Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1878-09-18
In q Doomed Village.
CHILDREN ABANDONED TO THE NURs-
Es, HOUSES DESERTED AND STORES
CLOSED.

A letter written from Memphis on
the 10Th INST, gives a vivid description
Of the condlti on of Grenada. The
writer says that twelve houses to the
right and seven to the left Of his home
where deserted, and for hours together
not person was seen stirring in a once
happy neighborhood. The groceries
were closed, nearly all of its proprie-
tors having fallen victims to the scourge.
Being assured by physicians that one
who has recovered from yellow fever is
exempt from it ever afterward, the
writer tried 10 find his acquaintances
and assist them. He says:
4 saw at least ten Of them dead. and
scores ofthem dying, or slowly await
ing the crisis of the epidemic. 1t was
appalling to behold young and old
women huddled in some by.way, trem-
bling, praying, sobbing and casting
despairing glances in every direction,
not knowing whittier to go. Mothers
abandoned their stricken children wives
fed in terror from their afflicted hus-
bands. All the ties Of kindred seemed
to have been too frail to withstand the
pressure of fear and dispair. The loved
snes were left in strange hands. Ne
groes and negresses who had had the
fever proved very useful in some in
stances but many Of them took advan-
tage Of the situation, and asked exhor-
bitant compensation for their services
on account of the scarcity of the How
ard nurses. saw as many as three
white nurses seized with the shakes
and even with vomiting while in the
discharge of their duties.-Three days
ago saw a man resting againsta a wood
en- fence. l was about to pass on,
thinking he was only under the intlu'
ence Of drink, but hearing him moan
and say, 'Oh, my God y l approached
him and found that it was Enthusiastically
a case Of yellow fever. l assisted him
to one of the tents near the police sta
ton, where fear he is to be among
the list Of the victims. l do not be-
lieye that one-third of the cases Of fever
in its most malignant type among the
negroes have been reported. l thought
it my duty to report to DR.. Becks, who,
l suppose, would refer the matter 10
the authorities, the many horrible sights
had witnessed in some negro cabins,
wsere, in some cases, whole families
were prostrated by the fever-eyen
three in bed IN two instances, and dy.
ing children sprawling on the floor.
Il cannot omit mentioning the hero
ism of the Sisters of Charity, Their
ministrations are tirsless their temper
is never ruffled in the least by sleepless
nights, spare diet, and constantly at
tending to the petish demands OF the
sick and witnessing the agonies of the
dying. Where they sleep or eat ]
could not divine. 1 saw the same faces
around day and night, and again al
dawn. They carry medicines about
with them, work like bees in disinfect
ing houses, and have magical faculty
Of raking up clean linen and bedclothe'
in out-of-the-way places. L also saw
several clergymeu who were behaving
in very disinterested way, one o
whom had not removed his clothes TO
three consecutive nights. 1t is no
possible to describe the narrowing in
cidents ofthe fatal pestilence at Grenada
1t is a blighted, forsaken, and doomed
town.