Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-01-10
From the Boston Daily Advertiser. ]
The Cholera nc Messini.

The avages Of the cholera at Messini, during
the past season. have been occasionally alluded 10
among other items Of foreign intelligence, but we
have seen no description Of them. We have beon
permitted by the gentleman 20 whom Il h addressed
IN this country, 10 lay before readers some por
tions of private letter from y. w. Behn, ESQ,
United States Consul at Messini. II was written
without the smallest view to publicity, and 10 now
printed without the authors knowledge. We have
felt, however, that the public would be interested
In the information which Il contains relative 10 the
ravages of the pestilence and that the heroc self
devotion of the writer ought TO be brought to the
knowledge Of the country at large.
MEssIsa, October 80, 1854.
Ny DEAR FRIENDS Messna becomes more and
disagreeable, and will be dull during the next
winter. All our friends are In mourning and the
horrible time we have passed is too fresh In every
ones memory to allow the slightest rejoicing. You
have no idea Of the horrors Witnessed, being ev.
cry day in the street. assisting or consoling my
friends and acquaintance. Happily we lost none
of our family except the old Sican gentleman
used to employ in my Office.
have seen SO much Of real barbarian, that do
not hold the majority ofthe inhabitants of Messi
ma any better than the most savage Indians. In
ordinary times they live under great restraint, and
must behave well or 60 into the Citadel, or on
some of the islands; but, during the epidemic,
they had emancipated themselves so much, that
we all feared for our lives, and expected, II we
capped from the malady, we would be cruelty butch.
cred.
The fear was so great that many persons were
carried away before they had expired, the parents
saying to those employed to burn the bodies,
" take him, If not quite dead he will be so In few
moments.n Many were thrown into the streets,
and remained for days until cart passed which
had room for some few more. know Of one man,
who, though alive, was seen moving on cart
dr,op fba and WINS In kan In n char.
table person, and Is now living.
You remember, perhaps, old - the Chan.
cellor of the French Consulate he died, his neph-
ew, and a clerk. The wife of the nephew tainted
when galley -slaves (who had TO perform this horrd
Duty in order TO recover their liberty came 10 take
her uncle. One Of them took her on his shoulder,
and threw her among the Others, saying " never
mind, she win die anyhow" She was burned like
the rest Many men left their wives, children, and
their parents to die the best they could.
knew Of several who seeing themselves aban.
doned, jumped out Of the window to finish their
misery at once. II is hardly possible to relate all
the horrors, even those witnessed myself In.
1887, when the cholera was raging all over tho
island, Messina was spared, therefore no fear was
entertained and no preparations made.
The population Of the city was reduced by emil.
grafton to about As or $4,000 persons, Of whom 20
10 % 900 died from the AID Of August 10 the 10th
of September. OF the consular body no others ro
manned but myself the Swiss, and Mr.. Jaeger the
Prussian consul. The latter was badly attacked,
but recovered He lost his eldest son, his mother
in-law, and four servants. The English consul, Mr.
Barker, his brother and two sisters died 80 did
the Sandman COUNSEL.
Mr.. Boulard, the French consul, lost his eldest
son, and then being attacked himself went with
his family and servants TO France on the 4th Of
September. During his absence took charge OF
the consulate and the administration Of the French
steamers.