Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1878-09-20
eur WASHINGTON Nurses al Memphis.
MEMPHIS, TENN, Sept. Is, 1875.

10 the editor Of tic National Republican
SIR: There is no abatement of the terrible
scourgo that is laying away 10 their graves the
noble men and beautiful women OF Western
Tennessee and Northern Mississippi.
1t was hoped by the medical trat ernIty and
the people that the falling of the thermometer
for the past three days would, IN measure,
cheek the increase of new cases OF teveI; but
their hopes have not been realized. The new
cases reported daily by the physicians average
$50. and the death rate has not fallen below
ninety seven any day during the past week, and
Yesterday it reached l27. and that, too, not
withstandpg that thcre arc fully 200 nurses
employed by the Howard Association, to say
nothing about those in the employ OF the Nla'
sons, Odd Fellows. and kindred orders
The relief associations are being daily de-
creased in the number OF their working NOM
hers. There are only five left OF the HoWards.
A. D. Largstaff, the indefatigable president,
has been down since Wednesday, but l am
happy to say he is in fair way OF recovery.
The other associations arc similarly reduced,
and if they are not speedily reinforced there IS
no telling the consequence. 1t Is limited tnat
it may be necessary to abandon their WORK II
they arc unable to procure additional assistance.
ter of but few days duration before they too
will fall victims of the fever.
Among the names of the dead this week are
many Of Memphis most prominent and useful
citizens. All trades and vooatoDs are repre-
sented-doctors, ministers, lawyers, editors,
telegraphers, &c.; in fact, to escape ls the OK
ccption and not tho rule.
The total number of cases up to date IS 4,5OOi
deaths, 1900, or nearly ono half. At this
ratio If the fever ia not checked before the
appearance of frost, there will not he lett
single person now alive. Every one L converse
with .fully realizes the situation, and are de-
termiped TO meet their fate like heroes, as they
certainly are.
am pained to announce The sickness OF two
of our party--one lady and ono gentleman-
Mrs. Beesley aud Mr.. Thompson. The doctor
Attending Mrs. B. informs me that she is very
i'll; of MIR. Thompson's y condition | am unin-
formed. The others are WE'LL SO far as can
ascertain, and are working like Trojans. May
all of theiu be spared to return to their homes
and friends Is the prayer OF all here.
The papers Of yesterday contained an account
of ap Interview with DR.. Ramsay, who came
here with us, but ran away iu day after his
arrival. | have not seen his statement, aud do
not know its entire contents but What has ap-
pcared hrra in the shape OF Il tergraphlo
syporsis is literally untrue. la tho first place,
his stay was 90 short he had no opportunity to
learn anything lie was not even assigned to
duty by DR.. Mitchell. the medical director %
our arrival we reported to the Howards, and
with the exception OF DR.. Rsmsay and
Miss Wallace, were placed on duty. Dr. Mllch,
ell stated plainly the situation, and informed
Us OF the great dagger attending our coming;
but az We were here, rather than bear the
stigma of being the onIy towards, wo decided
to remain regardless OF tho consequence. DR..
Ramsay and Miss Wallace thought otherwise,
and were returned to the Peabody hotel, oil
which he gave such a horrible account.
la 10Y previous letter [ abstained from say
iup ANYTHING about Ramscy's conduct on the
cars from Washington to this city; but, as he
has given his version, you will pardon mo IT J.
give mine, corroboratcd by not only our party,
but by oil of the passengers who wcrc on tho
same train.
TO begin with, he and Peas, were drunk
| from the start, and acted in such a manner as
to make themselves a nuisance to oVery ono
on tho train. On our arrival in Louisville, IN.
stead OF attending to his duty-that OF procur-
ng TRANSPORTATION from that city to this point
-ho was ia bed dead drunk; and but Tor the
interest taken in us by the citizens of Louis
Vile we would have been there now for any.
| thing that he Ramsey) did, The nearer we
snproached Memphis the more frightened he
became; and, to give you an idea how ridlcu-
lous he made himself he pinned one OF the
ladies' wells to his hat. thoroughly saturated
with carbolic acid, in order, as nc said, to pre-.
vent bis contracting tho disease. This was
done when we were all of 200 miles away from
Memphis. This vas his make up when he
arrived here, and you can imagine the attention
he attracted with the veil and sponge dangling
about his nose. 1t is truo that tho Peabody
Hotel has had its share of the fever, but what
house has escaped? But as soon as person
dies every thing about the room Is Immediately
removed and burned, and the room is thor
oughy disnfcctcd, aud Mr.. Galloway, the
proprietor, takes especial care that none OF
them are occupied BY his guests.
His statement that the Howards assign male
negro nurses to attend white ladies' is lie
made out of the whole cloth. 1t is bas(
slapder upon as noble q band OF men as ever
lived, and to let it 60 uncontradlcted woulo
be giving countenance to what this miserable
coward has said. -,
The coored people too COME in for his vile
abuse. am informed by the best citizens
that the colored people have lent every assist
apce, anu put lor tlelr CHecI1 alneS, " peAivi
any duty assigned them the Howards and othel
| >ssociatious would have been materially Grip
ss1o in the discharge of their onerous duties
rheu Pise act as policemen, guards for the commits
nnsy . .to as, &C.; in fact the different relief as
;,s;ono SAY s;o, never makca move without frs
."f;na 70, th their colored fellow citzers.
'oTT re u nhvsic.' .'us unite in denouncng hi
slapderous staten .ent' and ignore hIm enhr''
professionally. a. - oAhAi''
The Republican of this morning s:-Mrs
| NJ, IL. Darcy, one of the party OF yoIuntee
nurses who went from hero to the aid of tn
yellow fever sufferers, returned homo yestcfda
morning. oe q,
In nonuarsatinn with representative oil III