New Orleans daily crescent., 1866-04-30

35 600 of the inhabitants in--I forgot what year;
that the pestience had ragged SO fnriousiy as TO
defy the efforts OF undertakers to bury its Vctins
Body was piled upon body, awaiting the tlnkle OF
| midnight bells which heralded the approach OF
the fatal dead cart. Pits were dug in the neigh-
borhood of the city, in which the bodies were
| heedlessy thrown, while the eifiuvia from con,
taminated and plague srntten bodles perioialeu
| every avenue of the city. AS hs'eheu "
| these sad combinations of my fears, Temor
| Actually seized me as walked-my knees SHOOK,
nv ,ers were weak, and l felt sick at heart. NY
communion, always ready for a drink, proposed
" brandy smash,' but I declined, ano' making
some excuse, fed to the room haa py tfis Ilihe
rented. Here my fears and mlsslVihes eh'ife'y
overnoY Yered me. ] fanced / was strangely
npwe)I, but after carefully locking my door, iook
inn nnder the bed, and leaving the candle TO ourh
ont. ! laid down, and, after few Involuntary
starts fell asleep. ..
Having satisfied myself next morning mat there
was no pimple OF evidence of communicating dis
ease about me, and having resolved to be more
courageous, proceeded to the office.
NV duties soon introduced me to my various
companions, and l took advantage Of every oppor-
tunity to eliminate from every one Of them separ-
ately what ! could of the characteristics Of the
|
was in the very center of the hotbed. my resolu-
ton was made to know the worst I cautiously
approached a gentleman named Mr.. Obadiah
Sleeky, whose appearance was more encouraging
than the others. Mingled with an unsophisticated
expression of countenance there was look OF
trouble and anxiety, as though at some tine he
had been guilty of murder for which he was suf-
fering remorse. Espying broad scar above his
| r,,,l,t told
me that whilst acting as second for friend in a
broadsword encounter he had become embroiled
in quarrel with the second of his friends oppo-
nent His friend having been unfairly dsarmed
he had assumed his cause, and quarreling with the
second, challenged him, fought, and received his
wound.
From what ne further told me, found that en-
counters with weapons were very prevalent /
never vet could elucidate the meaning of that
young mans unhappy look. turned away from
him, praying that I might meet with some indi
vidual possessed of less of the combative and
more of the humane, for was by this time grow
ing sick af the coldblooded Indifference Of life
manifested by those amongst whom was tc spend
my time. But, alas my next acquaintance, Mr.
Pumblechook, was improvement. This was &
u young man. short, stout and thickset, with bacl
e hair, black eyes, black moustaehe and goatee
y He could, whenever he desired it, be very agree
N able, his countenance lighting up with genia
's expression but there that in his dark frowi
70 which portended terrible storm if angered
ei determined to avoid at any cost, quarre
with him, So putting on my most conciiiatory air
ie | accosted him. He had suffered from the yellow
o. fever, which had considerably darkened his com
til pexion. took occasion to ascertain from him tn
t. particulars of its premontory symptoms, its aver
e. age Of mortality, its characteristics ETC., unit
7o fairly sickened by the recital and confess consider
ably frightened, I changed the subject. Upon N
OF audiug to Mr.. Sleek wound, and to the custom
using firearms and the disregard of life, he aughe
a' so immoderately that Ventured serious expostV
It. ation This only elected more derson until Ianc
he ing that his piercing eye was reading my quakin
W. heart, Vamosed.
les Two other gentlemen were employed in tie san
'he rooms One Mr.. Michael was remarkable for paci
up ity Of demeanor and imperturbable Indifferent
'ol to everything around him. He was a kind, agre
Sc able gentleman though, and from him Iresolved
eel seek protection in Of trouble The other.
ign Mummy, seldom cared to look pleasantly at +
are that conceived an instructive fear of him.
ihu and his office companions were good friends, b
the first 1erocious glance he gave me, added to t
OF trembling he must have detected when once
yes pcting the ravages of an epidemic, convinced
ely that he had no exalted opinion Of me or
ut; courage.
tor In addition to these, there were others G
ployed in rooms above ours. These latter l sh
IN mention separately as my narrative proceeds.
nat After had been employed about fortnight
ure the office circumstance occurred which will 70
as the chief topic of my story. I was engaged c
II, evening with my books, when about half do2
lear young men came from up stairs, evidently W
lJoy some motive of mischief Their strange rema
to and gesticuatiols made me curious, and at
}, al same time uneasy to their intentions, but
nod determined to be neutral whatever might ems
Presently an alteration took place between Fl
and and q yirginian named Hotspur. The latter '
ugh 4 ferv. inpulsiye Young man. The kindling Of
and eyes and mis- fierce expression of countena
the denoted TOO clearly an impending storm. tr
dis HE'D for the result. every limb of NV body
CON quivering with fear, for visions Of firearms
and ncnted me.
yet Louder and louder grew the tumnlt, and 4
pre- gestures became terribly fierce. The crowd
latn- noncombatants seemed intensely interested in
but, scene, provoking the spleen of the disputants
id it suggestions and marks of appreciation or diss
safe and all this time thoroughly encirCjing them
tory obseryedwith surprise that several Of them
lGlGl. dlSputant to reclamation Que moment, ana
1t is the same to his opponent the next 1t was
when dent they were chuckliugin the expectation of
roat tnrbance. However, all this intimdated
at to than did the looks they every now and then
one slowed upon me. l did not understand IL
it is The dispute now cuninatcd in feroCious st
in Gle in which most of the crowd at first took
night with the intention, as afterwards learned, CT
more ing the two principal disputans settle their qu
in some quiet field next day. This would en-
sitIon them to sit and enjoy it in company with
peace pipes and beer. retired to the farthest en-
wages the room. A fear of appearing frightened
'f the vented me from rushing out of the door; b
ultng reality my lips trembled so that could not S
ook for several moments. The struggle contiE
earful first one and then another rolling upon the
" of Whilst the two combatants were rushing in
more upon each other, the crowd, laughing ma!ico
very Joined in the melee. Isummoned courage to
,ror. postulate by saying Oh, gentlemen, don't
0, and DON'T" but my trembling voice and abject
anons it appears attracted the attention Of Flick
was rushed upon me, eolared, and dragged Il
lid not wards the crowd.
overed "B.,' he said, you are my only friend
ieh the All these against one and determined to
trive to me into quarrel for their especial amuse