The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1877-10-26

Yesterday morning Col. j. n. Whit
ncr, brother Of Col. j. &. Whitner. u
our city, says the Atlanta Constitution.
arrived here from Florida. He left
Fernandina some days ago, but was i'm
that city during the fury Of the scourgc.
A reporter ~ the Constitution called up-
on him At the Markham House. and had
"A conversation with him concerning the
state Of affairs at Fernandina.
The city has population Of between
1000 and 1000 persons, probably the
larger portion being colorcd persons.
Many u the latter earn their livelihood
by the industries Of the place. and by
labor upon the wharyes, in stevedorc
gangs, loading and unloading vessels,
Of which large number are engaged
in foreign trade from and to that port.
Heretofore Fcrnandina has been re-
markably healthy city, and since its
foundation, has never before been visit
ed by the yellow fever scourge. The
causes for this fatal epidemic may be
properly traced 10 the uncleanly condi-
ton Of the southwestern portion Of the
city. Where the disease first appeared
the neighborhoods were in SO filthy
condition as 70 sustain very putrid att
mosphere, most inviting TO the disease
This condition was due 10 tho fact that
the present municipal authorities. when
they assumed the care Of the city. found
its Treasury impoverished and debt ac-
cumulated to heavy amount, and
in their desire TO economic in
city expenditures the drainage Of the
city and sanitary regulations generally
were neglected. The usual result Of
such foolish, If not criminal, negligence
in the name Of econmy, followed, and
the city's quarters became the harbors
Of this magnificent plague. Eleven hun
dred cases have been under treatment
since the disease made its appearance,
which number is fully two-thrds Of the
population subject 10 its attacks. A
number Of citizens left the city upon the
intimation and assurance that the sick
ness was yellow fever, but many who
would have escaped were delayed BY a
controversy between the two leading
physicians over the true character Of the
disease. One Of them contendsd that it
was yellow fever, while the other stoutly
denied it, and il was not until DIR. Me-
Farland, the eminent physician from
Savannah, exhumed the body a dead
person and made an autopsy, by reason
If which il was fully established as a
case Of yellow fever, that the true condi-
ton Of affairs was realized.
The disease made rapid progress. but
was singularly mild in effects, though
protracted in its operations upon the
systems of those attacked. Out Of the
LOO cases only about 80 deaths have
been reported, which is fatality Of less
than per cent. Of the number seized
with the sickness. This Is very small
mortality, and shows that the plague
has been general, but not SO yirulent as
was at first supposed.
Nearly all the white people In the city
subject TO attack have already been
FRUSTRATED and the material upon which
the disease can feed in that direction is
nearly exhausted. The ravages Of the
plague are now rapidly taking in
the colored people. who of late years
seem to have lost their immunity from
this scourge. Among them i finds vic
Tins lily prepared to fight the dread
monster and a. a consequence there j.
reason to fear greater mortality
among them. Trade is suspended and
the negroes are poor and in many cases
paupers, 10 the extent even Of the barest
necessities Of life.
When the scourge first appeared, Col
Whitncr says the authorities and people
were pretty well prepared to combat il,
but now there il Immediate need for pc
cuniary assistance and supplies, princi-
pally to relieve, in the name Of pure hui
mainly. the large number Of destitute