Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1878-09-18

What a Memphis Nurse Saw in that
Stricken City.

A letter received from one of the
Washington nurses, who was sufficient
ly acclimated to remain in Memphis,
gives a sad picture of the terrors of the
plague there. He says: "There are at
present not less than 1900 cases of
fever in this city, one-half Of which
will prove fatal. Ali classes are includ-
cd, millionaire as well as pauper. All
places of business are closed, the only
exceptions being drug stores, printing
offices, telegraph offices, and express
companies. In the latter establish
ment only one person is left, the main
ager, and unless he can procure help
that will have to be discontinued.
To-day our party were turned over to
the Howard, and are being as
signed to their duties. The city is 'di-
vided into districts, and doctors and
nurses already are being overworked to
such al extent that many of them are
falling victims to the fever. Allaof our
delegation are cheerful, but fully real
ize the situation. There are ten cases
in the Peabody House, where we are
staying, IN fact, it is the only house
where meal can be obtained"
DR.. Pease, one Of the Washington
nurses who has returned from Mem
phis, gives the following description of
the horrors of the pestilence in that
city, He has passed through tour yell
low fever epidemics,-one at Bonn
bay, two at New Orleans, and one at
Key West,-but has seen nothing to
compare with the death-stricken aspect
of Memphis. "The wealthy have al
most all departed, leaving the poor to
shift for themselves, and to the horrors
of the plague are added those of a con-
dition of approaching famine. Pro-
vision stores are all closed, and the only
way to obtain supplies from them is to
break them open. which is sometimes
done. Even the drug stores are closed
save three, and it is difficult to get medi-
cine, even when medical attendance has
been had and prescriptions given. The
banks are open but one hour q day. The
commissary depots established by the
Howard association are besieged by
thrOngs of negroes, many of whom
come in from the surrounding country,
risking the pestilence in order to get
free provisions. ~"& r"'i
g No vehicles are seen on the streets
except dead-carts and doctors huggies,
with an occasional hearse conveying
the remains of some wealthier victim
At night the streets are here and there
lit up with the baleful CLEAN of death
fires that burn in front of each house
that contains a acOrpse,-not of each
house either, for many victim dies
alone after suffering, unattended, and
there is no one to put out the customary
signal. Persons taken sick on the
streets crawl into unoccupied
tenements, and their corpses are
afterwards discovered by the smell of
their decomposing flesh. Many are
found dead in the public parks or under
the fences. Corpses accumulate for
want of an. adequate burial force, and
trenches are then dug IN which great
rows Of collins are deposited side by
side, and one row on top another" DR..
Pease states that the peculiar smell of
the great pest-house (which the city
now Isl can be discovered at distance
of three miles. There is a great de-
fciency of competent nurses. Out Of
LOO employed, only about seventy
five are really efficient. .a .....