The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1873-11-06

| ludicrous circumstances, If desth can ever
be thus accompanied. A few days ago {
young man died who numbered among hil
friends and many Of the "boon eompanions'
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 under the influence Of liquor
The coffin of their friend was taken from
the hearse and laid beside several others, SO
that the hearse might Immediately return
to the city for more dead bodies. When the
grave was dug the young men who had used
whisksy freely, could not tell which was the
coffin they wished to lay in it. To settle
the question they drew lots, and and tho
corpse upon which the lot fell vas inferred,
though not one Of the mournsrs could posi-
lively say whether or not they had inferred
their friend, The most horrible and
DISGUSTING LEvITY
is sometimes to be witnessed. Night before
last entered little house not far from
Happy Hollow, where, while corpse was
lying stark and stiff on xretched settes,
men and women were sitting round grooming
and drinking, and one young man sat hope
lessly drunk with his head resting on the
leg Of the dead body. Others were reeling
about aud looked ct me with vacant and
stupid ferocity as I entered to see that the
body should be removed. But these are
sights which are simply sad and disgusting:
A friend Of mine was to-day on his round
in search of persons down with the disease,
and, knocking at the door Of the house 63
Jefferson street, was answered by boy who
told him that there was shoemaker named
Armstrong up stairs sick, and perhaps dead.
The visitor shook the door ofthe mans room,
but receiving no response, hurst il open, and
there, lying on it's face on the floor, to which
il had tumblsd from the bed, was the hid
eous, ghastly and bloated form Of Armstrong,
who had evidently died several days before,
alone and uncared for. He had contracted
the fever while nursing his partner, who was
carried to the cemetery the week before.
The fever has received new names, being
called not only by its old title Of yellow
Jack" but also "bronse jack, ""ssfron jack"
and even johnny vomito," 20 You may sec
how much of bravado and carelessness, or
the affectation oft, there is in Memphis. The
feeling which prompts to such levity ID part
ly hystsrical, but partly also the result Of
growing
FAMILIARITY WITH TIE PRsTHENCH,
for in this case as in others, strange - it
seems, familiarity breeds contempt. In
such times also it is . real relief from the
misery By which people are surrounded 70
make joke, although any personal sppliea-
ton of it is sure instantly to awaken doEing
fear and rouse paroxysm Of indignation.
Two friends met tho other day in Exchange
street, and were talking at first seriously
and then in triAing vein about the fever,
when one-s well.known practical joker
suddenly said: "Why, what's the matter,
Bill? Your face is turning yellow a. an
orangew Hardly were the words out Of his
mouth when he found himself lying on the
ground, Knocked down by blow from his
friend whose face was not yellow, but only
little placr Just then. Peoples faces
are apt to get white now when any such re.
marks are made. The police: have had hard
work of it, and have well done their duty.
They have been called upon to do
ALL SORTS OF WORK
to take charge Of orphans, to bury the dead,
look after the sick, SEQ to thieves and robbers
(by the way, church has been robbed OF
some Of it's most important ecclesiastical
furniture } and, in short, to work like slaves.
The city owes three months salary to tho po-
Goo forca soma of the members of which arc in
great distress on account of deaths in their
families, and several Of whom have died OF
the fever. The police Of the different cities
of the Unoin might not be doing i'll should
they raise subscription for their distressed
brothers in this city. The destitution
among all classes except the rich will last
for some time after the black frost shall have
come and relieved US from any distress from
the fever itself, and to aid in the ameliors'
tion of this suffering much money will yet b
needed. Winter is coming and though II Ii
not 80 severe here as it Il in tho North, ys'
it will occasion great amount OF distress
among the poor if money shall not b forth.
coming. After the plague has disaPpeared;
there will be widows and orphans to be cared
for, and people whose health has been broker
down BY the severest sickness and suffering
In my last letter / took occasion 70 to spssl
Of the
DEVOTION OF THl cLIRG1.
The Protestant clsry have been svsrywhsr'
devoting their lives and energies TO the q
deviation af the sick. They have knslt b.
the bedside of the sufferers aud cheered then
in their last moment Of life; have gone int
palaces and novels, have done their dut!
wherever duty called them. Many OF then
have fallen victims to their seal for humani
ty. Not less patient and enduring have beef
the Catholic priests, FIVE Of whom have diet
of the fever, contracted in the line Of duty
First died Father Daily, and then Father
Carey, O'Briep, Lee and shsehy. =, In ses
Ill -