The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1873-03-29

the Ascension levees will be found
capable of protecting the parish from
overflow, else appearances are deceit
full.
Several new cases of smallpox have
appeared in town this week, as we
learn from perfectly reliable sources.
Some parties have suggested to us
that it would he we'll to endeavor to
conceal the disagreeable fact, for the
reason that the business of the town
merchants will suffer if the spread of
the disease becomes generally known
among the country people, but we
consider it our bounden duty as a cit
/ izen and a journalist to warn the peo-
pie Of their danger, in order that they
may use every precaution to avoid
contagion and keep the disease within
as narrow bounds as possible. There
are doubtless as many cases Of small
pox in the rural portions Of our par
ish as we have in town-certalnly
there have been as many, and perhaps
more, deaths-and it will be foolish
fear that will deter any of of our sub
urban friends from visiting town when
they have occasion. Ii the malady is
in the air, some other, method must
he adopted to avoid contracting it
than running away from a spot where
q case has appeared. Of course we do
not mean to say persons should cx-
ercise no care whatever in avoiding
immediate vicinities where the disease
is known to prevail, but we do say
one is no more safe from contagion by
merely doing this, than is the ostrich
out OF harms way when he hides his
head in the sand. Competent plysi-
clans should be consulted in regard to
the best means to employ to check the
spread of the epidemic. In the mean
time, every citizen has duty to per-
form in keeping his own premises i'll
a clearly condition, and it is to be
expected that no one will in the pres
ent grave emergency fail in the same.
| Two weeks since 4 man arrived in
our town, III poor apparel and with
appearance Of long continued dissipa-
ton, who gave his name as Talbert,
and claimed to have been during his
past life an Episcopalian minister and
at one time member Of the Kentucky
State Senate, representing Jefferson
county. 1t is known that the first
statement was correct, but as regards
the latter, we have no proof pro or
con. He came here with letter Of
recommendation to Rev. NJ. NJ. Dillon
from Rev. Mr.. Cameron of Assump-
ton, and remained several days, de-
pending entirely upon the charity of
Mr.. Dillon and Others for food and
shelter, and spending all the money
given him from time to time by COM
passionate persons, for liquor, to which
he was most abject slave. He de-
clared he had travelled from Vicks-
burg here OH foot, and expressed anx-
iety to reach New Orleans, for which
place he shortly set out. All thought
/ of the miserable creature had left our
mind, until yesterday, when friend
called our attention to a paragraph in
the New Orleans Republican under the
heading Of "Died Unattended" which
reads as follows: "a few days ago a
man registered his name as Rev. H. c..
Harris, in Cassidy's Hotel, and his
conduct being somewhat cratic, at
tracted attention. Apparently he
drank SO much as to keep under the
influence Of stimulants. He several
times conversed Familiarity with ser
wants, saying that he was in great
trouble. Wednesday morning ser
want failed to obtain response when