Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1878-09-10
In a Doomed Village.
Children Abandoned to tie Nurses, Hoastt
Deserted, and Stores Closed.

A letter written from Memphis on tho
10Th instant gives vivid description of the
condition OF Grenada. The writer says thar
twelve houses TO the right and seven TO the
left of his home were deserted, and for hours
together not person was seen stirring in q
once happy neighborhood. The groceries
wore closed nearly all their proprietors hav-
ing fallen victims TO the scOurge. Being ass
sured by physicians that one who has recov-
cred from yellow fever is exempt from il ever
aftcrward, the writer tried to find his ac-
quaintances and assist them. He says Il
saw at least ten of them dead, and scores OF
them dying, or slowly awaiting the crisis of
tho epidemic. 1t was appalling TO hear
young aud old women huddled in some by
way, trembling, praying sobbing, and csstibg
dcspariug glances in every direction, not
( knowing whittier to 90, Mothers abandoned
their stricken children wives fed in terror
from their afflicted husbands. All the ties
of kindred seemed TO have been tho frail to
withstand the pressure of fear and despair
Tho loved ones were left in stra6ige hands.
Negroes aud negresses who had had the fever
proved very useful in some instances but
many Of them took advantage Of the situation
| and asked exorbitant compensation for their
services account of the scarcity of tho
Howard nurses. | saw as many as three
white nurses seized with the shakes and
even with vomiting while in the discharge Of
their duties. Three days ago L saw man
resting against wooden fence. was about
TO pass on, thinking he was only under the
influence of drink, but hearing him 1nosn
and say, ooh my God = approached him
aud found that it was unnistakab case Of
yellow fever | assisted him to one OF the
tents near the police station, where fear he
Is to be among the list Of the victims. T do
not believe that one-third of the cases Of yell
low fever in its most malignant type smoDg
the negroes have been reported L thought
| it my duty to report to DR.. Becks, Who L
suppose, would refer the matter to the su-
! thorities, the many horrible sights he'd
I witnessed in some negroe cabins, where, In
I some cases, whole families were pTostrated by
/ the feyer-even three in bed in two in
stances, and dying children sprawling or the
! floor.
Il cannot omit mentioning the hesoism OF
the Sisters of Charity. Their minisfratioDs
are tireIess their temper is never rufled In
the least by sleepIess nights, spare diet, and
constantly attending to the pettish demands
! Of the sick and Witnessing the agonies Of the
diving. Where they eat or sleep could NOT
divine l saw the Same faces around day
and night. and again at dawn. They carry
medicine about with them, work like bees In
disipfectipg houses, and have a magical fac.
! ulty of raking up clean linen and bedclotbes
in out-of-t the-way places. also saw several
! clergymen who were behaving in q very dis
/ interested way. one of whom had no. re-
moved his clothes for three consecutive
nights. 1t is not possible to describe the
narrowing incidents of the fatal pestilsnce st
Grenada. II is blighted, forsaken, and
doomed town."-N. 7. Sun.