The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1878-10-24
DESOLATE MEMPHIS.
Graphic Portrayal of the Ravages of the
Plague in that CITY

DESOLATE MEMPHIS.
Graphic Portrayal of the Ravages of the
Plague in that City.
memphis Cor. Chicago Inter Ocean,
10 attempt anything of graphic or
actual portrayal of the state of affairs,
or the effect upon the city of Memphis
Of the fearful visitation of the plague
and of deaths sad havoc, battles the
mind in It's efforts to do anything like
justice to the subject The situation at
this time presents many marked reasons
why we should indulge in the most san
guine hopes of speedy termination of
the fever. A sure and steady decline is
seen daily from the physicians and
Howard visitors reports. The plague
has been SO long Kidding our city of
some Of its best people that it has, in
your correspondents opinion, done it's
worst. It's fury has been spent. The
worst has come and passed The back
bone of one of the most fearful cpl
denies that ever cursed city or coun-
try has been broken. The fearful
death-rate shows the terrible malignancy
of this type of fever that has so nearly
depopulated our once beautiful Mem
phis. l question if in any civilized land
a more frightful and mortal plague has
ever visited any section of country.
The statistics of former epidemics do
not show that such malignancy has ever
accompanied fevers in times past.
The virulence of the fever, it
has been said, was intensified
by fear; that people became panic
stricken; but, be this as it may, [ only
know that, like autumn leaves, they fell
thick and fast, and the reaper with his
sickle came and moved them quickly
down. Many are the familiar faces we
were wont to see daily on our streets,
whose forms now lie in deaths cold, lev
grasp. If. in the broad glare of day,
we see nothing but closed stores, and
hear from the silence in the streets the
re-echoing footsteps of some pedestrian,
how much more intense is the silence
that reigns after nightfall. A. very pail
seems to settle over the city. Squares
upon squares can be walked and no iv-
ing soul met. In the daytime where,
but few short weeks ago, all was life
and activity, and the hum and hustle of
business was glad and common sound
to the ear, now nothing can be heard
save the rattle of wheels on the streets,
which come onl y from the hearses bear
ing their lone tenants to the grave. No
mourners, no friends. nor relative near
Besides the hearses, the only vehicles to
be seen are the physicians buggies, con-
veying the good and brave men on their
godlike errand of mercy. Il was sick
and we visited me-" This can truly be
said of such gallant men, who volun-
tarily left their homes, knowing full we'll
the risk they ran. Scaled with the local
physicians, they all deserve the praise
and honor that will be given them by
every man who has heart. A noble
phalanx they are. Like Caesars Tenth
Legion, or Napoleon's Old Guard, or
those that charged at Balaklava, their
names will be forever engraven~upo the
minds and hearts of all lovers of hui
manity. IH" 8t.i 1Ed
The constant reports of deaths have
caused the people now to evince little
toned of the decease of some person,
be he ever so prominent. It is almost
looked upon as a matter of course that
it should be so. People have not really
grown callous, but they have become, as
it were, dazed, or so accustomed to such
reports that they forget to wonder at the
wonderfulness of the startling number
of those who daily fall victims. - o..
Instances of horror have come under
the observation of physicians and visit
ors in many magnificent homes in which
costly furniture and plate give evidence
of former luxury and comfort, now
misery and desolation. Whole families
have been swept away, as if by the
mighty flooding of tidal wave. Pom
pei 1900 years ago, when Vesuvius
belched forth it's burning lava and
ashes, which so totally destroyed this
glorious city of learning, arts and sci
ences, presents close parallel to the
desolation that has swept away so many
of the citizens of our city. j" e.
Our only salvation now is the appear
ance of positive and killing frost, and
many are the prayers constantly uttered
that kind Providence will thus favor a
stricken people, and relieve them from
this dreadful pestilence. These prayers
have been on the lips and in the hearts
of all who have been spared.
" Landlord and Tenant. -re*
A decision has just been rendered in
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