. There lad
been nothing to equal it in the history Of any
previous epldemics, and no one believed it
could be exceeded. But the next week was
aouintul reputation ofthese predictions and
calculations; for that ever memorable wee k
the total deaths were 1915, Of Yellow Fever
1916. But the next week commenced more
gioomlly still. The deaths on the 22d of Au-
gust were 263 of all diseases, 239 of Yellow
Fever. This proved to be maximum mortal
lty Of the season. From this il beoan SLOWLY
to decrease. The month Of August exhibited
grand total Of 1922 deaths bv Yellow Fee
Yer, and nearly 1000 deaths of all Diseases
Slowly the disease continued to decrease, on
~ for the want of victims, until on the 9th
Of Sept. Fat which time these notes are tram
scribeD when it reached So deaths bv yellow
fever, and % by all diseases. LOOKING back
from this point We find that the whole num-
Der of deaths by Yellow Fever from its first
appearance on the 28th of May were 1850
deaths from all diseases 994l. But there are
344 deaths the cause of which is not stated
inthe burial certificates. Atleast three-fourths
of these may be set down in the Yellow Fe-
yer column-Whicl would add $50 more, and
make the deaths by yellow Fever 7439.
But do these figures include all the deaths I?
Alas no. Hundreds have been buried of
whom 10 note was taken, no record kept
Hundreds have died away from the city, in
attempting to fly from it, Every steamer up
the river contributed its share to the heca-
tombs of victims Of tie pestilence Nor 10
these returns include those who have died
i'll the surburbs in the towns of Algiers and
Jefferson City, in the villages Of Gretna and
Carlollton. But even these figures, deficient
into proofs that the most destructive plague
of modern times has Just wrcaked its venreuce
upon New Orleans Estimating the total
deaths at 5000 for three months, we have 10
per cent. Of the whole population of New Or
leans. At this rate 1t would only require two
Years and four months to depopulatc the city
But only the unaccImated are liable to the
Ii . 4 /. Il.
dent accIlmatcd population, which with slaves,
and free colorcd pcsons, embrace at least two
thirds ot the summer population OF New Or
lo:,us.-This woul{reduce the number Liable
to Yellow Fever below $4,000. Ofthat num-
Der one-iomth have died in three months.
There is scarcely amy parallel to this mortal
itr. The great plague OF London in 1865
destroyed one out Of every l34 Of its pop
uIation That OF New Orleans in 1858 des-
troyed one out of every ten of its total pop
ulation and one out Of every four OF those
susceptible to the disease. This exceeds the
mortality in Phadc rhia i'll 1898, when it
was estimated that one out of every six died.
But let us pass from the details and esti-
mates to phases and incidents Of this melan-
choly Visitation, which possess more interest,
and may indeed serve to infusc some light
into these gloomy records.
In the histories of pcstilcnces, when we
find in our libraries, human nature is usual
~ represented in very rcpuloivc and disgust
inc aspects. The laws of society and of ma
turc are outraged. Fear and seishness hold
rule over the conduct of men. All the sane
titles Of life are trampled upon. The atlec-
tions no longer control or influence the minds
and con .uct of men. All is confusion, ter
ror, panic, desertion misery, death, disorder,
vice, wickeineSS, and blasphemy. The ora
phicpen of Defoe has presented Us with sketch
cs of the conduct Of the people and author
tiles during the Plague of London in 1862
less viruIent and, affective visitation than
the epidemic of 1858 i'll New Orleans-a>
may not be red without shame and disgust
FIR the s4ti>hucSs AMI del a>elnent of human
nature. Turn from these revolving pictures
and view the conduct Of the people of New
Orleans amid the appalling tcrrors of thepes-
thence Where in history can YOU find q
more noble display of courage, fortitude, hui
/ manitv, and true nobility of soul! View tho
I people at the very height of the epidemic
| when Death doomed ont, oycr>hadowing the
whole city, and ob>curing all other objects
| Griet, sorrow, distress, for some departed OF
/ departing friend may be dcscerned in the IA
/ ces of that brave population. But there is
no fear no weak cowardice no nervous tim
! idity, no sneaking or skulking IN their ex-
preston or action. All stand TO their duties
/ to the calls of affection, of friendship, of hui
mainly. Business and family are forgotten
stores and dwellings, are closed. The rich
spend their nights by the humble cot of the
sick poor and the poor watch at the downy
couch OF the rich. Masters tend unceasing-
! " their sick ser, ants. and employers perform
/ the most mental duties for their employees
! The delicate forms of females fit, spiritlike
! in every direction, TO and fro-visiting the
SEX friends, relieving the poor, smoothing the
pillow administering the wants Of the sick
ana providing for the numerous orphans who
had frequently to be taken from The bosom:
of dead mothers. Not Il few of the ladies OF
I e