The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1878-09-12
THE YELLOW FEVER.

That our people may see the accounts
given of the yellow fever by persons who
know of what they write, we quote below
portion of q letter to Mr.. s. n. Crayton
from former citizen Of the town Of Ander-
son, which will no doubt beread with much
interest by our people:
"SUNNYsrDE," NEAR MEMpHIs TENN,
September Sd, 1878. }
Ny DRAr SAM: 1t is with no light heart
that mako thi. attempt to write you, and
I fear that the surrounding gloom will cause
my pen to carry naught but sadness to your
own faithful heart. Our fair city Is now
but the bivouac Of the dead and dying, and
as each hour brings intelligence of some
dear friend or acquaintance who has sue
cumbed to the ravagos of the scourge, our
spirits are crushed anew, and sink into the
very depths Of despair. No pen can portray
the sad, soul. narrowing scenes that are daily
and nightly enacted in our doomed city.
The graphic descriptions afforded by our
daily journals is but the tale of the surface
of the agony, but what pen could probe the
depths where the walls of the widow are
heard whore ringing on the ears came the
plaintive appeals of fatherless and mother
less children; or can eloquence own its
power as it stands in the portal of the
household where the Destroyer has claimed
the entire household, and the family altar
is the Court of Death!
have at this moment received the an
nouncernent Of the death Of Col. Butler
Andsrson-a man Of peerless nobility OF
soul. Col. Anderson was brother Of Gen.
Patton Anderson, who distinguished HIM
self in our late war. He was one of the
most prominent members Of the Howard
Association in Memphis. At the outbreak
of the yellow fever in Grenada. he offered
his services to her people. His work will
ever remain lasting monument to his
name, and no one contemplating his great
deeds of charity, devotion and love can
ever lose that grand faith in humanity,
upon which altar Butler Anderson yielded
his life willing sacrifice for others. Ihave
the deepest sympathy for Mrs. Anderson,
who is a lady of superior merit.
1t is almost impossible to bury the dead.
If could convey TO you the scenes it would
make your blood cu1dle in your veins.
Hearses 20 in brisk trot to the cemeteries,
and back they come for Others. Sometimes
persons remain several days before burial.
Every house, cabin, shanty and, in some
cases, chicken houses, in the suburbs and
country is filled to its utmost capacity. My
own house has every space occupied. We
feel somewhat secure, although there have
been several deaths in our immediate neigh
borhocd. I think, though, in those instan-
ces the fever was contracted in the city.
Ida has her hands full, I assure you, but
our neighbors are in the same condition.
Nearly all the little towns on the line of the
railroads for some miles from Memphis
have more or less yellow fever. see that
Anderson has made quite liberal contri-
button. I am rejoiced to see that her citi-
zens responded to the appeal made to the
country at large. Well done, old Anderson
My heart ever cherishes its warmest affec-
ton for you; and, oh! in this strife, this
sickening warfare, battling for life, for e1is-
tence, my spirit tur- ;ustinctively to you,
thou Mecca of my D apilgrimage!