Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1873-06-27
SCARED TO DEATH.

SCARED TO DEATH.
The following highly sensational dis
patch came to hand at noon to-dal
among the LEDGER's regular kilograms
and we single it out as the text for few
remarks .. 80,
WASHINGTON. June 20, 1873.
A gentleman just arrived from Nash
vile says that half is not known IN re
gard 10 the ravages by cholera there
The courts, schools, banks and nearly
every place Of business is closed. 81
lence. disease and death reign supreme.
Not less than $4,000 people have fled
the city, and the rest are leaving as last
as they can obtain transportation.
This sounds like the thrilling tale oil
some swift footed deserter, who was not
exactly in the battle, but was the first to
relate the news, feeling that his own i'm
portance is magnifed, for the moment
at least, in proportion to the size of the
tale he tells. The press agent who in
teryiewed this breathless Cassabianca,
who stood so long among the dead aud
diving, and was the last TO flee whence
all but him had fed might have increased
the value of his public services by CIV
ing the name Of the reliable " gentle
man. Perhaps he is the gallant
pension agent who telegraphed from
Nashville a CHASTITY story few
days ago aud asked permission to remove
his office to Chattanooga. If not, was
he white or colored2 and what kind of
cholera mixture did he use to preserve
his inestimable life2 He is no doubt of
the same general get-up as the commits
sary who remained on the south bank Of
the Cumberland river during the battle
Of Mill Spring, and when the Confeder-
ates began to fall back and cross over,
betook himself to Knoxville, making the
trip across the mountains on horseback
one hundred and thirty miles-in day
aud night, and giving full particulars of
the fight two or three days ahead OF any
other courier Such reports cannot now
injure either Nashville or Memphis,
for the people naturally surmise and be-
lieve the worst, and do not always accept
the most explicit and authentic reports
Trade is dull, and might as we'll be sus-
pended in both places, but there is no
reason or sense in such wild and exag-
gerated reports. The papers Of Nash
vile have from the first, to their honor
be it said, given full details OF the raw
ages Of cholera in that city since its
appearance. They not only report all
the intermenls made by undertakers.
giving name, residence, etc, but all
deaths reported from the suburbs and
surrounding country. As to people |
leaving the city, this fact has been freely |
mentioned from day to day. The
truth itself is bad enough, but the
world has an indispensable contempt
for the shivering coward who goes off a
thousand miles without stopping, to there
retail his morbid fancies and multiply
ten-fold the suIerings and sad calami
ties OF a noble city. A few such cravens
have gone forth from Memphis, but they
have not been missed. nor will their re-
turn be felt. Happily this remark APP
plies to only few, for out of the four or
five thousand perhaps who have left, the
most had their arrangements to 90 for
and their departure was not
fastened by the increased mortality in
our midst. Many more expect to leave
for the summer as usual, but have de-
layed starting for the disease to abate
lest they might take it away from home
and not have the treatment which can be
summoned here at half an hours no.
tice. Every interment made here by an
undertaken is published in the LEDGER
aud other papers. The same is done in
Nashville, aud we advise the public to
give some eredence to men who stand at
their posts, and have no motive for mis-.
representing, instead of believing the
refugees who are framing excuses for
their flight and for non-payment of hotel
and liquor bills. So look out for the cbol-
era dead-beat, whose voice is heard in
the land, for he has little money in bis
pocket, and had no business there or c
slsewhere) to abandon