The Rutland weekly globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1876-09-29
From the Charleston Is. c. Courier.l
The Desolation in Savannah,

The following letter, received recently
by Hon Henry Gurdln, tells in sorrOwful
words The pitiful tale of suffering aud want
in Savannah:
SAvANNAH, Sept. u 1876.
M Dear Brother: | wrote to you last
night, with p. S. this morning, and report
If fever from the DaiW AerS. We have
had another very bad day, and the inter-
menta which will he reported tomorrow
preceding day. The new cases of fever,
OF all kinds Monday, were 200. To-day
there are said to be about 800. 1t is said
that there are great many relapses, and
Louis Young tells me he has observed this
to be the case in his beat. He has two ser
vasts very sick tonight who had fever
eight or ten days and had recovered. When
we came home to dinner, We found there
was no one to bring it up and wait. Our
physicians are being worn down, and we
are beginning to experience the want OF
nurses. Chickens are getting very scarce
and dear, and, indeed, they tell me that
many of the butchers have fled, and the
supply of meat in the market is both poor
and inadequate. Chickens and meat are
necessary TO make nourishment for the
convalescing, and the latter to provide soup
for the poor. If things run on as they are
ROluB lOl u WCGh lOnBOl, blldll nCSh 10
sistance from abroad
You have no idea Of the depopulalion of
the place. In CASTOR street, where we live,
between Habersh8m and AbeIcorn streets,
there are 10 dwellings; 10 are absolutely
closed, and the occupants of the remaining
nine are reduced in numbers, only those
being at home who have been obliged to
remain. People are not seen sitting on the
steps and balconies with their children play
ing on the pavements below as formerly,
every afternoon, and at night their front
doors and windows are closed. 1t ID a
gloomy walk from Louis's to Gourdin's af-
ter Tea. Mr.. Estill, proprietor Of the Nelos,
told me that within radius of 300 yards
around his house there were 80 dwellings,
only two of which were occupied, and his
| is one of these, and he is the only person
on the premises, | was this morning at
| the market, and numbers of the shops in
| the square around it were closed. | am,
your affectionate brother,
RoBT. N. GoURDIN.
HENRY GoURDIN, Charleston.
THE BRINK OF STARVATION
A prominent merchant in Savannah
| writes rs fellows to Charleston firm The
| fever increases daily, and we feel now its
| course must be worse until the winter
| comes or it is exhausted for want Of sub
| iects. The writer visits almost daily, for
| two hours, district in which there are not
more than two houses exempt from fever,
| if not yellow, bilious and remittent, and
| the people are all as poor as it is possible
| to be. The contributions Of the Savan-
| nah benevolent association, of which he is
agent, keep people from dying of starva-
| ton, and our funds will soon be exhausted
| if thew are not increased
| In Atlanta, last Saturday, Col. A. r.
Lamar, at a meeting of the chamber of
commerce, said that ne had been sent by
the citizens of Savannah to explain their
position and ask relief. lie said that he
had received a letter from Capt John +,
Wheston of Savannah, asking for dona-
tions Of chickens, eggs, butter, clothing
and money, or in fact that the suffering
population would feel greatly indebted fol
any contributions that the citizens of AT
lanta could make. That the benevolent as
ISOLATION, which dated its birth in 1854
had. at the outbreak of the fever somC
weeks ago, about $40 900, which was all Of
nearly expended to meet the wants Of suf
fering citizens in the Forest City, such al
medicines, nouIishment of various kinds
and also to pay nurses for the sick, which
was the main point in treating the sickness
|
morning that he lett home there was bu
one meat stall in the market at which mea
. was offered for sale; that 1.-THE vendors o
produce, butchers and statesmen of marke
supplies, would not come to town witt
their vegetables, meats, etc., as long as an,
sickness was in the city, and consequently
+ there was nothing to buy, even II the pee
. Pile had the money to spend.
from the Savannah News OF the i3thl
Yesterday was probably the saddest da
, we have experienced since the commence
ment of the epidemic. Tho large mortuar
I report published in the NeloS in the morn
. ing had depressing effect, and the larg
Q number of funerals during the day SCENE
J to impress upon every one the fulncss 0
/ the calamity which has befallen our city
{ Nevertheless 1t was almost impossible I
4! realize, amid the natural beauty of our Fol-
: est City, its grassy parks, stately trees an
, | wide shaded walks, and the clear, balm
] air of early morn, that fearful pestllenc