Beaufort Republican. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1871-1873, 1872-06-20
Smallpox on the Ocean.

from Bremen, comes terrible tale OF
woe. To the dangers and perils OF the
seas were added the manifold terrors of
the malignant smallpox, scarlet fever,
and measles, which caused the death of
several of tue crew and many of the pas
sengers. The vessel had been but two
days out of Bremen when one of the sea-
men was taken i'll, and in short time his
disease had so far developed that his ship
mates were made aware that he was suf-
fering from smallpox. Huddled together
on the ship were 474 passengers, emf
grants to this country. Precautions were
at once taken to prevent the spread of
the disease, but others of the crew were
already infected, and forced to succumb.
Among the passengers were, many women
and children. Soon deaths began to be
frequent. The sailor who was fist taken
i'll, died, and was sewed up in canvas and
cast overheard. Already had the small
pox communicated itselfto the passengers.
Strong men awoke in the morning anable
to leave their berths, and the tell-tale red
blotches that soon made their appearance
told all too plainly why they were weak.
Rapidly the disease was inoculated into
the system of fellow passengers, and eacll
succeeding day brought fresh cases.
As the bark was sailing vessel the
provisions of the law did not demand that
its complement of officers should include
a physician. Captain Christopher, who
commanded, although an able sailor, was
better versed in navigation than medicine.
The only antidotes obtainable were those
which were in the medicine chest. These
were distributed as was thought best, and
every effort was made to prevent the gen
eral spread of the disease. Hardly had
the officers begun to hope for success
when new horrors were added to the
measure that seemed already to be over
flowing. Scarlet fever and measles be
gan to appear among the children. Moth
ers were prostrated with the smallpox,
and the little ones in many instances suf-
fered for the care that might have saved
their lives. Many Of them were mere in
fants, and their little frames withstood
the ravages of disease but day or two
at most. Thus whole families perished,
and one after the other were sunk into
the sea. Thelog of the ship tells amourn-
full tale of mortality. Twenty children,
number of them babes, who fell sick in
their mothers arms, died before reaching
Sandy Hook. The majority fell victims
to measles, but scarlet fever and small
pox also did their work. Five adult pas
sengers and one seaman died of smallpox,
and one seaman of scarlet fever, during
the voyage-twenty seven deaths in all.
No sooner had the Athena dropped her
anchor than she was quarantined, and Or
dered fumigated and cleaned. Those who
were still suffering with the disease were
removed to the hospital.
Although the emigrant officers were in
clined to lay the blame to inferior food,
the captain AYERS that the provisions were
both good and abundant, and seems to
think that the disease was fostered y the
dirty habits of the emigrants, who were
chiefly Poles Nothing, he declares, short
of physical violence could induce them 20
wash. On their arrival, they were told
if they did not wash they would be sent
to prison. Men and women then washed
on the deck, and did SO with great earn
estness.