Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-10-22
HEROINES OF THE EPIDEMIC.
Misses Matte Stephenson, Of Illinois,
and Lula Wilkinson, OF Memphis.

and Lula Wilkinson, OF Memphis.
From the Mem phis Ledger, Oct. II.
In the midst OF so much suffering, dismay
and confnsioo, many noble acts are unre-
corded, and many hero or heroine IN
heard of except in the chamber of sickness
and death. Some ofthese are brought to
notice by mere chance, others will scarcely
be heard of until the great day of final &C.
counts. They can well afford to wait, for
an approving conscience is more to be de-
sired than any reward or plaudit of the
world.
There are two names, however, which
deserve more than accidental fame; two
girls who have risked their lives more than
ever did Florence nightingale; worth mo re
than a thousand fippant advocates OF
woman rights on the rostrum. They both
lie dangerously i'll with Fellow fever, at the
Walthall Infrmary, heroic sufferers in the
cause of humanity.
Their names are Matte Stevenson, of
Tonawanda, ILL.,, and Lula Wilkinson, of
Memphis-mere girls, scarcely twenty years
old. When the fever first broke out here
and the fact became known, Miss Steven
son was on visit to New England among
some relatives. She resolved to come here
10 nurse the sick, and without informing
any one Of her purpose lest her friends
might interfere, she left them, and came de
rectly to Memphis, paying her own way, and
rendered her services to the Towards. The
President sent her to the Lehner House TO
await orders. That night DIR. Blackburn
had terrible case, mentioned in the Ledger
at the time, Scotchwoman who died OF
the fever, unconscious that dead babe,
which had just come into the world, as yell
low as saffron, lay by her side. When he
sent to the Lehner House for q nurse, the
evening before the woman with the yellow
fever babe died, he was astonished to see
q young, delicate girl, not apparently eight
cen years old, present herself. No one else
could be had, and she promised to do all she
could. All night long, after the very even
ing she came to Memphis, she staid by The
dying woman and performed the part Of q
faithful nurse. She knew by instinct, as it
we're, what was required. Afterward she
was assigned to other patients, and in eve
ry case was faithful, efficient nurse.
Miss Wilkinson is Q Memphis girl, al
though we know little of her history except
that she is an orphan. She, too, offered her
services, and was most assiduous in her at
tentions to the sick. DR.. Blackburn will
testify that more efficient, skiIlful and en-
during nurses never stood around the bed
side of patient than Miss MATHS Stevenson
and Miss Lula Wilkinson.
But they worked too much. Both took
the fever, and they now lie dangerously III
at the Wslthsll Infmary, the PETE of DR..
Blackburn, who knows Whist noble s1uls
they are, and receiving all possible atten-
ton at the hands of the most skillful atten-
dants. Both are thought to be improving.
1t is to be hoped they will both recover,
and receive the recognition they so richly
deserve at the bands Of our best peo-
pie.
They are entitled to higher badge than
ever bestowed upon member of the Le-
gion of Honor, and when our troubles arc
epded, we hope they will have troops Of
friends to award them the praise they so
richly deserve.