The Andrew County Republican. [volume] (Savannah, Mo.) 1871-1876, 1876-10-19
The Yellow Fever ScOurge In
Savannah.

C0n~rtef-J0urndt writes as follows from
Atlanta: This city is full Of strangers,
including large numbers Of yellow fever
refugees from Savannah and Brunswick.
The terrible epidemic which is ravag-
ing those two cities has cast a gloom
over the people Of the entire State. Ex-
pressing a desire to get the fullest pos
sible information in regard to those un-
fortunate cities, Mr.. w. ID. Chipley,
General Southern Agent Of the Virginia
Midland route, and a brother of Col.
Steve Chipley, Clerk of the Louisville
Chancery Court, introduced me to AL
bert II. Lamar, formerly editor Of the
Savannah advertiser. Col. Lamar gave
me agraphic description of the terrible
scourge that has befallen Savannah and
Brunswick.
The fever was discovered to be cpl
demic Aug. 20. The discovery fell like
a thunderbolt from a cloudless sky u
the people of Savannah-it was SO Who'll
ly unlocked for-as since the war Sa-
vannah had perfected an excellent sys-
TEN of drainage and built water-works,
which afford a full supply of pure water;
and the police, in addition to their other
duties, arc made sanitary inspectors;
and there had been no yellow fever to
speak of since 1858; and besides, for a
number of years past, the summer sea-
son has been the healthiest portion Of
the year in Savannah. The disease
was not imported, but originated
in Savannah. The causes we're the
very extraordinary rainfall in June Of
lSi inches, which overlooked the rice
fields near the city and remained there
under q temperature of over 80 degrees
for sixty days, with an easterly wind
from off the Gulf stream since April.
From the very beginning the disease
was of the most malignant type and de-
fed all efforts to control it, and the
death rate ran up as high as forty.eight
per day. On Saturday last, the date of
the last report, the number of deaths
was twenty-five. The epidemic has
reached its climax, and from this time
forward there will be fewer cases, but
the death rate will be proportionably
higher, as the disease becomes more
malignant as the season for it draws to
n close. Nothing short of q hard freeze
will eflectually stamp out the pestilence,
and that is not to be expected earlier
than the middle of November. Fully
1000 people have died Of the plague
from August 20 to date. The nsua
population of Savannah is 10000. A
census was taken last Saturday which
shows 2l,OOO people there at present
Not less than $40 of them are dowr
with the fever now. One hundred ant
f~ifty-three new cases were reported Sat
, urday, and every man, woman, ant
!. child in the city is more or less affected
by the disease. All left that could &c
away.
!, After the epidemic got under full
= Roadway it was more dangerous Il
+ leave than to remain, as a change of at
mosphere would almost certainly de
: velop the latent seeds of the disease i
the system, and an attack of that sol
q invariably proves fatal. No language
I said Col. Lamar, q describe the terri
4 BILE gloom and apprehension that han
n over Savannah. The suffering and de.
t%itution are absolutely horrible. Savar
A nah has a negro population of abor
$1,000, who are naturally careless an
improvident, and then she has a lars
white laboring class who are dependei
A upon their daily labor for their breat
q Business of every sort, except throug
s cotton, is suspended, and the laborin
g classes are wholly without means. III
"a disease has run through this class of il
# fed, ill-clothed, and ~ill-lodged ones an
swept them away like chat before
whirlwind, and is now attacking Il
better classes. Many prominent CT,
zens have died, particularly the young
= business men of the city.
The disease comes on suddenly ar
IS almost invariably in the night, wht
the system is exhausted. The symptom
al are intense pain in the head, back, al
n limbs, and high fever, which las
id twelve hours. A: the end OF that tin
Le the patient is ready either for his coo
or his coffin. If the fever subsid
n without the black vomit appearing, tv
is or three weeks of careful nursing W
make him well. A relapse is alwa
" fatal. After the black vomit superven
recovery is rare.
Many heart-renaing incidents of t
" terrible plague are told. A worthy Al
w estimable lady of Savannah was burr,
IN coilinless, because one could not be pl
err cured for love o money. In ma
h. instances the dead were laid in t
nc graves and the graves left open becau
there was nj time to fill them.
ed A great deal of aid has been given
ne Savannah and Brunswick, but q gre
hn deal yet remains to be done. Tho
sands of people are in absolute need
every thing. All the infected beddi
@. and clothing must of necessity be d
stroyed. The treatment of the disea
,- requires large quantities of ice, cos
W medicines, and nourishing food. I
laboring classes have no work of a
kind, and are wholly destitute. A d
VI lar now is worth ten next mon
NJ Money or supplies sent to Capt. 10
us F. Wheaton, agent of the Benevol,
Us Association, Savannah, Ca, or c.
"a Dexter, Brunswick, Ga, will be prop
W. ly applied.
nd -
his