Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1866-06-09
Mortality Tables.
Peculiar Features of the Plague
THEORIES AND LESSONS.

the PRESIDENT oil the Corporation.
Without railroads or telegraphs to Join
them with the rest of the world, the citi-
zens heard of the coming plague only by
rumors of its fearful ravages in the eastern
cities, in Canada, where it first made its
appearance, and along the rivers in the in
terror. These rumors grew mora and more
exaggerated as they passed from mouth to
mouth and city TO city, and the country at
large was half mad with excitement and
terror.
The Press did all in its power to allay the
fears of the people, and TO induce them to
adopt means for averting the danger. Mr..
John R. ST. John, was the editor of the
Herald, and urged forward the work of i'm
proving the sanitary condition of the town.
John W. Allen and Judge Barr were active
in calling meetings of the citizens and set
ting on foot measures for cleaning up the
village and preparing for the coming of the
dreaded scourge.
THE HENRY CLAY.
The cholera did not make its appearance
until the 10th of July, when the Henry Clay
arrived here with several cases on board.
This steamer had been employed by the
government to transport Gen. Scott and his
forces up the Lakes to the scene of the
Black Hawk War. On the trip up the chol-
era broke out on board and proved very ia
tai, both to soldiers and crew. The troops
were landed at Fort Gratiot, and the steamer
started to return to Buffalo. She first at
tempted to put in at Detroit, but the city au-
thorities would not allow her to enter the
harbor, and, arriving here, she put in, in
distress, and lay at the West Pier.
Noone was allowed to land. The vessel
was hailed and the condition of those on
board ascertained, and supplies furnished
them by the citizens in order that they
might go on to Buffalo. No one from the
steamer came ashore except Captain Walter
Norton, who quietly left the boat and re-
manned in the village at the house Of q
friend.
CHOLERA.
A few days after the cholera broke out
" under the HILL" and several fatal cases
occurred within a few days. The panic
among the citizens was great, and as the
disease made its appearance in other parts
Of the city 1t was sometimes difficult to find
enough who were willing to help bury the
dead. The citizens met and appointed
Health Committees, whose duty it was TO
provide nurses and hospitals, and to make
all necessary sanitary regulations.
Ths most rigid orders in regard to
markets were strictly enforced. Melons
and all vegetables and fruits which were
supposed to induce diarrhea were forbidden
to be brought into the city. The press and
pulpit urged the people to ADOPT the strict
est rules Of diet.
The use of intoxicating drinks was strong
ly denounced, and temperance in all things
was declared to be the only safeguard
against the plague.
The whole thought of the people was di-
reeted to their diet, habits, and the state Ct
their stomaehs, and the result was, great
alarm and panic. The symptoms of any
disorder, whether it was neuralgia or diar-
rhea, collie or toothachs, were taken for
those of the cholera. If sickness befel any
friend or neighbor he was carefully avoided,
and many times those who should have
acted as nurses deserted their friends when
there was really no danger. And doubt
less many died of fright.
Drs. Mills, Long and Mcintosh, prac-
Using physicians then, but long since dead,
were u~ntiring in their attendance upon
these cases and did ali in their power to al
lay the fears of the panic-strieken popula-
ton.
THE HARBoR.
The harbor was vigilantly watched and
no vessel allowed to come into port until
her INTERPRETATION had been ascertained.
On one occasion q small craft attempted
to make the harbor under cover of the
night. She was hailed, but giving no re-
ply, the citizen in their zeal to prevent
her landing fred on her to warn her off.
Morning proved her to be an innocent fsh-
ing smack, with s crew of the citizens of
the riilase.
D-IsAPPEARANCE.
The cholera continued undated, raging
with the most violence in the vicinity of
the river, fOE seven or eight weeks and then
disappeared. No more cases occurred until
late in October, when a violent, cold north
east storm came on. Ten or twelve men were /
taken with the disease and died while the |
storm was raging, and when it passed away /
the cholera went with it. The whole num-
Der of deaths reported was between forty
and fifty. These occurred during the hot
months and the day or two of the storm in
October.
In 1884 the cholera made its appearance,
but it was only in its milder forms, and of
the cases occurring few resulted fatally.
No great alarm or panic was oceasioned. In
1s49 it came again and in a severe
form. There were many deaths in al parts
of the city. This time it attacked all classes
and all localities.
The vicinity of the river and the more
filthy parts Of the city were not visited
more severely than the dry, Clearly and
more sristocratic portions. Houses which
were well ventilated and neatly kept were
not more exempt than the over-erowded
and wretched tenements of the poorest
classes.
The panic was not so great as in 1882, |
and there wss no such exodus of the entire
population as there was from the cities of
Toledo and sandusky. The physicians,
clergymen and business men of the city re-
NAMED and made every effort to allay the
excitement and quiet the fears of the
people. |
TEE CITY. |
The city then consisted Of only three
wa7Ss. A. Seymour, William Case and
John Gill were appointed a Board of Health.
Some sanitary measures were introduced
and some parts of the city cleansed and
purified, but the system of government was
not 50 perfect then as now and the work
was not very thoroughly done. The uatu-
rally dry and healthy location ofClsYelapd
saved it from the fate Of Toledo sud San.
dRsky, ]