The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1878-11-01
THE sORRowFUL STORY.
A Atcksburg Minister'S Account NJ ~
hasascs Of the Yellow Fever Plague.
From the Chicago Times

FRIEND; ! have tried hard 10 get leis.
} ure 10 write 10 you for two weeks. m,
: calls for help from the first hour Of the
morning 70 the midnight bell forbade.
! All business has been ut a total stand /
sun. The colored people have no work
and Il they want to 20 10 the plantations
10 pick cotton, they are forbidden n
! come, as they are regarded as facile
porters OF the poison that kills. Not
J outstanding, as you see by kilograms.
, fever Is being carried all over the conn
try, and we are looking for the most
fearful times outside the city. II Il
scattering itself over Kinds County. and
bids fair, unless very cold weather comes
soon, TO reap greater harvest in the
country than II has in the city. We
have buried over 500, and il we stop az
1000 we may be thankful. The very
pillars Of society have gone down to the
tomb. You see names here and al Holly
Springs whose loss will fill all hearts
with sadness and pain. Our people
have behaved we'll. Some were filed
with alarm and fled hurriedly away.
The ravages of the fever at Grenada
caused the worst form Of alarm. Our
evening paper lately said that the rich
had fled and left the poor 10 fight
alone, but the very opposite is
true. Our bankers and capitalists and
wealthiest citizens are here and doing
brave and noble service. Indeed. il Is
great Offering Of almost inspired phil
anthropy to God and TO suffering hu-
manity. The church has no advantage
IN devotion to the sick Gods PRAYER
less saints who sport amidst the thous-
and follies Of healthy days are sleepless
and tender, ready, and never ceasing in
their aid, and l may say are eager 10
keep the night-watch in the pestiiential
homes of those who are diving. / have
seen them holding the head so gently
while the black-vomit poured from the
mouth, and doing little acts Of soothing
and comfort which poetry assigns only
to the soft hands of woman, and nv
heart has taken them into its undying
love. Many such, having never had
the fever, made it doubly noble. You
know that in the forty years Of our
friendship have cherished no love OF
sham or gush or -lauding Of priests.
nuns, sisters, or clergy of any denomi-
nation for attention TO sick people or
suffering soldiers. think the sisters Of
charity a most noble class, but | see
wives, mothers, and beautiful young
women OF the best walks Of society with
more TO lose than they ever dreamed,
facing this fearful scourge and going
down TO death with fidelity TO God
and humanity, that never was or will
be excelled, and yet no pretentious
claim Is ever set up 10 remarkable picty
or unequaled heroism. AS for the
priests and the rest of Us Protestant
clergymen, we deserve the least praise
OF the brave men that toll in an epidem-
&c TO assuage the sufferings of our fellow
beings, and vet what a martyrdom il
claimed when . young, wifeless, child
less, homeless clergyman dies in an ep-
ldemic. Nonsense! Every man Of
every creed and church is supposed to
be ready in any hour to 60 at the call Of
the treat Master. He has heaven for a
home and eternal things OF infinite val
le for his reward. Why should such
IearY Why not desire to die ike the
great PaulP Nothing is lost, but when
you see hundreds Of good, clever, brave,
men Of every age and station,
WITH every thing 10 make life desirable
and not the least preparation for the
eternal years beyond, step to the front
md engage in struggle for the rescue
d some poor victim of the fearful
monster, and knowing, too, that
before morning they may be
n the vortex Of death, then you
zee manhood in its greatest attitude and
ne pretcntions Of the church 10 all
ionor due for sacrifice and toll and
Knocked and laughed at.
lave been in many epidemics and been
Ishamed as have observed that ia the
south church-ieaders get eulogium and
'thers laurels, while many of the real
heroes and heroines were passed by
Iuite forgotten. Ought not there 10 be
roll OF honor by which these splendid
'rlvates OF the rank and file in our days
4 pestilence and death should be made
feel that their names are not allowed
. perish? Many plain, unpretending
erson who has deserved the highest
onor and the largest gratitude has sank
nder sense Of the Indifference, cold
ess, and neglect Of society. They seek
. reward, but Is ii therefore Just that
heir names should perish and undue
raise be sounded over smaller deeds
! semi-conspicuous persons however
veet the consciousness Of having done
leir full duty is--perhaps their best
swardP have been some days writ
y this letter. Meantime many changes
ave taken place but the worst i over
ere, and now the country all out from
ne to twenty miles is suffering. The
,untry will need help OF every sort and
70 Towards here are toiling to the full
opacity Of numbers, strength, and
'nds. We owe you great debt 81
rateful remembrance for your efforts
raise means for our relief. As
ose, hooking bird has come To my
ipinxy and x....,.nJ go