The Brookhaven ledger. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1878-11-14
Letter From, Par.
TANGIPAHoA, Nov. 18th, 1873

Editor Broohhacea Ledger:-
It's late, and l am tired, having just
come in from the country, but knowing
as l do the time Of your issue, and the
change of the mail trains, I feel |
must give gu account of my myself in
an abriged manner or forfeit forever my
claim to punctuality.
Three hours ago [ came here just in
time to see a panic, and one hour from
now l see by the clock L must mail
this letter in order to reach yon in
time for the next LEDGER. Now [ will
tell you about the panic:
No. four train this evening came on
usual time with McShane commanding
The usual whistle ANNOUNCED It's mr.
rival, and gaily decied LADIES with
their gallant escorts, came as usual to
view the only novelty-the cars-for
such it has been since the advent OF
the saffron scourge in this town. The
platform was crowded "witb fair wo
men and brave men," and while several
of them were congratu!atinS themselves,
or each other, upon the escape of tho
plague which had devastated then
brave little town, ONE one called out
"Hello McGrath, how's Brookhaven,
how's yellow jack up there?' Grea
heavens! had thunderbolt fell at my
feet 1 could not have been more aston.
ished, for there on the back platform
stood John AfcGrath alive and vel
nd as natural as ever. Then came, o
Father occurred, grand panic. In vain
ibid Mr.. McGrath pledge his word there
was not, nor had been a case Of yellow
fever in Brookhaven this wear; in vail
| did I exercise my lungs and put on ~,
winning smiles to persuade them tina
gthe repest Of yellow feysr at Rs-s-si
fhaven was false, and evef the venert'
BILE McShane. who has withstood thu
storms of many tempestuous seas, raj
out on the end of the platform waving
his hat to quiet their fears and becon
ing them to come back, bnt twas M
use, or they went, for they were reall,
and truly scared. They had stood ths
fever here with good nerve. They ha(
stood by and seen their friends ont
after another drop around them, hat
closed their eyes still moist with th,
damp Of death, and with the stoica
p!ucks of the Spartans of old, had de
Tended the pass of the grim messenger
until his arrows hal ceased to darker
the sun, and they had ceased to fght
under the shade, but twas all past
Brookhaven had delegate on board
and he might have the fever, and thai
too of the Brookhaven type. Oh
horrors! Well [ will not dwell any
longer on the panic. The train left
and with it our old friend looking as
healthy as ever.
There is no new case here now anG
only two or three old ones on the docket
Osyka is free, but if there is any
honor in having COOL scourgo OF the
fatal disease, both Osyka end this
place can wear the blue ribbon, and
give Grenada and Holly Springs two in
the game. [ have been unable to get
the names of the deaths in this town,
but the number is simply appalling.
Times ate perfectly awful-no business
no cotton comes in; nothing doing. A
cemetery in appearance. with mourning
and tears, and such is Tangipahoa
Some stout, noble hearts remain, and
they try to look cheerful, but still q
forbidden tear will occasionally din
their eyes as they recount in an uu>
ostentatious manner the heroic deeds OF
those who had at last fell before the
dread monster had made his final bow.
Am heartily glad the trains have
commenced to make 5heir regular trips
and hope soon to take advantage of one
of them to meet you again in person
and shake your Friendly hand.
PAP