Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1855-08-17
The Current Operations Of the Treasury
oepartment.-On yesterday, the 10th August,
here were of Treasury Warrants entered on
The Y elbow Fever,

From Norfolk and Portsmouth we hear OF
the greatest distress consequent upon the
-avages Of the yellow fever. Such is the
alarm existing that Portsmouth is nearly de.
populated, and the citizens, as well as those
from Norfolk, arc cncamping in the woods adj
jacent, not being able to get further away from
the infected and distressed towns. Some idea
may be formed of the condition of affairs there.
when it is stated that previous to the fever
there were in Portsmouth, Gosport, &C., about
fourteen thousand inhabitants, which number
is now reduced to las the telegraph asserts) not
more than fifteen hundred; and in Norfolk to
about one half-upward of nine thousand hay
ing left
This exodus, we learn, was recommended by
the physicians in view Of the spread Of the
disease, their advice being to every healthy
family, "Get away as fast as you can, and
leave no material for the disease to work
upon" Although this course was deemed
unwise at the beginning, it is now believed to
have been the very best, as in short time the
two places were hemmed in by the quarantine
regulations of neighboring towns and hamlets,
and there was imminent danger of death by
starvation if one escaped the fever. The only
counties which have extended the hand of
friendship to those who fed from their homes
are Accomac and Northampton, on the East
ern Shore of Virginia, and Gloucester and
Matthews on the opposite side of Chesapeake
bay. Letters from Portsmouth and Norfolk
teen with praises of Hon. Henry A. Wise and
other citizens of those counties, who have no:
only thrown open their houses to the distressed,
but have erected temporary residences for
their accommodation.
In Norfolk and Portsmouth, the greatest diff
iculty was experienced in procuring nurses
the negroes refusing to act in that capacity at
$40 per mig hit. So per night had been paid
for the service.
There was but one member of the Norfolk
City Council in the city.
Several deaths have been published in the
city papers which were entirely erroneous.
Captain BOwden, cashier of the Virginia Bank,
Is quite sick, but not OF fever.
Every disease is styled the fever. The
people are decidedly more cheerful since they
have gotten rid of most Of their fellow citizens
The post Office in Norfolk has been removed
to the grounds in the upper part of the city.
The office Of the collector of customs, and the
wholesale merchants offices have also been
removed from the lower or infec cd district );
and Cain hotel has been closed
In Portsmouth, DIR. j. n. Schoolfeld is do
ing well-out of danger Mr.. John Emmer.
son is at the Naval Hospital very sick; his
brother Arthur clerk Of the Court, is attend
ing on him; he is very well. The clerks
office in Portsmouth is closed. Mr. W.
Palmer, Purser's clerk in the Navy Yard. is
.. l.. h., I'll L..
George Chambers, reported as SICK is well
Mrs. George w. Chambers is fast recovering
Considering the few persons now there the
mortality from the fever is alarming.
The Office of the Savings Bank has been re-
| moved 10 the residence of George M. Balm,
Esq, Cashier. Every director of the Bank of
Virginia Is out OF town except two, and there
| fore all banking business is suspended.
The business Of the navy yard is still con-
tinued, though over one thousand workmen
have taken their discharges. Commodore
McKeever, however, announces his intention
| to keep the yard open as long as there is a
| workman to strike blow.
The following deaths, among others, have
recently occurred:
Lewis Roach, Susan Kemp, Mrs. Ripley,
| Mrs. Bowen, jeffrey James, Mrs. Lauretta
| Potter, Mrs. O'Donohue, Miss Lattimer, and
| Thomas Herbert.
The correspondent of the Petersburg Elk.
| press says
:" There is much suffering among the poor
sick, and we shall most gratefully appreciate
the kind exertions being made in Petersburg
for US. We are greatly in want Of breadstuff:
particularly Of meal, and a supply would be
| very acceptable. Our town authorities are
doing all they can; but the scourge is so wide
spread that it is beyond their capacity to af;
ford relief to all who are its subjects We
have to take care not only of the sick, but o.
the other members Of their families, and many
other individuals who are thrown out of en-.
plOyment by reason of its visitation
The Richmond Dispatch, in noticing the re
Port of the prevalence of the yellow fever il
that city, positively asserts that Richmond
has not suffered from the yellow fever to tn,
extent of one death or one case of sickness of ,
single one of her citizens"