The Van Buren press., 1878-09-10
DFArH sHADoWED MEMPHIS
The Scourgc Continues Unnbateds
and the Gloom OF sadness Grows
Appalling.
From the Avalanche. lst.l

1
| From the Avalanche. lst.
| The King OF Terrors continues to
snatch victims, with fearful rapidity.
Que by one those who remain IN the city
and are liable to the monster malady. are
taken down, and the question is asked BY
those ye, on their feet, who will be the
next victim to fallY But three short
weeks ago our city was active with bnsl-
ness of all classes, our people were happy
and prosperous, and the entire business
community were in cheerful temper
over the prospect Of a heavy and lucra-
tive trade. Now our stores and rcsiden-
ces aro empty, and out OF 4 population
Of more than $4,000. barely 5000 re-
main, and of these 500 are in the grave,
and perhaps double that number lay suf-
fcring with racking pains and burning fe-
vcrs. But three weeks havepassed since
the fever broke out among US, and from
six 10 eight weeks must elapse before re-
lief can be extended, and the fever check
cd by the appearance Of frost.
The scenes about the aid-centres re-
mind one OF the days of the war. Par
ticularly does the waiting crowd of bask-
et-holding people about the Commissary
Department awaken in the writer's mem-
ory the days following the capture OF tho
city of Savannah, when the citizens OF
starved town, many of the members OF
/ families of the first social position, went
daily to take their place in long file and
draw rations which the generous cities OF
the North had sent in great shiploads to
tho suffering Southern port Here tho
crowd, made up of negroes, who sit on
the curbing, sit on the pavement of tho
street, beyond the railing Of the Commis-
sary Depot, and clutching their baskets
and the orders from Ward Committcas.
and watch intcntly the large door, and
listen long in vain to hear their own
names pronounced by the black crieri,
mounted on the box by the windows
ledge. The crowd is four or five hnnd.
red in number, during the livelong day.
The system Of giving rations; as worked
by the Relief Committee is as cautious,
as proof against imposition, probably,as
it Is possible to make it. All hppltca-
tions of the needy are made to the Ward
Committeeman, whose duty II is to look
into tho Justice Of the claims made to
them, and then to give draft on Com
missary Maecabee tor the number OF ra-
tions and the lumber Of days. This
draft Is presented, and the owners name
and time for drawing, and number Of ra-
tion5, ~~e eatarad In q ,a.ss i-ssssNsS
book. From this book they are fed 10
turn, as long as their drafts call TOT. Uvo<
80, 600 rations have been issued 30 far.
and tho demand 10 increasing daily In
proportion to the rapidly growing want.
and utter destitution among the colored
people. The books Of the Commissary
are admirably kept, showing every ounce
OF food received through any source,
and showing clearly its disposition.
At the Howard's rooms all is work.
day and night--work disposng OF nur-
ses, fixing reliefs, putting up medicines,
stimnlants and disinfectsnts. and passing
them over the counter on the orders of
Howards or physicians. No business
house was ever run more Systematically.
or did more lively business. Every
visitor reports each night. Secretary
Smith, an experienced bookkeeper, han-
dies the finances. Of which John G. Ions
dale, Sr., is the Treasurer. Ex- Mayor
John johnson, and his assistants, regis
tor all demands for nurses, and supply
them as speedily as possible, keeping the
time Of each nurse, making contracts.
rewarding, reprimanding, or discharging.
as the nature of the case demands.
II Among them oil, rushing in and rush.
ing out, busy in every department from
hiring dozen doctors to carrying
pitcher of milk to sick child, is A. d.
LanpstaF. as energetic, rs clear -headed .
worker Us ever steered so great life.
boat among the shipwrecked.
i The pitiable appeals about these plac-
es would move heart Of stone. We can
not grow calluus to them. the most de-
termined Of us, and sick at heart, fight
ing against soul-depression, tho laborers
in this great work move on, supplying
, every sorrow for which balm can be
, found.
A scene behind door at No 81, St.
, Martin street, yesterday, illustrates the
, manner in which a majority OF the ne.
groes are neglecting tho sick Of their
race. A dead negro lay upon the door.
and tottering, fever burned victim WAS
handing dipper Of water to delisious
man lying on an old, ragged quilt. Ne
groes-well men--livcd in scores OF hon
ses around, but not one could be prevail.
ed upon to enter the place. A brave
lady-the wife of Mr. Dick Smith-dis-
custcd with so much inhumanity, enter
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