Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-11-20
FROM EMP
Yuba Dam il the Streets of the
Stricken City.
Echoes from the Horrors of the Plague.
San Antonio Express.l

San Antonio Expressl
MEMPHIS, November 6, 1871
have finally reached the stricken city
that sits high up on the historic Chick
asaw Bluffs, where fernando DeSotO
first discovered the Father Of Waters,
and beneath whose turbid stream his
BODY found a final resting place. The
fever which has been playing such
havoc with the lives of the people here
has almost subsidized, and will pass
into history as the great plague of
1878, the most relentless and destruc-
tive that ever visited this portion of
the country. But few people outside
Of Memphis realize the terrible fury
and fatality which characterized it,
and the utter ~helplessness and hope
lessness of the people during its worst
stages. The Associated Press reports
put the maximum daily number of
deaths at 127, which occurred on Sep
TENDER IL, whereas on September 4
the LEDGER reports from undertakes
and benevolent associations POS deaths.
At least twenty-five per cent. may be
added to the published reports, ofper-
sons who died without any physician
or nurse or watcher by the bedside,
whose remains were put into rude
collins, placed ON drays and express
wagons, hurriedly borne to the ceme-
teries and dumped into bitches, of
whom no report was made to the How
ards and no record retained of their
names. Fully 1000 people have died
in this city. Many Of the noblest men
and women, among them priests and
preachers, editors, merchants and the
honest poor, who had by their virtues
won a recognized position in society,
and all the avenues of industry, have
Joined the innumerable throng," and
are silent %foreyermore. Having resi-
ded here for thirty-three years, | walk
up and down the principal streets and
look in vain for familiar faces. Many,
many are the dear friends of SUMMER
DAYS departed whom | miss from
their familiar haunts, and on inquiring
for others. whose names have never
been published on the death rolls, |
find that none are able to tell more
than that they, too, are gone-haye
laid down their weary load of life and
are at rest. Hundreds of desolate
widows and helpless orphans walk the
4 streets Of the old city in mute despair,
where but a few months ago all was
prosperity and joy. None but those
noble heroes, more glorious than the
martyrs of any age or cause, who went
down in the strife and stood face to
+! face with the bell of agony, know the
full effect of this terrible visitation.
Many people attribute the scourge to
the advent of Mardi-Gr and believe
that the freedom from restraint, licen-
tious r~eyelry and wild abandon Incl
dent to the celebration Of this pageant,
have provoked the wrath of an
4 offended God.
| give you a few facts about the
newspapers. The Appeal had 4 at
taches, including prOprietors 10 died
and u had the fever and are now con
yalescent, the only ones escaping be.
ing Colonel Heating, who visited Sar
Antonio a year ago with the Memphi,
exeursionists, and Henry Noodle, q
eompositOr. The Avalanche lost l.
attaches. and 10 recovered. The
LEDGER lost 4, and Q recovered
Captain Harvey Mathes, the editor
had a severe case. and recovered. II,
is well-knOWn in San Antonio.
Other enterprises suffered similarly
but notwithstanding this fearful ARA,
offacts, the 30 or 1000 refugees ar
pouring into the city and there are Oh
all sides cheering indications of reYiv
ing trade. commerce and general pros
perity. Memphis is too important
commercial point to die easily. Al
though an inland point last year sh,
received a half million bales Of cotton
being ahead ofany city in the Uniol
except New Orleans which general
receives one-third Of the total cottor
crop 0 five millions. The pOpulatiO.
Of Memphis is estimated at about 40.
, 900, at least 2, 900 being negroes. w
believe Memphis will emerge from thi
hrrible seourge. and the pluck an.
energy being called into requisitiO
now proves that there is life in tn
y old land yet, and a bright and hope
! lul era Of immunity from plaques, an.
increased business prosperity. 1t j
/, the focus Of vast cotton region. tn
/, inestin the world. and richer than I'll
valley Of the Nile. and webelieve il vii
yet be the home Ofan immense indus
! tyy-Ofs fas.reaehingand eYer-expand
: ing commerce.
! Business houses afo opening, owe
two dozen steamers are az the wharf
, the railroads are bringing In thou
sands, and the streets are full Of ear
fiages, wagons, drays. carts, ETC., an
everything indicates the good tim
E coming. Tonight the streets ar
#. lighted up, the stores sFe illuminate
and JOY Is indicated in many face
Memphis. though PROSTATE at the fee
= Of The foe. viii yet, Phenix-lik
e emerge ifQB her misfortunes an
eclipse al 9FMisf efforts for suece,
and prosperity.
VI Texas furnished a greater numbe
z Of physicians and nurses for Memphi
o during the epidemic than any oths
9 State. They were highly appreciate,
aud earned tbe gratitude Of the con
munity. There il ~ episode Of h
: period Of trouble which, Ia some 4,
] gree. MARI the bright page illustrate
b. the heroism u our Texas Yolur
D. teerg.
September lst an individual sailla
under the name u W. s. Clark. claim
i isz % BE- from Gan Antonio. stoppe
4. a the Peabody Hotel and wrote
b. A1dat0ry pcrsyasl notice Of himse
and sent IL 10 the LEDoSa. and uudl
the impression that II came from Il
" proprietor Of the hotel. Il was pul