The Indianapolis daily herald., 1865-11-08
From the New York World, Nov.
THE PLAGUE AT HAND.

Arrival of the Steamer AtaIanta from
London and Havre with Twenty
Gases of Cholera on BOard-Nine.
teen Deaths During the Voyage
over Fifty Cases of Cholera while
Making the Trip.
The cholera. so long feared and expected, has
finally sailed over the and grimly taken up
It's camp jast outside OF our city. Down in the
lower bay steamer haunts the threatening hos.
pital flag of warning. and in its infected hold
reeks the poisonous contagion. The demon OF
the pestilence counts his victims there and bides
his time to rush abroad for new fields and con-
quests.
There were rumors whispered about the city
on Thursday evening at late hour, but the
press was unwilling to cause what might be a
false alarm, so uncertain were the outgivings.
The fact of the arrival Of a steamer with cholera
on board is now so certain and partially known
that il is better TO spread the whole facts before
the public.
In doing so, there is one consolation; the as
suranee that the cholera, As il has appeared on
that steamship. is eminently susceptible to treat
ment and is quite curable.
ARRIVAL OF THE INFECTED STEAMSHIP.
About seven O'Clock on Thursday evening, the
steams hip Atalants, OF Messrs. Rowland 4 As
pinwsl's Liverpool line. arrived in the lower bay
from London and Hsvre, with five hundred and
four steerage passengers. She came up to the
quarantine laoding, of Staten Island and let go
her anchor
DR.. Swinburne, the health officer of the port
then in this city for the purpose Of consulting
with Dr. Sayre and others, in relation to mea-
sures to be taken in case of the appearance of
cholera. The duties of the health officer, it is
said. close With sunset DR.. Burdett, the assis-
tant health officer, was left in charge.
MEDICAL HELP WANTED.
Captain Pinkham, Of the Atlanta, after q short
time, sent mp rocket as . signal for help, but il
ives said the signal was not observed, Dr. Bur-
dett having LETT the Office during the evening
and gone 10 his residence. Aftor waiting while
longer, Captain Pinkham sent boat on shore,
with a messenger. after the health officer, to no
tify him Of the fact of cholera on the vessel, and
ask tor medical assistance, as the surgeon in
charge on board was nearly worn out with his
lneesssnt ab0rs.
DR. Burdett then went on board. He Was met
by the surgeon of the A,alsnta, a German, who
stated the facts, and the treatment be had given
to the patients.
THE CHOLERA DURING THE TRIP.
1t appears that most of the passengers were
taken on board at Havre. The AtalanIa left
London on the 10Th aud Havre on the 18th. The
majority of the Hsvre passengers came in
the steerage, and from some OF them the cholera
developed On the FIRST day out child was Ia
ken severely sick. The disease rapidly deyel-
oped. and the symptoms soon showed unmistak-
ably the presence Of cholera. On the next day
the child died. The body was sunk in the ocean
and the ship went on from that moment Aoating z
pest house. freighted with the most terrible
weapon Of death.
The surgeon. il is said, thought proper, to
avoid alarm, to conceal the fact from the pas
sengers, that cholera was the cause Of death, al
though some of the more intelligent suspected it
to be so. Efforts were made. however, 10 disn-
feet the ship. aud keep il in as clean condition
as possible: also. to enforce sanitary regulations
among the passengers.
FILTEr CONDITION OF THE srEERAGE.
To great extent this WAS found impossible
Many of the steerage passengers seemed to de-
light in being as filthy possible. and kept
their quarters in the worst possible condition
They manifested but little anxiety. even after
the presence of cholera became well known.
BUkIALs AT SKA.
One after another others began TO sicken
Another and another death occurred, generally
after brief attacks, and the dead were buried in
the ocean in less than an hour after they had
bresthed their last, the usual burial services at
sea being used in each case.
The CHOLERA cuRAsLE
Fifty or sixty cases Of attacks Of cholera, il
Is said. occurred during the voyage. OF this
number fifteen died and the remainder recoy-