Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1874-04-23
THE GREAT PLAGUE OF 1864.

now the admiration of the world.
THE GREAT PLAGUE OF 1864.
In September, 1864 it was ascertalned by
the letters of merchants that the plague had
appeared in Holland, and much fear existed
lest the contagion, by means of ships, should
spread to England. The first evidence that
the pestilence had really appeared in London
was given by the death, toward the end of the
following November, of two men of that dis
ease in Long Acre, or, at any rate, in the up
per part of Drury Lane. A third death from
the same cause occurred in the last week OF
December, and, to the CONSERVATION Of the
city, fourth in February.
In few weeks the mortality became so
great that the alarmed inhabitants began to
hurry out of town, and in time the traffic on
the streets consisted chiefly of coaches and
wagons, in which entire families were to be
seen making their escape to the country. In
deed, so great was the demand for horses,
that at length not one was to be got for hire
at any price. But before being permitted to
pass through any towns on the road, or to
lodge at any inn, it was necessary to have
certificate Of health from the Lord Mayor;
and the general impatience to obtain this, and
to get out of town as quickly as possible, was
much increased by rumor that an order Of
the Government was to be issued to place bar
riers in the road to prevent people travelling.
Thus vast crowd Of persons was to be seen
surrounding the Mansion House door, and
pressing forward to get certificates of health.
Ere long many of the once busy streets were
totally deserted, whole rows Of houses being
shut up, all their inhabitants having fled. In
Holborn, the few passers-by walked in the
middle of the street only, and were careful
not to brush against any one. So great had
become the exodus that one Of the widest
thoroughfares in the city presented the ap-
pearance of a green field. Grass grew in
Leadenhall Street and Bishopsgate, and Corn
hill was scarcely misnomer.
Instead of attributing the disease to natural
causes, such as impure air and water, and ex-
erting themselves to improve the sanitary
condition of the city, the inhabitants had re-
course to witches and so-called magcians,
from whom they received charms against in
fection, which they wore round their necks.
The terrified inhabitants attached much i'm
portance to dreams as omens. Indeed, many
persons imagined they heard supernatural
voices and saw visions both by day and night.
Even in the streets crowds of people were to
be seen, forgetful for the moment Of the danger
of such close personal contact with their tel-
lows, and earnestly contemp plating some fan.
cied figure in the sky. An old woman would
perhaps declare that she saw hand come
out of a cloud, holding flaming sword over
the city, when her assertion would Immediate
ly be corroborated by several others, whose
credulity gave ample proof of the truth ofthe
observation that ignorance is the mother OF
superstition. Some said they saw cofins and
hearses in the air; others believed they saw
heaps of unburied dead in the clouds II
any one denied the reality of such visions, he
was regarded as an in6del and scoffer.
Pretended sorcerers went about dressed in
black velvet Jackets and wearing black cloaks,
and wherever they were seen they were follow
ed by crowd of superstitous persons, who
eagerly questioned them with regard to the
duration Of the plague. Sigu-b boards inscribed
with "Here lives fortune-teller," or "Here
dwells an astrologer," were commonly seen on
house fronts, proving that many were to be
found willing to make profit out Of this ca.
lamitous visitation.
The general alarm was also increased by
others of totally different class. These
we're men who, being in frantic state of fear,
were unable to settle at home, but rushed
abroad, inspiring terror in others by their
doleful lamentations Some went about in
imitation of Jonah, crying, "Yet forty days
and London shall be destroyed" One half
naked man ran through the streets night and
day, uttering, in a loud and solemn voice,
20, the great and the dreadful God"
The very robbers and murderers were at
fected by the general panic, and went about
the streets confessing long concealed crimes,
and earnestly imploring divine mercy; but
few needed them, and these criminals had
nothing to fear from any human tribunal in a
state of society so disorganized as that of the
year 1865. The constable would haveshrunk
from putting his hand on the arm of the
greatest thief, for he might possibly be plague
stricken. Even had he been arrested, there
would have been none to try him, for the law
courts were closed, and judge and counsel,
trembling for their lives, had left the metrop'
oils far behind them.
In accordance with the order of the Lord
Mayor, every house visited by the pestilence
was marked by a red cross, about foot long,
together with the inscribed words, "Lord have
mercie upon U.S." AlliDgress and egress were
strictly prohibited, and to enforce this COM
mand watchman was appointed to each in.
fected dwelling. 1t was he who went upon all
necessary errands for the family, and kept the
key of the house, which was never unlocked
except by himself In the morning he en-
tered to ift on the end of his staff, the mar.
ket basket left in the passage for him, and
which contained, written on paper, the orders
for the day, and money to purchase what was
wanted. On returning, he placed the basket
within the Threshold and relocked the door,
and so he continued to act till the day came
when he found the basket of provisions just as
he had left it, and then he knew that all in
the house we're dead Not unfrequently the
watchman himself died, and his place was at
once filled by another. There was no lack of
men for such employment, for great number
of people were out Of work, owing to the
utter stagnation of trade The manufactures
were rejected by other nations, and artisans,
if they would not starve, were obliged to be-
come sections. TO insist upon shutting up
each plague-stricken house proved to be a
great hardship, but the authorities were mex
orabe. If one of the maidservants of city
merchant sickened with the fatal malady, her
master was at once prevented from going out
to business, and became, with his wife, family,
and other domestics, prisoner in his own
house. Thus dozen or more persons might
be placed in confinement on account of one,
and confinement with the diseased person in
volved almost certain death.
In many instances the law was evaded. |
L Ill ! x,:.,1~ H.