Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1873-10-30
Horrible Scenes In Fever-Stricken
Memphis.
A correspondent writing from Memphis,
under q recent date. says:


worst of the terrible scourge which for the
lastmonth had made ourcity CITY OF fdeath;
The light frost which came at last seemed
to have so,ne effect in lesseaiag 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 l, 300
persons have died OF the disorder: Had
The average number OF deaths for the
whole 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, t number unparalleled
liz any visitation of the yellow fever IN
this country. 1t is in vain that one at
1empts to portray the lamentable condi-
ton OF 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 wan,
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 AMI moral, it is impos-
sible to do so with anything ike 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 beautl-
ful, named Matte Stevenson and Lulu
Wilkinson, are now lying desperately i'll
Of the fever at the Walthall 8nfrmary,
the victims Of THEN own disinterestedness
and philanthropy. The former. a native
of Illinois, was visiting some friends IN
Bloomington when intelligence that Mem
phis was In distress reached her. Saying
nothing of what she intended to do, she
immediately set out for this city, and,
reaching it, offered her services to the
President of the Howard Association
She was but nineteen or twenty years OF
age, and inexperienced in such duties as
she would have to undertake should her
olTersbe accepted. At first the President
vas 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 dellv
cred of child, and there, was no nurse at
hand. DR.. Blackburn sent to the Lehner
House for one, and Miss Stevenson volun
tesred. She nursed the poor patients ten
derly until they died., and then went to
the aid OF others, nursing an old man and
woman in Main street who 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 OF
I've patients. The severe labor she nm
derwent told upon her system. and on
Monday laat abe herself was strickea down
and taken to the iufrmsry, where she
now lies in o critical condition. Miss
Wilkinson, an orphan Of about the same
ago 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 the.highest of woman's rights,
q glory and ornament OF their sex. Mem
phis will never forget them.
The friends of the dead are sometimes
obliged to dig graves for them in the Gem
etery, 80 great is the demand for graves.
now. Sad as these scenes areas when
father in mute anguish, prepares the tomb
Tor a 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
lifc-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 were at the time somewhat
under the influence OF liquor The coffin
of their friend was takon 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
graveAwas 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 I entered a little house not far
from Happy Hollow where. while corpss
was living stark and stiff on wretched
settee, men and women were sitting round,
keenoing and drinking, and one young man
sat hopelessly drunk with lss head rest
ing on the leg ofthe dead body. Others
were resting about and looked ut 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 oy q boy who told him there
was a shoemaker named Armstrong up
stairs sick, and perhaps dead. The visitor
shook the door Of the mans room, but re.
eeiving no response, he burst it open, and
there, lying on his face on the floor, to
which it had tambled from the bed, was
the hideous, ghastly, and bloated form Of
Armstrong, who had evidently died seye-
raj days Eesore, alone and uncared for.
He bad contracted the fever while nurs-
ing his partner, who was carried to the
cemetery tie week before.
The police kaye had hard work Of it,
and have. well done their duty. They have
been called upon to DO q sorts Of work
tostake charge Of orphaxx to Jury the
dead leok after the sick, ses TO thieves
aud robbers tby tbs way, cfsirh has
been robbed OF solne OF its most iHpor-
tint ecclesiastical furniture), and in short,
70 wotk Iisa slaves. The city owes three
months salary TO the police force, some
Of the members Of whom eye in great dis
trsss on account Of deaths in their fami-
Iiss. and several Of whom have died of the
fever. Ths police spf the different cities
81 the Uninn might not DO doingill ahoald1
thew rsip6 d subscription tor their distress.
"a h,nskers i'd shis city The deatitution
asaefs all elssses except tas s;sb VIII lat!
81 Bcsss sIma sits ths black ftost ahsll