The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1878-11-14
THE FUTURE OF NEW ORLEANS.
History Showing the Growth of tho City
In Faco of Epidcmics.
COrrespondencc of hc Courier. Journal.


The long looked-for frost is near at
hand. The mere announcement is the
pleasantest- of all evangel in New Or
leans and throughout the fever-stricken
Southland. Always a welcome visitor
to US of the city, the frost of this au-
tumnal season will be specially so. In
many previous epidemics the fever ha,
run its usual course, and disappeared as
mysteriously as it came. 1t seemed to
scorn the thin blood of the resident pop
ulation, and for lack of the richer blood
of Celt, Teuton or Northman-the dainty
food it Graves in all its travels-it fire.
quently has left before the frost came 20
drive it away. Its presence this year
along the lake shore, and at all of the
summer resorts of hundreds of our citi-
zens on the Gulf sound, which had here
tofore been as exempt as if they had
been as far beyond the isothermal line as
"Greenlands icy mountains" unfortu-
nately hastened their return to the city,
and thus delayed its earlier departure.
With this aLded fuel nothing but one or
more killing frosts will stay the progress
of the fever. The Knight of the Saffron
Plume readily flies before the el6n lance
of the Spirit of the Frost.
THE INTERVENTION OF FROST
has not always been deemed essential in
epidemic years. 1t is pleasant thing to
have in tropical climate to close up
long warm summer with, and comes in
very acceptably, even with the healthiest
of summers. During my residence, how
ever, of nearly forty years in New Or
leans, I have known several severe yell
low fever enthusiastically those of
1853 aud 1S67-to take French leave of
the city long before frost came. The
epidemic of 1S53-almost as malignant
as the Florentine scourge of the four
teenth century-never to be forgotten
until the pathetic eloquence of Petrarch,
and the graceful verse of Boccacio are
commencing early in July, eliminated
on its fifty-third day with 254 deaths,
and ceased on its eighty-seventh day
October 1l-without frost. The mortal
ity of that fearful epidemic summed up
S,117. The epidemic of 1867 commenced
early in August, eliminated on its fifty
fifth day with 81 deaths, and ceased on
its ninety day, October 20, without
frost, the total number of deaths being
1858. The present epidemic eliminated
on the ffty-seventh day, with death
roll of 90, and is now in its hundredth
day with total mortality of 3,SlO. The
Board of Health reports 1868 cases un-
der treatment during its prevalence as
reported on their books. The cases not
reported will doubtless swell the list con-
siderably.
RETURN OF RECKLESS REFUGEES.
1t is generally conceded that but for
the untimely return of so many unaccli-
mated persons to the city recently it
might as in former years have run its
course, and ere this time disappeared
from our midst. At the time of their re-
turn the daily returns of new cases to the
Board of Health were perceptibly dimin-
ishing, and the death rate, notwithstand-
ing the unfavorable character of the
weather, decreasing. These absentees,
for the most part unacclimated, were in
duced to believe the fever abating so
rapidly, the risk incurred was tritiing.
1t was all around them on the lake shore,
and physicians and nurses could not be
had in the event of their taking the dis
ease. Therefore the city was safer be-
cause of the bountiful supply of skillful
doctors and trained nurses; drugs and
druggists; cuppers and bleeders, the sap
pers and miners of the ancient corps
medical-and if their vision had extend
ed little further, Of undertakes, cof6ns,
hearses, and graves, of all of which the
supply has always been equal to the de.
mand-and unhappily the city demand
greater than that of the vicinage of the
beautiful villas dotting the lake shore.
Many of these summer absentees had re-
sided many winters in the city, and per.
suaded themselves that they were proof
against the fast-abating scourge. Many
Of that large class who had Joined the
general exodus, at the panic's hrst whis-
per, in the early summer, were unpre-
pared for prolonged sojourn from home,
recovered more than their wonted
bravery, and sought their own vine and
figtree as reckless Of danger as erst they
had quaked at its dreamy shadow in the
moonlight. 1t is beyond peradventure,
owing to the return of these absentees,
that the fever has not abated or entirely
departed, and the necessity of frost is
now requisite for its final extinction. If
under any circumstances the system of
quarantine might be deemed entirely un:
Objectionable, and on the other hand
eminently wise and proper, it would be
when called into requisition to prevent
the ingress of large number of unac-
climated persons to city scourged with
pestilence. Under the present defec-
tive system the Board of Health is pow
erless, but has officially warned all ab-
sentees to stay away until the epidemic
is declared at an end.
THE EPIDEMIC CIRCUMsCRIBED.
Notwithstanding ali these adverse cir
cumstances, the epidemic is becoming
moro circumscribed with each recurring
day. 1t is now confined to the outskirts
of the upper and lower faubourgs of the
city. 1t is rarely seen in the crowded
thoroughfares. Bronze John is evidently
on his last legs. In 6. short time the pail
which has hung over the city for so many
weeks will be lifted, and the stranger
visiting us will find but little evidence of
the existence of the epidemic of 1878
outside of the silent cities of the dead.
Already something Of their usual anima-
tion is perceptible in the principal thor
oughfarcs. The long-interdictcd church
bells called the faithful to prayers last
Sabbath for the first time since the fever
was declared epidemic. The garbs OF
mourning to be seen in church aisles and
cemetery walks are alone sad reminders
of the scourge that is passing away. A
visit to one of the latter yesterday gave
mournful eyidence OF the near approach
of All Saints day. The tombs were be-
ing prepared. Many of them were al
ready decked with immortelles, and in
their massive marble grandeur and bas-
reliefs, seemed more like voluptuous
chambers for immortal spirits than hid
ing places for dust and ashes. The
morning was chilly, and the leaves OF the
majestic forest trees shivered and rustled