The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1878-10-03

Observations of n Plucly Newspaper Cor
respondent in Fever-sIricken Memphis-
The Heroes asd Martyrs and the towards
and Shirks.
Especial to the Chicago Tribune.l
MEMPHIS, Tenn, Sept. 22.-I left
Chicago one week ago tonight, expect
ing that when | reached this Inflated
city / should witness the fullest compile
ment of horrors that ever grated on the
vision of man. / anticipated realizing
all that had been reported as TO the con-
dition of affairs in Memphis. But if ii
had been toretold me that | should be
called upon to contemplate the horrors
which have met my gaze on every hand
L am sure | should have shrunk appalled,
at the undertaking. 1t has been ten
fold mere terrible than war-a contest
that renders the attacked defense less
and palsies the faculties of those who
are spared. Whether one sits in his
house or wanders about the deserted
streets, he sees death in every direction,
from which there is no escape. The
epidemic of 1873 was thought to be a
visitation of unparalleled magnitude.
But those who bore the brunt of that
struggle speak of it as a holiday in COM
paiison with the epidemic of 1873.
There is only grief apparent everywhere
to-day; for those who fled the city when
the crisis came, as also those who re-
manned, have lost relatives and friends
promiscuously. AZ
THE HORRORS OF THE PLAGUE
have invaded the cottages of the poor
and the palaces of the rich in equal pro-
portion. The poor have not been call
ed to bear the burden alone. Rich men
escaped contact with the pestilence by
flight, but they left heritage of in
fanny more to be dreaded than the mar
row hole in the ground which contains
all that was left of the victims of disease.
One of the daily papers struck popu-
lar chord the other day when it denOunc-
ed as a curse to Memphis greater than
the plague itself those fugitives who
have not contributed one dollar in mon
ey or one word of sympathy to aid and
encourage the men fighting the greatest
epidemic in the history of the city. And
it is true. One man, whom l hear of
daily, is absentin an Eastern watering
place, and from the rents of squares of
buildings on Main Street contributed
an insignificant sum. This, with the
promise that when the Howard Fund
reached a certain limited amount, he
would replenish the eXchequer with
further donation.
SHAMEFUL NARRATIVE.
was passing down Main Street Fri
day morning, when | was accosted by
a very honest-appearing but very excit-
cited individual in the garb
of an employee of large
dry. goods house near the hotels. Upon
halting to ascertain what was wanting,
he motioned me TO come along; he wish
ed to speak with me. Entering the
store, he proceeded to lock the premises,
and inquired if | was not connected
with the Chicago Tribune. After some
hesitation, for the man was deeply
excited, and | was uncertain rs TO the
cause of these mysterious actions, I'M
bosomed my identity and waited to hear
what he had to say about the epidemic
discourse. Nothing else is talked about
here. At the breakfast table the appe-
lite of the guest is interrupted by the in
telligence some one at the table commu-
nicates to his neighbor, that so-and so
had the black vomit last night and died
in torture. The same at dinner and
supper, and during the evening he hears
the same sorrowful information can
vassed unlimitedly. When my inter
viewer had disposed of these prelimina-
ries he went straight to the business in
hand and related that he knew of
prominent lawyer in this city who skip
ped out when the fever came, leaving
his palatial residence in charge of
white woman housekeeper and Regress
servant. The white woman fell sick in
time, and when the absent one heard OF
it ne wrote a letter to the negress adj.
mon shing her to send the invalid to the
hospital; not TO use any of the provi-
sioas or delicacies his larder was sup
piled with, but to help herself outside
The name of this Samaritan Memphian
is known, his letter stored away, and
upon his return to the city those who
are in position to know are confident
that his occupation will be gone from
here forevermore. In strange contrast
with this case was
THE COURSE OF ANNIE COOKE,
an unfortunate woman, who turned her
mansion on Gayoso Street into hospi-
tai, and furnished protection for all who
came (and all were poor). until she her
self sickened and lay down to die sac
rifce for the lives of others. Men walk
these streets day who rise up to cal
her blessed. She labored, sustained by
a love of duty, until past relief, and died
a martyr to the plague from which the
lawyer, and the politician, and the CAPT