The Kansas herald of freedom., 1855-09-22
Kansas Correspondence.

Aryus.
Kansas Correspond
We find the following correspondence
in the Pittsburgh Dispatch. 1t seems to
give a faithful narrative of the painful
which come over Fort Riley,
and as it is the most complete of any ac
count of the affair which we have seen
We place it upon record for future refer
ence:
PAwNEE, K. T.. Aug. 9, 80.
The telegraph has no doubt already
conveyed to your many readers the news
ola fearful outbreak of choler;. at Fort Ri
ley and as there are number of Penn
sylvanians around this section of Terri
tory, | write to aliay the fears of their
friends at home. That the cholera
was bad is indisputable. The first case
occurred about the 28th of July, but
under the circumstances caused no alarm,
because there were then about 500 labor
ers at work, a number of them living In
tents, eating unwholesome food, and
drinking bad whisky-and the weather
very hot. l say, then, under these cir
cumstances cholera caused no particular
alarm, and was not unexpected. How
ever, there were new cases every day,
and increasing-and all fatal. As there
was only one physician here, DR.. Simons,
his hands of course were full Things
went on in this way until Thursday.
when there were probably fifty cases;
among the number Major Ogden, Mrs.
Major Woods, and her two children,
Mrs. Major Olmstead and many others.
CONSERVATION and fear prevailed IN all
quarters-many fled. In the evening
Mrs. Olmstead died +; she was alone with
her children her husband had left the
Fort the previous Monday, in command
of the surveying party, to lay out a road
from here to Santa Fe; an express had,
however, been sent for him during the
day, and he got here during the night.
On Friday morning, in company with
Mr. Bowen, from Chester county, Pa,
| went to the Fort, and saw there what
beggars description-what hand, pen,
ink and brains cannot put ON paper.
In the first place we went to Major Og-
den's Office, which was surrounded by a
couple of hundred laborers who were
clamorous for their money, fearing per-
haps they might die without their pay
Two of tie clerks were sick. | told the
men that order and quietneSs would be
much more becoming, than the noise and
confusion they were creating they
ought to do it for the sake of the sick,
but several Irishmen bawled out, ssWhat
the hell do we care about the sicki give
us our money" They threatened that,
unless paid, they would break open the
money safe and help themselves. l then
left, and proceeded to Major Ogden
room; and on my way | saw that DR..
Simons, too, was flying, thus deSerting
his post HAD up to this time been of the
opinion that itwas the duty of an army
physician to die in his boots if necessary.
On going into Major Ogden's room, |
met Mr.. Sawyer, Superintendent OF
Buildings, who was worn out by loss OF
sleep and constant work with the sick
The Major was in dying condition.
saw he could not last much longer how
ever, We commenced rubbing him, and
tried to do all We could for that noble and
excellent man-but he died about | l
O'Clock on the morning of the 81 inst,
and in his death the country has lost
one of her best officers. He was noble
and generous almost to fault-his sym
pathies were strongly with the poor
He had not been here more than ten
DAYS, and had come to finish the govern
ment buildings at the Fort. From there
| went to Mrs. Woods room, below.
when | found her, too, in a collapsed
state, Just breathing her last; one of hei
lehildren already dead, and the other. toe
far gone to have any hopes for life. She
had not a friend with her-all was stran-
gers to her. Her husband. about two
weeks before, had started with his com
mand for Fort Kearney, and the Sioux
war. What must that poor mans feel
i inos be, when the news of his heavy los:
reaches him.? His wife and two chill
dren were all that was dear to him IL
| this world-on them he doted-he idol
lied them. When he left them they
were all well, and joyous with hope
the only cloud that covered their brow
was about his safety.
Thence | went to the basement storl
of the same building, where we fount
musician aud his wife, just taken viii
| the cholera we prescribed for them, a
best we knew, and got two persons t
rub them with hannels, but the husban,
died in few hours, and the wife inger
ed until the day before yesterday, wheI
she followed the great '.carasan''-a
Bryant styles the army of death.
There was not commissioned office
at the Fort now-confusion reigne
wild. Major 0lmstead actually fed fror
the grave yard. after burrying his vii
.I-left his house open to the robbers, IN
cared for.
Mr.. Sawyer told us to procure nurse
: il possible at any price we offered 81
and $50 a day. but could get none. W
directed several barrels of tar to be 70
led in the parade ground, to be set Q
| fire, and this was By no means willingl
done. We next repaired to the hospita
] aud there we found a dozen or more pce
: wretches. that but twelve hours befor
: were strong athletic men, now writhin
. in fearful agony, and rapidly hurryin
$ into the jaws of death. They cried f
a water. for medicine, for doctors, f
$ friends-and for JEsus. The scene va