The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1878-10-10
The Pestilence.

From Memphis, September 80, we learn
The apparent abatement of the disease has
induced refugees to return to the city, and
many business houses closed since the out
break of the fever have been opened. AL
ready several of these returned refugees are
numbered with the sick. 1t is foolish for
those who left before the poison had sat
urated their system to return yet. AS |
stated in former dispatches, in substance,
the disease is only abating for want
of material, and is waiting at the
depots and thoroughfares entering the city
to grapple every one who dares enter the
precincts of the city of desolation. Some
of these returned refugees say they had no
other alternative than return, as starvation
stared them in the face in their places of
refuge, and they prefer taking the chances
of dying of the fever. The truth of this is
apparent in the fact that hundreds who lett
the city in the panic that took possession
of this people at the outbreak of the fever
actually pawned their valuables for barely
enough money to defray their expenses
away, having no resources to draw upon
for subsistence after they got to their
destination.
From New Orleans, September 80, we
gather the following: The New Orleans
Central Relief Committee met at the Gus
tom-house at eleven o'clock, q large number
of gentlemen and ladies of various charit-
able Associations being present. The re-
port of the Committee regarding the dis
tribution of rations from the Government
was read and adopted. The preamble and
resolutions adopted set forth that destitu-
ton and suffering are constantly increas-
ing; that the issue of rations has been
discontinued by the Secretary OF War be-
cause the impression prevailed that sutfi-
| cient funds are in the hands of the charit-
| able associations te supply the wants of the
| people; that a committee of five call upon
Al III !, 10
| supply the funds necessary for the continu-
| ance of this committee; that, failing in this,
| a final appeal be made to the Secretary of
War for rations that, failing in this, the
committee is authorized to appeal to the
public at large to aid us. From noon to six
| p. m. twenty-five deaths were reported, and
| one hundred and twenty-five cases, of which
eighty-one are dated since September 81.
A correspondent of the Cincinnati Gazette
| writes, October 1, from New Orleans: The
fever seems decreasing slowly enough. The
death rate is lower, but the cases are far fir ON
all reported. The doctors themselves admit
that such are the facts. The disease is max
markably exempt. The French creoles
do not believe in doctors for yellow
fever. Their nurses keep their cases
largely to themselves. "They are, too, re-
markably successful in their treatment .
said prominent member from the Young
|
"Our doctors and nurses rarely go behind
Canal-strcet." He added, "We have had
in all told, better than 1000 cases." These
cases, in other words, have been nearly al
among the Americans. while the creolel
have largely taken care of their own. Th'
fever being now spreading among tn,
creoles, the unreported cases are unt,ues
tionably increasing in proportion. TIL,
fever is spreading too, throughou
the more aristocratic and thickl,
settled portions of the city. 1t
seeking out, apparently, better clas
| of victims. The doctors are not now conf
dent, by any means, that the danger is owe
in the spread of the scourge. Throughou
the country towns, and more particular
; those upon the coast, it is considered pal
, ticularly alarming, while the reports comm
in are certainly bad enough. The Manage
, of the Western Union, for instance, has bu
. just introduced me to O gentleman of hi
! acquaintance from Tangipahoa, sma
station OF perhaps one hundre