Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1873-07-15
PEN PICTURE OF GREENE
WILLIE IN ITS DESOLA-
TION.
The Beautiful Little Town AL
most Entirely Deserted.
Full Particulars of the ScOurge.

Rev. C. ". Charlton writes the fol-
lowing to the Press and Herald.
On THE WING, July 9th, 1878,
EDITORS PRESS AND HERALD-Pas-
sing by Greeneville today, on my way
to Blountville, the frightful scourge
which has terribly and so sweepingiy
afflicted that community, was brought
To ray attention i'll the most striklng
manner. I had read, to-be-sure, every
morning, with painful emotions, tie
newspaper accounts of IL, but these
did not and could not make the I'M
preston which nearer approach to
1t would necessarily make. Nhen L
reached the Greeneville depot, and
cast my eyes toward the town whefe
I had been only a short time before,
and where ] found robust health pre-
vailing among all the citizens, l.
seemed to me as If was looking upon
a place smitten of God and doomed TO
destruction. There was a
DISMAL OUTLOOK
in all directions, which no language
can portray, and there was Loneliness
that was oppressive. seemed to be
walking forth in the city of the dead,
soiourning with lifeless forms and COM
nuning with departed spirits. The
citizens of your own heaven-faVored
metropolis can form no correct idea OF
the full extent and effects of this won
derful scourge. / am not eXtravagant
when declare TO you that 1t surpasses
ANYTHING of the kind ever witnessed
in this country. The like has never
been heard of before. l was IN the
midst of the scourge which decimated
your city some twenty years ago, Dut
that was not comparable with it. 1t
was a eight afflictiOn" compared
with this. Able-bodied men strong
and athletic, and vigorous women ana
children were slain in rapid succession
by the disease. One hour you Wouid
see ali active man moving along the
streets, with DO indications OF sickness
and the next a helpless victim or the
cholera. The undertakers were kept
busy day and night, and even then, as
l am informed, could not meet
THE DEMAND FOR CoFFINs-
II was impossible to check its progress
II moved onward, defying all remedies
and prostrating almost every hai'
woman aud child in its pathway
OF course under these circumstances
the community became terror-strickeh
and many of the citizens hed 10 oeh1F
parts. Only few remained. some OF
choice to take care of the SICK. ana
others because they could not get away;
Too much praise cannot be awarded
tn those who had the courage ana the
humanity to brave all dangers and 10
remain i'm the midst of death. L am
told that there are not now more man
ton or twelve families in the place.
II ia deserted, but the cholera has not
If still reigns and gloats IN Its nlerci-
loss triumphs. To-day | learned OF
four DEATH and of one new case that
will probably prove fatal. 1t is MIS-
take that it is abating. OF course
there are not so many deaths, IQr Tue
reason that there are so few pessons I'D
the town,
OF EX-PRESIDENNT JOHN
son.
Andrew Johnson did not escape.
He remained at nome until be was at
tackled, and then left for his country
residence. near HendersOn's Depot.
After a fierce struggle with the dis
ease. he rallied and got better, but, al
forwards, took a relapse and came
near dying. His physician, DR..
Rroyles, was Immediately sent for,
who watched his bedside for one
whole night, never leaving him for a
moment. and finally succeeding In
hi - 10 pass the crisis. 1T Is
said of Mr. johnson that while he was
at home, he did all ne
could to administer to the wants of the
sick and the dying. was told, to-day
by gentleman, who seemed to know
what he was talking about, that eX-
President intends leaving Greeneville
and will settle in one of the three
places Knoxville, Nashville or
Washington City. He certainly would
Iuake q valuable acquisition to any