The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1878-11-20
MISCELLANY.
AMONG TIL E DEAD.

was sitting one evening with few friends,
when the conversation turned on yellow fever.
Some of the party spoke of the possibility of
having tho yellow mask duplicated-some
were in favor Of the theory, more against it !;
cases were cited on one side in its favor, and
opinions of eminent physicians quoted on the
other. until one gentleman said
| have heard this same question argued
many times, and never saw many satisfied
have had the fever more than once, that is, If
the opinion of surgeon be worth anything
laid in dead-house with itall of one night !:
in fact, was carried within fifteen feet of the
grave before they found out that still laid
silent claim to be registered with the living.
You see, gentlemen, it was this way. | had
had the fever in New Orleans in 53-bad
case, so the doctor said, but recovered, and
after drifting around the world, brought up
in the harbor of Havana, one fine day in
june first mate of n trim little bark.
" In those days there was yellow fever
hospital there, and in the season merchant
vessels crews were taken by Monsieur Jac.
ques at SO much head, by contract if tax
en- sick they were cured or killed-generally
the latter-without further charge but if no
contract was made why you paid by the day.
But, if ill, go to the hospital you must, by
Spanish ordinance.
Well you sec, eur bes5 svommenced to 20,
under, first one, and then another, until had
hardly any one left, and to end this part |
was lugged off myself to the Beglas'
rha,
to get SO hungry could have eaten donkey,
think, but it was no use. Sonp, gentlemen,
a very little bread, and that was all. COM
planned to the house surgeon F; he spoke of
relapse, fatal results, ETC., but was not sat-
isfed with that SO watched my change and
got piece of cake one night at twelve O clock.
Never did anything taste so good. Then
went to sleep.
cold Down Below as the sailors called
him, used to come round every morning at
ten o'clock, and when he entered my ward
was the first one to visit.
"' You have been eating, said he. | deni-
cd it, but he didn't believe me, and passed on
with the cheering remark that was dead
man. laughed, but soon after began to
feel queer The servant looked very impert
inent, and became oblivious to all surround
ings in my attempt to correct him.
became conscious that evening when
some one lifted up my eyelid, and then said :
take him out it's no use.' 1t flashed on
me in second that they were to take me out
to die. When seven or eight hundred are
dying daily they can't waste their time with
them-at least, they think can't. had seen
many go the same road, and they never came
back. So felt the cool night breeze first
and then the sensation that is indescribable,
but inseparable from dead-house. | was
put down on my stretcher, and left thereto
die ; and knew it. Pretty soon they brought
in the.same condition. We were given up
and there was no time TO waste OH us. The
first one, in his delirium, managed to get
never was SO clear as it was that night, and
after the other one was dead--which soon
happened-I lived my life over again.
" The old songs l used to sing, came back
to me, and | could sing them, SO to speak, in
ternally. Scenes long forgotten passed in re-
view, and, after l had gone through it all,
thought that 1t was years that l had lain
there /; it seemed SO long since / had heard
any one speak. Gentlemen, l lived ten thou
sand years that night. / could feel my hand
against my side as you feel with your hand
asleep, as we term it. could feel the dead
man across me, as though he were pressing
some one else, and then by-and-by slight
roseate hue took my eyelids. What was it I?
could not open them. Was it the translation
of the soul to the other-the great unknown
world beyond the dark river? l thought so
was not afraid. / thought, am dead.
"The hue became more intense-it was the
sun-and with it came the carriers of the
dead. Men dying with Yellow Jack must b.
buried soon, and SO they bury early those who
die during the night. / was the first in
would be the last out
g heard the steps of the negroes as they
became fainter in their retreat, and as the,
became louder in their advance. One gone
two gone-and then my turn. felt th
stretcher lifted up the oscllating motion a
they bore me along, when like flash of light
ming came the conviction that was not dead
/ could not move. / tried in vain to open m
eyes. prayed that they would cast the
eyes upon me, but felt they would not