Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1873-07-02

the home of his son-in-law, Judge Patter-.
| son, six miles east of Greeneville
THE TOWN.
We passed down to the business portion
of town, struck more than ever with its de-
serted appearance. We learned that
seventy-three families had left the
place, and we heard of three 9TH
ers that would leave yesterday.
Indeed, it seems as if all who can get
away are going. This has, of course, ere
ated panic, and to this much of the fatal
ity which has attended the disease may be
attributed.
STATEMENT OF CITIZENS.
I proceeded to the drug store of DR..
Smith, which is the busiest place in town,
where 1 met several leading citizens,
among them Col. f. A. Reeve, DR.. T.. b.
Smith, Rev. Mr.. Rankin, Mr.. Maloney,
Clerk of the County Court, Mr.. Self and
others. L inquired of them if the people
needed any assistance, telling them that
the citizens of Knoxville stood with open
purses, ready to relieve their wants so far
as money could do it. Some of them re-
piled very earnestly, "What we want is to
quiet the fears of our people and
allay excitement" They informed me
that no one in their knowledge
was suffering for proper food or for medi-
cine. DIR. Smith, who has been untiring
in his labors, informed me that none had
been refused medicine because they had no
means to pay for it. 1 was also informed
thai all had plenty of provisions 1t is
possible that some may have suffered for
the want of proper nursing, but to no
great extent.
a NOBLE BAND.
Too much can not be said in honor of
the ministers of the town who have been
so faithful in relieving the wants of the
people in this time of trial and sore afflic-
ton. They have worked constantly,
nursing and caring for the sick, and MN
istering consolation to the dying. Day and
night they have gone from house to house,
never stopping to think of the danger to
which they may be exposed. The striken
community will long remember, with feel
ings of deep gratitude, the names of Me-
Corkle, Steele, Rankin, Black, Hughes,
&c. The physicians also deserve honor
able mention. Without stopping to think
Of fee or reward, they have worked man
fully to meet and check the malady. The
resident physicians, Drs. Taylor and
Smith, have shed lustre on their profess
ion, which time cannot dim or efface. DR.,
Sewer, of Jonesboro' and Drs. Tadlock,
Ramsey and Campbell, have labored un-
ceasingly, and deserve the highest credit.
CAUSES OF DISEASE.
Physicians may and do differ as to what
Greeneville, but as far as / have heard any
expression, they all agree as to local excit-
ing cause. From them and from citizens,
learn that a public privy in the court house
yard, the contents of which have been re-
Gently removed, were the accumulation of
perhaps thirty years. This was, by an ell
terprising gardner, removed and hauled
through the streets few weeks ago, Just
at the commencement of hot summer
weather, and deposited north of the town,
in way to enrich his soil. A dashing
rain fell few days afterwards, and a large
quantity of this filth was washed down
through the town, leaving Dor
lions, no doubt, wherever distractions pre-
sented themselves, the larger portion how
ever being carried into a 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 without
pits, and the excrements left to wash
down into the creek, every time sufficient
rain falls to carry it away.
| leave it for 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 of such facts
as are stated above.
THE SICK.
In company with physicians, | visited
patients who were suffering from the dis
Ce'ocj OIS gin, WHO nau 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
we met Thos. Lane, ST., who
is So years old. He has been County Regis
ter of Greene county for thirty years. He
had just been visiting his son O short
distance in the country, who has the dis
ease. His son is 66 years of age.
THE DEAD.
learned that up to Sunday evening
here had been in all about Is deaths. AL
most the entire population has been sick,
out by far the larger number of cases yield
I'd readily to treatment. Some of the
leaths occurred in remarkably short time
lfter attacks. One colored man was taken
utter breakfast in the morning and died at
o'clock in the afternoon. The bereaye-
nents are of distressing character, some
# them. i. E. Mitchell has lost three
bright and lovely children, two girls and a
Every one, who entertains feelings of
humanity must sympathize with this peo-
lie. They have been scourged, to an ex-
ent, seldom experienced by an East Ten
lessee community. 1t has come most un-
expected. The place is proverbIal for
lealth. A clap of thunder in clear sky,
you'd not have been regarded stranger
'henomenon, than visitation of cholera
n Greeneville. There were no new cases
p to seven o'clock, A. M, yesterday, and