Weekly Calaveras chronicle., 1868-09-26
San Francisco Correspondence.
San Francisco September 13, 1868.

SMALL Pox.
This terrible scourge has fairly run riot for
the past six weeks in this city, and it is said
that it is on the increase, both in frequency
of cases and virulence of character. 1t is
mentioned in pretty well informed circles,
that vaccination virus does not seem to an
swer the end desired, as heretofore. When,
in cases where it takes, apparently very we'll,
the arm becoming very sore. and the entire
system sympathetic with it to considerable
extent, the patient is suddenly prostrated.
and in a few days carried off the stage. The
panic incident to this contagion in our midst
runs quietly, but very deep, and has given
occasion for the display of great moral hero
ism on the part of friends of the victims but
I am sorry to say that such instances are ex-
ceptional cases. The rule has been to treat
the stricken ones with such cruel heartless-
ness as to stamp this as anything but christ
ian lard. With this class of persons there
are no ties of blood, of family, or of friend
ship sufficiently strong to hold them to the
bedside. of these unfortunate victims. The
moment the pestiferous disease manifests it.
self the doomed ones are hurried off with the
utmost speed to the pest house. where the
chances of fatal termination are largely in
creased. Much better quarters are now pro-
vided for them, the municipal authorities
having just erected commodious hospital
This is indeed right move in the right di-
rection. and it is disgraceful to the "powers
that be- that the step was not taken sooner,
as much suffering might have been assuaged,
and many lives probably saved. In reference
to the cold blooded heartlessness exhibited
by some persons, and the true hearted deyo-
ton to duty of others, during this. "reign of
terror, will instance one case. A gentle
man and his wife, both excellent people,
happened to change their lodgings only
very few days before he was stricken down
with the horrible disease, and the wife deter
mined to sacrifice herself rather than that her
husband should be taken from her to be
nursed by stranger hands, concealed the fact
of his sickness, or its character, at least, from
the knowledge of their landlady, re,y pious
woman, and a member of an evangelical
church in good standing, and should have
been very humane person. Whether she
was or was not, let the sequel tell. With
fidelity that none but true woman and wife
can display, she nursed her husband night
and day until the messenger, Death, entered
and took from her all but the blackened cas-
ket of the one she had so ardently loved in
health, and so devotedly tended in sickness.
TIE salnted @ landlady was so much incens-
ed at this little play of "pious fraud" on the
par: of her lodger that she "gave her notice.
to quit the premises before the body of the
husband was fairly cold, which she did, and
received afterward the choicest maledictions
har ~.
gross, no lie too foul and wicked to circulate
against this crushed and sorrowing sister of
humanity. Where she should have found
sanctuary and shelter from the pitiless storms
OF misfortune. she was thrust out into the
cold to meet its fercest blast upon her devot-
ed, coverless had. 80, the vanity of Christ
ian charityp'
THE CAMPAIGN,
1 told you, in substance, in my last letter,
that the Union canvass was marching along
"mighty an army with banners 1t con-
tinues to march, and the tread of its meas
ured step carries dismay and dread to the
heart of the enemy. The two most marked.
features in the campaign, since my last. are
the discussion of the political issues of the
day between Hon. Gee. c. Gorham and Gen,
Wallace. The latter being the challenger
led off, assuming the affirmative the former
repelling, denying and affirming. Mr.. Cor
ham annihilated his adversary, there no de-
nying that proposition. He hanked, drove
in his centre. demolished the "men in buck
ram" who made up the rank and file of the |
'grand army" of the besieged as fast as they
showed their heads. If such kind of men |
wore scalps there would have been rich |
harvest Of char" gathered on the occasion. I |
think there can be no two opinions, among
candid men of any party, as to whom the |
victory belonged-certanly l have vet to |
hear the first voice adversely to Mr.. Gorham |
as the victor. The Call, on Saturday last,
attempted to cover the retreat of its champion |
under cloud of peanuts and in its charac-
teristic manner. flung out with dirty hand |
pint or SO of "the article" and only succeed |
of all candid men. THE idea of Gorham |
rushing in to fill the gap" was so amusing
that "little peanuts" almost went into hv- |
strikes over it. Doubtless it was more
amusing to them than to the champion of |
their bad cause, who evidently had all he |
could do to parry the well directed thrusts
of this forward" young man. The other
feature, named above for chronicing, is the
speech of Mr.. Gorham, at Platt's Hall, on
Saturday evening last. The anxiety to get a |
seat gathered crowd in front of the main
entrance. of several hundred, before it was
fairly dark. To say the hall was full and |
running over is to say the exact truth, as
hundreds left, unable to gain admittance. 1t
was. in truth, perfect ovation to the gentle
man, such an one as few men on this coast
could spontaneously call forth. The speech
more than justified the high expectations of
the speakers friends. 1t occupied over two
and half hours in the delivery, which was
extemporaneous, and was masterlv effort
one that the brightest intellect of our land
might be proud to own as his. 1t was sound |
and logical, full of telling points from first to |
last, and made ''the CALLED jade Democracy |
vince" Even ''little peanuts" either labor
ing under the lashings of guilty conscience
for the mean and contemplate things it has
said of the gentleman, first and last or TAX
ing counsel of its fears, came out the follow
ing morning with fair notice of the speech. |
The latter, without doubt. furnishes the true |
solution of this remarkable phenomenon, the
Call putting on garb of decency. The best |
possible feeling prevails in all our councils, |
foretelling of victories in all directions such |
as no political party has met with for years. |
God is on the side of right, and Republican,
ism must and will prevail.
THE MECHANICS FAIR
Closed on Saturday evening with great eclat
1t has been decided success every way
They will have cleared off the large debt
resting upon the Association when they went
into this enterprise. They have richly earned
their success, L. W.R.