Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1878-11-23
IN THE PLAQUES PATH.

over -Four Thousand Deaths in and
Around Memphis Since the Advent Of
the Destroyer.
Especial Cor. of the Courier-Journal-l
There is 4 reaper whose name is Death,
And with his sickle keen
He reaps the bearded grain at breath,
And the flowers that grow between"
MEMPHIS, Nov. ITO picture prop
erly the history of the great plague, if
such it may be called, which has Just
ceased its havoc in the South, would re-
quire the pen of Macaulay or Boo
caccio. Descriptions given the cOun-
try of the terrible epidemic have neces-
sarily been meager and unsatisfactory.
While death has held high carnival in
other places and swung his scythe over
3 wide expanse of territory drained by
the Mississippi, in no particular place
has he been so severely felt, perhaps, as
in Memphis. A recent visit, accompa-
MED by an investigation of the history
of the fever's fearful work in and
around Memphis, has given the writer
many facts of interest to the entire
country. To begin with, the fear of fe-
yer was felt more or less by the people
of Memphis with the commencement OF
its appearance in Grenada and New Or
leans. The City Council of Memphis,
as late as July, adopted resolution
authorizing the use of sum necessary
to put the city in thorough sanitary
condition. A measure having for its
accomplishment the establishment of a
quarantine, to be operated in the most
rigid manner known to the human
mind, was presented By DIR. j. W.
Mitchell, but was not approved, and
thereupon that gentleman resigned his
position as a member of the body men
toned. To establish a thorough SAM
tary condition was not possible. OF
course the streets could be scraped and
cleaned, and the yards done likewise,
but this would not and could not re-
move at so late a date the poisonous
effects hot sun shining from April un-
til this period might have caused. In
the latter part of July and the first of
August a number of cases of fever Oc-
Cured in Memphis, the true character
of which was not known. At this time
the
PHYSICIANS CALLED IT MALARIAL
FEVER.
Meanwhile yellow fever, the presence of
which to the Memphian is always terri
flying in the extreme, had hoisted its
flag in Grenada and was showing its
cOlOrs in New Orleans. The CONNER
cial interests of Memphis demanded that
physicians be slow, as well as sure, in
giving name to the disease which had
shown itself. The responsibility of
causing panic, and the terrible exit
announcement of yellow fever would
occasion, we're most keenly felt by ply
sicians and they were resolved 20 act
with all possible wisdom. About this
time a circumstance TRANSFERRED which
will illustrate how the steamer John ID.
Porter was connected with the early his
tory of the epidemic. The readers of
the Courser-J0urndl, in whose enter
prising columns the pestilence prevail
ing on this Inflated raft was first prop
erly made known, understand in what
dreadful way it was identified with
fever at points above Louisville, espe-
cially at Gallipolis, Ohio. The trip Of
the Porter was voyage of death. re-
sembling strongly the fancy of the poet
Coleridge, whose Rhyme OF the Ancient
Mariner it is so much like. The John
ID. Porter was bound for Pittsburg, from
New Orleans, and landed some time
late in July at Vicksburg. 1t was here
discovered that yellow fever existed on
board, and the authorities summarily
ordered the Porter off shore. At the
same time citizen Of Vicksburg sent
the following telegram to the citizens of
Memphis:
vICKsBURG, MISS, July 25.-TO Sim L.
Bdrends, Memphis: Tell Mayor Flippen to
look out for the steamer John ID. Porter,
ordered by authorities to leave this port to-
day. She left for Memphis, with several
cases Of yellow fever on board.
N. TOUBE.
The Porter, upon the strength Of the
foregoing telegram, was not permitted
L..& ra1