Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-07-03
CHOLERA In GRERNEVILLE.
The Malady and its Causes-A Desert
Il ed E0wn. IG gs

On Sunday morning, after hearing re-
ports of The distressing state of affairs in
the town of GreenevilIe, and after consult
ing with several of the ministers and eiti-
zens of Knoxville, l determined to visit
/ the scourged community, and see for my
self as much of the true condition Of affairs
as could be realized from short visit. The
eastern bound mail train had very lew
passengers. These were from the South,
| some OF them going East to spend the sum-
/ mer, others were on their way to Europe.
| Among the latter was Hon. II. II. Harrison
| of Nashville. About the only topic of con-
| versation was the prevailing disease" and
the pinched, care-worn features of some
| testified their acquaintance with the "man
i with the black valise." We reached Greene
vile about half past four O'Clock in the af-7
| ternoon. Everything around the place
wears a mournfnl look. A drenchiDg rain
was falling Just as we arrived, and turbid
streams of water were dashiDg here and
there, and nature seemed TO be mocking the
| deserted village in its deep distress. lE
Eek PRESIDENT JOHNSON. g--1
| Ex.President johnson was Just leaving,
with the advice of physicians. He APP
peared very unwell, and seemed in de p
sympathy with the distress which has fallen
upon his lifelong neighbors. We Learn
that be left only after the most urgent sOli-
citation of his friends, including physicians.
| He had been troubled for two days with
the premonItory symptoms of the prevailing
disease. He will remain for few days at
the home of his son in-law, Judge Patter-
son, six mills east of GreeneVile. -..s
| E s.-f THE TOWN.. ~ 800.
! We passed down to the business portion
of town, struck more than ever with its
| deserted appearance. We learned that
| seven y-three families had left the place,
and we heard of t rec others that would
leave yesterday. Indeed, it seems IS il all
who can get away are going. This has, Of
course, created a panic, and to this much
of the fatality which has attended tho dis
ease may be attributed. r.--- Ed
STATEMENT OF CITIZENS.
proceeded to the drug store of DR..
Smith, which is the busiest place in town,
where met several leading citizens, among
them Col. f. A. Reeve, DR.. E. B. Smith,
Rev. Mr.. Rankin, Mr.. Maloney, Clerk of the
County Court, Mr.. Self and others, Iinquir-
ed of them if the people needed any assist
ance, telling than that he citizens of Knox
vile stood with open purses, ready to relieve
their wants so far as money could do it.
Some of them replied very earnestly,
"What we want is to quiet the tears of our
people ard allay excitement" They in
formed me that no one in their knowledge
was suffering for proper food or for medi-
cine. DIR. Smith, who has been untiriDg
in bis labors, informed me that none had
been refused medicine because they had no
means to pay for IL. l was also informed
ttat all had plenty of provisions. 1t is
possible that some may have suffered for
tie, want of proper nursing, but to no
great extent.
l A NOBLE BAND.
Too much eau not be said in honor Of
the ministers of the town who have been
so faithful in relieving the wants of the peo-
pie in this time of trial and sore affection.
They have worked constantly, nursing and
caring for the sick, and ministering conso-
lation to the dy ing. Day and night they
have gone from house to house, never stop
ping TO think of the danger to which they
may be exposed. The stricken commu-
nifty will long remember, with feelings OF
deep gratitude, the names Of McCorale,
STEELE, Rankin, Hughes, etc. The physi-
clans also deserve honorable mention.
Without stopping to think of fee or reward,
they have worked manfully to meet and
check the malady. The resident physicians,
Drs. Taylor and Smith, have shed lustre
on their profession, which time c-nnot dim
or effsce. DR.. Sewer Of Jonesboro, and
Drs. Tsdlock, Ramsey and Campbell, have
labored increasingly, and deserve the high
est credit.
CAUSES OF DISEASE.
Physicians may and do differ to as what
the disease is that has been so fatal to
Greeneville, but IS far as l have heard any
expression, they all agree as to local exciting
cause. From them and from citiz aus, learn
that public privy in the Courthouse yard,
the contents of which have been recently
removed, were the &C humiliation Of perhaps
thirty years. This was, by an euteTprising
gardener, rem owed and hauled through the
streets few weeks ago, just at the COM
mencement Of hot summer weather and de-
posted north of the town, in way to en-
rich his soil. A dashing rain fell few days
afterwards, and a large quantity of this !
filth was washed down through the town,
leaving portions, 70 doubt, wherever OBJ
structions presented themselves, the larger !
portion however being carried into creek |
which runs through the town from east to
west. Cases of The disease have occurred |
three miles out of town, along this creek.
In addition to this, many privies are built
wash down into the creek, every time suti
cient rain fails to carry il away.
| leave it 70 physicians to say what the |
real cause Of the disease may be, but an
unprofessional eye can see that disease is |
likely to follow the existence CT such facts |
as are stated above. 'r
THE SICK.
In company with physicians 1 visited
~ ff.,,~,v,r hn
ease, one Il colcred girl, who had suffered |
severely, and the other, Mr.. James Lane, a
son of the County Register. They were
both doing well and likely to recover. AS
an evidence of the usual good health of
Greeneville, we met Thomas Lane, ST.,
who is SO Yeas old. He has been County
Register of Greene county 70. 80 years. He |
had Just been visiting bis son short dis
lance in the country, who has tie disease.
His sen is Go years of age.
THE DEAD.
l learned that up to Sunday evening
there had reen in all about Is deaths. Al
m ost tie entire population has been sick,
but by far the larger number OF cases
yielded readily to treatment. Some of the
deaths occurred in remarkably short time |
after attacks. One colored man y as taken !
after breakfast in the morning and died at
2 o'clo OK in the afternoon. The bereave- !
ments are of distressing character, some
of then. E. E. Mitchell has lost three |
bright and lovely children, two girls and a |
boy. .
Every che who entertains feelings of hui
marty must sympathize with this people. |
They have been scourged to an extent sell |
dom experienced by an East Tennessee |
community. It has come most unxpected. |
The place is proverbial for heath. A clap |
of thunder in clear sky, would not have |
been regarded stranger phenomenon than |
a visitation of cholera in Greeneville. |
There were no new cases up to seven |
O'Clock A. NJ, yesterday, and strong hopes |
are entertained that the disease has spent |
its fury and will now abate. We sincerely |
trust this may be so, and that the good peo |
pie of Greeneville may be permitted to re- |
TURF to their naturally lovely homes, in the |
enjoyment of health and prosperity. Their |
sore adversely may serve to teach, MOI only |
to Greeneville, but every other town and |
city in the country valuable lesson.