The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1878-10-02
The Yellow Fever Scourse.

On the tenth the number Of deaths from
yellow fever throughout the infected dis
tricts exceeded 1900, and the plague was
raging with increased violence, new places be-
ing visited by it daily. In New Orleans the num-
Der Of new cases was 230 and the deaths
eighty, making q grand aggregate Of LIT per-
sons who had succumbed to the destroyer.
A dispatch from the Crescent City says
"Those Of morbid taste can be glutted here,
for there is nothing but disease, death, and
restitution seen or talked Of on every side.
The courage Of the charitable associations is
strained to the utmost, but their resources are
inadequate to meet every demand" In Mem
phis the number Of deaths on the tenth was
lis, a heavy rain having increased the mortal
ity. A Vicksburg dispatch says the indications
we're that the fever was decreasing in new cases
but that the mortality was fearful. In Canton,
Miss, the number of new cases was increasing
hourly, the physicians were over-worked,
nurses we're needed badly and the situation was
summed up in the one word-'horrible." The
fever broke out in Senatobia, Miss, and the
citizens began to abanda the place.
On the eleventh q stormy and piercing north
wind visited New Orleans and largely increased
the fever mortality, but was expected to act as
a check to the spread Of the disease If 1t con.
tinued. There we're ninety deaths and 25S
new cases in half a day. In Memphis there
were ~forty-six deaths up to noon, and 1000
collins were telegraphed for, the supply becom-
ing short. The whole numbar Of deaths there
on the eleventh was 104, Of which nineteen
we're colored people. The following statement
was made to the public: "We have at this date
{, 800 sick to provide for, and $1,000 well people
to feed. The average increase Of cases is 100
per day. The total daily expenses Of the Howard
are about $11, 900. We have on hand about
$55, 900, enough for five days. Contributions
are coming in at present at the rate Of $1,000
per day, which may decrease at any moment.
II the fever continues one month longer, as is
likely, with gradual abatement, within that
time we will need from $3.50. 900 to 5000, 900,
and about 800, 900 rations." The commissary
general at Washington ordered 5000 rations to
be sent to the sufferers at Canton, Miss. At
Gallipolis, Ohio, seven deaths from yellow fever
we're reported. The schools we're all closed and
citizens began to send their families away.
On the twelfth dispatches received from the
infected points showed that while the disease
ontinued to attack hundreds Of new victims
daily, the number of deaths was decreasing.
The mortality had gone beyond $500. A
Washington dispatch Of the twelfth says that
DR.. Pease, one Of the physicians who had re-
turned from Memphis, stated that the horrors
Of the pestilence were beyond description. The
wealthy had almost entirely fled from Mem
phis, leaving the poor to shift as they might
for themselves; and to the horrors OF the
plague were added those of q condition ap-
preaching to famine. The provision stores
were all closed, and the only way to obtain
supplies from them was to break them open,
which was sometimes done. Even the drug
stores were all closed except three, and it was
difficult to get medicine, even when medical at
tendance had been had and prescriptions writ
ten. The banks were open but one hour q day.
The commissary depots established by the How.
ard Associations were besieged by throngs OF
colored people, many Of whom came in from the
surrounding country, risking the pestl!ence In
order to get free provisions. No vehicles we're
seen in the streets except the dead.carts and the
doctors buggies, with an occasional! hearse
conveying the remains Of some Weather VIC
tim. At night the streets were here and there
lit up with the baleful CLEAN Of the death fires
that uurned in front Of each house that con-
tanned q corpse. Not Of each house either, for
many a victim died alone after suffering unat-
tended, and there was no one to put out the
customary signal. Persons taken sick on
ments, and their corpses were afte-ward
discovered by the smell Of their decompos-
ing flesh. Many were found dead in the pub
lie parks or under the fences. Corpses accu-
INFLATED for want Of adequate bu ial force, and
trenches were then dug, in which great rows OF
cofins we're deposited side by side, and one row
on the top Of another. DR.. Pease stated that
the peculiar smell of the great pest iu the city
could be detected at q distance Of three miles.
On the thirteenth a better condition Of
affairs existed in most Of the plague-stricken
cool weather. In New Orleans there were
eighty-six deaths and 22S new cases-a falling
of from previous reports. In Memphis the
fever was Of a milder type and yielded more
readily to treatment. The number Of deaths
was ninety-three. The f~ever-smitten towns of
Mississippi continued to send out reports tell
ing Of death and destitution, and the governor
Of the State Issued a proclamation appointing
n day for the people to repair to their
respective places Of worship and offer up their
united petition in prayer to God that lie will
withdraw from our people this terrible afhic.
ton, and that in His infinite goodness and
mercy He will restore them to health and bring
peace to their mourning households" North
Of the Ohio there were several cases OF yellow
Jack reported and the utmost precaution WAS
taken to prevent the fever from taking an cpl
6cmic form.
Dispatches Of the sixteenth stated that there
had been frosts in various places in the fever
districts, and a feeling that the worst was
over began to be manifested. The number OF
deaths in the infected cities and towns up to
date were as follows: New Orleans, 1901 !;
Baton Rouge, La, 80; Plaquemine, La: 81;
Morgan City, La. 8: Port Eads, L.. 8 Mem
phis, Tenn, 1885: Grenada. Miss, 223; Holly
Springs, Miss. ,76 Yicksburgh, Miss, 566 Can
ton, Miss, 81 Port Gibson. Miss. So; Ocean
Springs, Miss, 8; Greenville, Miss, 40; Lake,
Miss, 70; Hickman. Ky, &c Louisville, Ky,
7 Gallipolis, Ohio, 9 Cincinnati, Ohio, 5;St.
Louis, Mo-, 10; Chicago, l Cairo. ILL.,, 8 ;total.
1905. The number Of cases at New Orleans
up to date was 6, 566. At Vicksburgh it was over
$500. In Memphis about 6,0OO people had
been taken with the fever.
On the sixteenth there was still no evidence
Of the further spread Of the disease, while the
number of deaths and Of new cases continued
to chow a slight decrease. Memphis was the
chief center Of the scourge, and the mortality
there WAS somewhat larger than had been
anticipated, Ill deaths having been reported,
Of which thirty-eix we're colored. At Vicks-
burg there were eighty-five new cases, and
notice was sent out by the people OF that city
tolthe country, stating that the responses TO
appeals for aid had been 60 generously met
that it was believed no further help would be
required for the present. AZ Grenada, Miss,
all attempt to revive business proved all utter
failure, as, with a few trifling exceptions, there
was no one in tho city to buy and the people OF
the surrounding country still keep away from
the plague ridden place.