The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1878-10-24
Incidents of the Pestilcnce ut Grenada,
Miss.

Driving over to Mrs. Marshall's, the
widow of the Western Union operator,
that afflicted lady was found alive and
we'll physically, but almost demented.
She has lost father, mother, uncle, AUNT,
her husband, and three children. Her
conversation was wild and disconnected
who could expect otherwise? Go NJ
from there to the hospital I found
eleven patients, two of whom are little.
motherless children. A husband and
wife were lying in a cot nearest the
door. The husband looked earnestly at
me, as though he were wishing he,
100, was able TO ride about. The wife,
fine looking lady, was almost delirious
AMI seemed entirely unconscious of her
husbands presence. Such scenes as
these are numerous and fearful to be-
hold. Not one house has escaped this
horrible scourge.
The Towards feed everybody. Rich
and poor, white and black, are served
from the same commissary store. All
are treated alike. So great is the sym
pathy that there is no such thing as
theft o. breach of trust. SO far as |
can learn the pockets of the dead in the
hospital and in the Chamberlain House
are simply searched for information as
to their friends addresses, or for some
clew which will enable friends to re-
ceive whatever the deceased leaves be-
hind. Yesterday l was sent for by n
man, an entire stranger, to call and see
him. l went, and found the nurse
bathing his feet in hot mustard water.
He had just been taken sick He re-
quested me to undo his sleeve-buttons
and take them out; to take his watch
and money and the key y his trunk,
and in case anything serious occurred
to send them to his wife, at the same
time giving the necessary directions. |
addressed them with all the necessary
instructions and then placed them in the
safe of the railroad agent. The precau-
ton is an exception to the general rule,
for the sick rarely call in any one to
give directions as to what they wish
done in case they die.
DR.. Beatty states that in one house
he visited mother lay dying, and her
daughter, young lady, was just adj
vanced into the stage called GONZALES
cent. The Doctor watched the young
lady's face when he told her her mother
was dying. He says not muscle
quivered nor did her pulse change one
beat, and the mother made no sign.
He mentioned this to show that all
emotion is paralyzed by the fever.
DR.. Stone says that patients become
so weak and apathetic under its iniiu-
ences that when told to put out their
tongues they often allow it to lie ex
posed upon their lips. Mr.. Stone also
relates an incident which occurred
yesterday A married lady, con
valescent, gave birth to child. After
the event she remarked to the doctor
and nurse. IF it amt strong, healthy
child let it die" She had not heard it
cry and was indifferent about it. The
child, though very weak, was well
taken care of, and is now living and
growing stronger. This is the only full
time birth here during the last six
weeks.
The train passed here just now at
rapid rate, and one gentleman was OBJ
served with cloth or something held
to his nostrils as though we were a
generous people, ready to give every
body who passed taste of the fever
Such people used to live in Massachu-
sets good many years ago. There
are, fortunately, some exceptions. l
will name one. When | came to
Grenada last Friday l travelled in ca
boose with Freight-Conductor Eccles,
of the Chicago, ST. Louis X New Or
leans Railroad, who, though nervous
about the disease, ran down to the
depot, slowed up, and put me off at the
Cnamberlin House. Considering Ec-
cles' fear, and that he never had the
fever, 1t shows he is a man of courage.
Many conductors rush by here with
closed doors and windows, and, it may
be, with plugged crevices also.-Cor
Ne,c York Herald.