Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1873-10-30
Horrible Scenes In Fever-Stricken
Memuhis.

Memphis.
A correspondent writing from Memphis,
under recent date. says:
When last wrote TO you it WAS the
general belief here that we had seen the
worst of the terrible scourge which for the
lastmonth had made our city a city ofdesth.
The light frost which came at last seemed
to have some effect in lssseuiag the num-
Der of persoas attacked by the foyer, but
the relief was only temporary, and almost
immediately the death rate ran up again
to an enormous figure. 1t is now asserted
perhaps not OH the most certain grounds
-that within the eleven past weeks |, 800
persons have died OF the disorder. Had
the average number OF deaths for the
who!e time been what it has been for the
past week-ncarly forty cay-we should
have to record about 5000 burials in less
than two months, It number unparalleled
in any visitation of the yellow fever IN
this country. It Is IN vain that one at
fetapts to portray the lamentable condi-
ton oil the city, where all business save
that Of the undertaken is perfectly stag
nant; where the poor are thrown out OF
employment and have nothing to think
about but their present misery and the
vast probability of their dying in want
and deserted by their friends. They come
together and talk only of the scourge,
which even more than others they have
reason to dread. Notwithstanding all thu
endeavors which are put forth to alleviate
suffering, physical an, moial, it is impos-
sble to do so with ANYTHING like thorough
ness. Men and women make heroes and
martyrs of themselves, but cannot do more
than slightly oppose the rushing current
of disease and death which sweeps them
and those they would help together into
the gulf of death.
Two noble women, Young and beauti-
suI, named Matte Stevenson and Lulu
Wilkinson, are now living desperately i'll
of the fever at the Walthall 8nirmary,
the victims of THEN own disinterestedness
and philanthropy. The former, q native
of Illinois, was visiting some friends In
Bloomington when intelligence that Mem
phis was lii distress reached her Saying
nothing of what she intended to do, she
Immediately set out for this city, and,
reaching ii, offered her services to the
President of the Howard Association
She was hut nineteen or twenty years OF
age, and inexperienced in such duties a.
she would have to undertake should her
oiTer.be accepted At first the President
was inclined not to accept her services.
but she insisted and was sent TO the Leh-
ncr House to await orders. That night
Scotch woman, i'll of the fever, was deliv
cred of child, and there, was no nurse at
hand. DR.. Blackburn sent to. the, Lehner
House for one, and Miss Stevenson yolun
tesred. She nursed the poor patients ten
derly until they died., and then went to
the aid of others, nursing IN old man anc
woman in Main street whc had that very
morning taken four orphan children under
their protection, two Of whom were also
now i'll. Afterwards she WAS sent to a
house in Sullivan street to take charge ol
I've patients. The severe labor she un.
derwent told upon her system, and on
Monday last she herself was stricken down
and taken to the infrmary, where she
now lie. in O. critical condition. Miss
Wilkinson, an orphan Of about the same
age as Miss Stevenson, also offered her,
services to the Howards, was accepted,
worked heroioally, and now lies tenderly
cared for under the same roof as the other
lady. She is now thought to be out Of
danger. Other women have performed
and are performing similar duties. and
living up to thehighest Of womans rights.
glory and ornament of their sex. Mem
phis will never forget them.
The friends of the dead are sometimes
oblis. ID to dig graves for them in the Gem
ctery, 60 great is the demand for graves
now. Sad as these scenes areas when
father in mute anguish, prepares the tomb
Tor beloved daughter or son, or the hus-
band places in the cold esrth the body OF
her who was dearer to him than his own
liie-they sometimes arc accompanied with
ludicrous circumstances, If death ever can
be thus accompanied A few days ago
Young man died who numbered among
his friends many of the "boon compan-
ions" and roysterers Of the city. Several
of these determined to take the body to
the cemetery, and see it properly cared
for. They we're at the time somewhat
under the influence OF liquor The coffin
of their friend was taken from the hes rse
and laid beside several others, so that the
hearse might Immediately return to the
city for more dead bodies. When the
graveSwas dug the young men, who had
used whisky freely, could not tell which
was the coffin they wished to lay in it.
TO settle the question they drew lots, and
the corpse upon which the lot fell was in
earthed, though not one of The mourners
could positively say whether or not they
had inferred their friend.
The most horrible and disgusting levity
is sometimes to be witnessed Night be-
fore last entered little house not far
from Happy Hollow where, while corpse
was lying stark and stiff on wretched
settee, men and women were sitting round.
keenoing and drinking, and one young man
sat hopelesslv drunk with lks head rest
i,,y on the leg of the dead body. Others
were resting about and looked at me with
vacant and stupid ferocity as entered to
see shat the body should be removed. But
these are sights which are simply sad and
Disgusting. a friend OF mine was to- day
on his rounds in search Of persons down
with the disease, and, knocking at the
door of the house No. 63 Jefferson street.
was answered by boy who told him there
was a shoemaker named Armstrong up
stair, sick, and perhaps dead. The visitor
shoolS the door OF the mans room. but re-
ceiving no response, he burst it open. and
there, lying on his face on the floor, to
which It bad tambled from the bed, was
the tideous, ghastly, and bloated form Of
Armstrong, who had evidently died seye-
sat days before, alone and uncared for
He had contracted the fever while nurs-
ing tis partner, who was carried to the
cemetery TIE week before.
sT The police Aase had hard work of it,
and have well done their duty. They have
been called upon to DO = ] sorts Of work
totake charge Of oforpaaas. to oury the
dead, leek alter the sick, ses 70 thieves
and robbers lby the way, aeci,#irh has
been robbed o{ some OF its most iwpor-
ztant ecclesiastical furniture, and in short,
10 w,,rk Ike slaves. The city owes three
months salary to the police force, some
of the members Of whom eve in great dis
tress on account Of deaths in their fami-
lbs. sa,d several Of whom baye diod ofthe
fever The police of the different Cites
- ~ L. al a. .,.fa