The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1873-11-06
Horribls sufbsrines Of the Poor IN Fever
3D. Stricken Memphis.

. Strlcken M0mpdlS
Icorrsspohasnse Of the New York world.l
l-.'''l1 % MEMPHIS, October II.
When I last wrote to you it was the gen.
ersl belief here that we had seen the worst
of. the terrible scourgo which for the last
month had made our city o city Of Death
The light frost which came at last seemed
to have some effect in lessening the num-
Der of persons attacked by the fever; but
the relief was only temporary, and almost
Immediately the death rate ran up again to
an enormous figure. It b now asserted
perhaps not on the most certain grounds
that within the eleven past weeks 1900
persons have died of the disorder. Had
the avefaee number Of deaths for the whole
time been what it has beam fos the rAst
'wsek-ussriy forty 9 day-we should have
to record about 1000 in less than two
months, 3 numhar unparalleled in any vista
ton of tbe yellow fever in this country. It
is in vain that one attempts to portray the
LAMENTABLE CONDITION OF THE CITY,
where all business save that Of the under
taker is perfectly stagnant; where the poor
are thrown out of employment, and have
nothing to think about but their present
misery and the vast probability Of their dy-
ing in want 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
the eudeavors which are put forth to allevi.
ate suffering, physical and moral, it is i'm
possible to do so with anything like thorough
ness Men and women make heroes and
martyrs of themselves, but q quot do more
than slightly oppose tho rushing current OF
death which sweeps them and those they
would help together into the gulf Of death.
Two noble women, young and beautiful,
named Matte Stevenson and Lula Wilkin-
son, are now lying desperately i'll Of the fe-
yer at the Walthall lnfrmary, the victims
of their own disinterestedness and philan-
tropy. The former, native Of Illinois, was
visiting some friends 10 Bloomington, when
intelligence that Memphis 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 offer be
accepted. At first the president was in.
clined not to accept her services, but she
insisted, and was cent to Lehner to await
orders. That night Scotch woman. i'll Of
the fever, was delivered Of q child, and there
was no nurse at hand. DR.. Blackburn sent
to the Lehnsr house for one, and Miss Ste.
venson volunteered. She nurssd the poof
pstients tenderly 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 chill
dren under their protection, two Of whom
were also now ILL., Afterwards she was sem
to house in Sullivan street to take charge
Of FIVE patients. The severe labor she un
derweut told upon her system, and on Mon
day last she herself was stricken down and
taken to the in6rmary, where she lies in I
critical condition. Miss Wilkinson, an or
phan about the same age as Miss Stevenson
also offered her services to the Howards
was accepted, worked heroically, and nov
lies tenderly cared for under the same roo
MS the other lady. She is now thonght u
be out Of danger. Other women have per
formed aud are performing similar duties
and living up to the highest Of woman''
rigts, q glory and ornament Of their sex.
Memphis will never forget them. Th'
friends of the dead are sometimes obliged t,
dig graves for them in the cemetery, 81
great is
THE DEMAND FOR GRAVES
now. Sad as these scenes areas when
father, in mute anguish prepares the tom
for beloved daughter or son, or the hus
band places in the cold earth the body Q
her who was dearer to him than his own lif
they sometimes we're accompanied wit