Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1872-11-01
OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE
The Horse MalRdy-Fearf0l RRvRges
Theatrical -DestructtVe COnnaEra-
ton. &C., &c.

The Horse Malady-FearfHI RRvHges
Theatrical -DestructiVe COnna9ra-
ton. &C., &c.
BOSTON, MASS, Oct. goth, 1872.
Dear Journal The horse epidemic,
which made its appearance in Boston and
vicinity few days ago, continues to spread
with astonishing rapidty. Thousands Of
cases are reported, many of which have
proved fatal. 1t is impossible to go out of
doors without noticing some instance of
the fearful distemper. Every second horse
you meet betrays symptoms of disease in a
Shiny discharge from the nOstrils, fire.
quently accompanied with blood. An Of
fensive cough also predicts speedy attack,
and the poor animal becomes weak and
falls, from utter exhaustion, in the street.
The contagious qualities of the malady can
no longer be doubted. Within twenty four
hours from the time one horse in a stable
is afflicted, several hundred. are unable to
perform duty.
The disease first broke out IN Canada,
and now bids fair to sweep the entire coun-
try, from North to South. The weather
only seems to aggravate it. Much sympa-
thy is manifested for stage owners and
stable keepers, whose pecuniary loss is
already large. The Boston Coach Com
pany have ninety sick horses, the Adams
Express Company forty, the Boston Ice
Company one hundred and twenty, and
every stable exhibits one or moro speci-
mems of suffering beasts. Many of the
street omnibuses have stopped running, on
account of the failure of horse power. The
superintendent of the horse railroads wear
long faces. Travellers arriving at the depots
are 10 longer distressed by impertinent
hackmen, as these worthless go about with
dropping heads and sorrowful hearts. The
aristOcratic lady cannot now order her car
riage at will. Merchants are obliged to
hire men and boys to deliver goods by
hand, as express wagons are few and far
between. Unusual quiet reigns in the
streets. The stony pavements reverberate
the sound of but comparatively few vehi-
cles. The subject of conversation every
wher is horse! Even the question e'Shall
it be Horace or Ulysses" is forgotten in
the present excitement. The progress of
business has been sadly impeded, and if
the disease continueszto increase, serious
trouble will ensue. The limited number
of horse doctors have been kept continu-
ally on the move, but their remedies have.
in most cases, had no effect Whatever,
With trepidation we await further develop
ments.
The theatre business is somewhat dull,
although the Lydia Thompson troupe are
doing their prettiest at the Globe. Lydia
appears as Sir Rupert, the Reckless, in
Lurline,' and is ably supported. "Wild
| Oats" is the chief attraction at the Muse
UNI, and it is really fine thing Miss
Annie Clark is, without doubt, one of the
best actresses that ever graced the stage,
and the most tastidious person cannot fail
to be pleased with her acting. The Mu-
scum will never lack patronage while Miss
CT ark is the "star,"
The Natural History rooms have been
closed to the public in consequence of ill.,
juries done to the building and collections
10y visitors.
Mr.. and Mrs. Tom Thumb, Commodore
Mutt and Minnie Warren are displaying
their statue and fine clothes at the fremont
Temple. These distinguished little
people" are just from the Court of Royalty,
where they have met with glorious re-
ception. They will probably visit all our
principal cities during the winter. George
Macdonald will give his celebrated lecture
on atom Hood" in Boston, to morrow.
The store of S. S. Houghton & Co.,
known as the Ladies' Pavilion" at Nos
50 and 81 fremont street, was destroyed
by contiagration on Tuesday night. MIR.
Houghton estimates his loss a. $3.50, 900.
They were insured only to the amount of
100000. By the fire nearly one hundred
girls have been thrown out of employment.
L, f. II,