Kansas weekly herald., 1855-08-11
Cholera at Fort RILEY.

Cholera at Fort Riley.
Amid the general panic and desertion at
Fort Riley, which attended the recent fatal
prevalence of the cholera at that post, and
which Immediately followed the death Of
the lamented OGDEN, common justice de-
mands that the few, who stood up manfully
amid the awful scenes by which they were
surrounded, should receive passing notice.
Seldom has this disease, terrible as it al
ways is, proved so fatal and spread such
CONSERVATION as in its late attack upon Fort
Riley 1t spared not the life of one whom
it attacked: the mother and the children;
the powerful man and the tender woman
the officer and the soldier, alike yielded to
its solemn call.
There were at the place, at the outbreak
Of the disease, a few soldiers and about five
hundred employees Of the Quarter-master's
Departments, whom Major Ogden had ta-
ken there to carry on the public works. At
first there was little or no panic among the
men, and order and confidence was main
tanned up to the hour of the death of Ma
ior Ogden; but when his eyes were closed
when he was dead who had so tenderly
nursed the sick, and extended consolation
to the dying when they found the physi-
clan gone, and the post left without a COM
missioned officer of the army, a wild fury
burst out among the survivors. They
clamored for money, provisions, medicines
everything. They forced the Commits
sary and Suffers stores and the hospital and
stole liquors and in their imprudence and
wrong added to the disease and its terrors.
Amid such scenes-enough to sicken the
heart of the stoutest-enough to palsy the
arm of the brayest, Mr.. I. o. SAWYER,
of Saint Louis, the architect and master
builder, who had accompanied Major Og-
den to Fort Riley, stood up and resisted the
panic which bid fair, at one time, to sweep
offmuch of the public property at the post.
Many depredations he prevented, and many
more he could have prevented had he been
properly aided by those whose positions
imperatively demanded them to stand up to
their duty instead of fleeing in fright OF
madness from it. Though worn out by
days and nights of watching; though al
most broken-hearted at the death of his
friend Major Ogden; though left without
any military authority to assist him, and
left nearly alone amid the pestilential air
of the unburied dead, Mr.. Sawyer deter
mined TO remain at the post, so long as
there was life to save or property to secure,
until relief came. Nobly has he perform
ed the task, and, with but few honorable
exceptions, he was
SFaithful found among the faithless,
And faithful only he"
Regardless of exposure-of his own
health. he was even found by the side of
the sick and dying, OF protecting the public
property and interests so suddenly left with
out any protector but HIM. Unexpectedly
he was placed in a position Of great res
possibility and danger. He was equal to
it; he acted his part like hero, and has
won for himself an honorable name that
will live as long as the scenes, in which he
acted, are remembered.
Whatever recognition the Government
may see proper to make of MIR. Sawyer's
valuable services, he will ever possess the
gratitude of those who had friends at Fort
Riley, aid of those who hear of his noble
disinterestedness and self denial at a time
when men forget their duty to their Gov
eminent and to humanity.
Among those who remained at the post
acting in eonsort with Mr.. Sawyer, and de.
serving, with him, the highest honors, we
have learned the names of tbs Rev. Mr.
Clarkson, chaplain. Mr. Hopkins, clerk IL
the Quarter-master's Department. and some
few others who flinched not at the perllou.
time; but remained to save what of life
and public property they could.