Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1855-09-19
norepiI and pert.rnou.

~ tD2I tlH'e was represented " Pcis"n' cunning
up as very fatal to the negroes, as they are whs
the doctors call chad pasients," refusing in many
instances to take medicine when attacked, gener-
ally expressing n wish to die, complaining Of
'nsery in the head, ;" or "mlsery in the shout
der"
The detail of suffering 10 individual cases and
in whole families is almost too narrowing for pub
LEGATION. Of the fourteen physicians from Phla
delphia, seven have been attacked by the prevail
ing disease and five have ded-so in proportion
with the best of the inhabitants, male and female,
who have remained in these plague. stricken Cit
les. s
The atmosphere of Norfolk is close, humid and
sufocating, with an average temperature of 500
No peculiar stehches are observable; nor do tho
streets possess that filthy character which is al
most necessary consequence Of the utter neglect
that follows the outbreak of an epidemic. The
proximity of stretch of marshy ground is bellev-
ed to be an melting cause of the malady. l
| popularity of the fever has been especially
remarked. Soon after the attack, the skin Of the
,plii.e patients takes on yeowish tinge. similar
to that of lemon or orange. Black patients un-
dergo a similar metamorphosis- their hue chang
ing 10 bronze. In all cases, The progress OF the
fever is very rapid and very often fatal.
II
den with collins, which deposited at some con-
venient street corner, and removed thence by the
undertakes as occasion demands. Three or four
of these collins often stand together. The dead
are Immediately taken out of the houses and plac
ed upon the sidewalks strip of parchment, in
scribed with the name, age and date of decesse
of the victim, being nailed upon the lid Of each
coffin A duplicate of this parchment record 10
L RI 80 -
away by carts which traverse the streets at stated
intervals There are three places of burial.
The "plague fly" disappeared Thursday week,
and leaves US in doubt as to whether lis dlsaP-
pearance is a good OF bad omen. They are in
sects very much like mosquitoes, except with large
wings. and their bites greatly infiams the flesh
and raise treat knots on it. When they came
here their bellies were red, and when they left
they had become yellow.
The intelligence received at Baltimore on
Wednesday morning was but continuation of
the same chapter Of suffering and death that We
have been called upon to record for month past.
There was but little diminulion in the number of
deaths, but there was diminulion in the number
of new cases both at Portsmouth and Norfolk, but
this dnlnution is attributable rather to the lack of
subjects to operate on than to any improvement in
the condition of the atmosphere. a telegraph
despatch announces the deaths of Rev. Vernon
Eskrdge, Chaplain U. S. Navy his land Rev.
Mr.. Chisholm The report that small pox had
broken cut in Norfolk is incorrect. Several cases
had occurred in the county but none in the city.
The Baltimore American of Friday says
The steamer Louisiana yesterday morning brought
intelligence from Norfolk and Portsmouth up TO
noon on Wednesday, and we regret to say that The
pestenco has still undisputed sway in both cities.
Indeed the probability seems to DO that no one will
escape-that all who have had The courage To
brave the fever will ultimately be compelled to
WELD to its power. The total deaths ct Norfolk
during tie twenty four hours preceding tho sailing
Of the Louisiana was as, aud 50 new cases were
reported during thf same period. We also havs
from DR.. Maud a record Of recent deaths in Ports
mouth. from whom we also learn that the disease
was still very bad there, having been increased
by the excessive hot weather, The total deaths
during the q hours ending at O'Clock on Wed
nesday morning, was %, and 20 new cases.
A letter from Norfolk received at Petersburg,
gives the following chapter Of horrors
saw at the Pot;er's Field, $50 great 10 the
difficulty in obtaining grave diggers.) pit about
IS to 90 feet square, in which was buried the
bodies of Sd victims, piled one upon ansther, and
covered over with dirt and lime, forming one huge
and mosrors mound.
Many have been inferred without boxs, or cof-
fins, or any thing else, save the blanket upon
which they died Several Of our wealthiest citi-
zens have have been buried in rough square boxeo
and the graves dug by their frienda.
In one instance, heard ola father digging the
graves of his two only daughters; and as many as
nineteen to twenty bodie, have been lying on the
ground at the Cemetery waiting their turn for in
ternent as coon as the holes were dug, for in ma
ny instances they were not more than "a feet
deep. 4
Business is entirely suspended, and stores all
closed. You cannot obtain pound OF sugar or
piece ofsoap. The rich as well as the poor are
dependent upon the Howard Association, who
have established provision store, and who dis
pense food aud provisions to the needy with II
bountiul hand.
On Thursday there were So deaths in Norfolk.
and or IL in Portsmouth, though the fever was
thought to be abatng.
An official report from the Howard Association,
of the whole number of intermenis since the com
menceinent Of the fever in Norfolk up TO Thurs
day last, shows the following exhibit
Interments in the Cemeteries S92
Do do. Catholic do. 100
Do do. jewish do. ~
Do. do. Potler,s Field III
LOAF
Do. as"JulaPpi" 80
Total l.O73
On Saturday there were "a deaths in Norfolk
and in Portsmouth. On the whole there ap-
peaars to be no improvement in either place.
A letter from Norfolk on Friday says that the
Rev. G. d. Armstrong, who was GONZALES cent,