Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-11-30
A TRUE HOWARD.
Letter from DR.. Coleman, one Of the
Howard Medical Association.

DR.. Coleman was one Of the most
faithful and successful of the physi-
clans who came among US. He saved
cases that others had given up, and
lost only about five per cent. of those
placed entirely in his charge. On his
return to San Antonio it was proposed
through the press to give him a public
reception. The following response
was elected:
Editors San Antonio Express: My
attention has been called to an article
in your issue Of the 2lst instant, of
which my name is the subject, written
by some unknown friend, and fearing
lest my silence might be construed by
some as courting or desiring such pub
lie recognition of my services as men
toned by the writer, | desire through
your columns to disavow any such de-
sire, or even feeling that | deserve to
be specially honored by the citizens of
San Antonio, and also to explain why
/ went to Memphis. When the tele-
graph wires flashed the news that a
carnival of death was raging in that
plague-stricken city, | determined to
offer my humble services to her afflict-
ed people, and had | possessed the
requisite means, none but my wife
and few intimate friends would
have known of my going. In
order to enable me to reach Memphis
and get to work, | asked of the dis
bursing committee the modest sum OF
800, after | had been the first (for
which | claim no credit to suggest
that San Antonio should contribute
her mite to aid the sufferers, and had
been instrumental in calling the first
meeting at the courthouse. This was
refused, and | shall never cease to re-
gret that condescended to make that
request, for | am satisfied there were
men on that committee who looked
upon me as an adventurer, who be-
lieyed | was actuated by selfish mo-
tives, and that it was money-making
scheme ON my part, Little did they
know the man with whom they were
dealing, or how little money entered
into my calculations, | not only spent
two months of almost ceaseless labor
with that afflicted people, but from
the small pittance paid me by thu
Howards | drew $3.50 to aid me il
caring for them properly. That
with the $75 sent me by tn
kind ladies of Pleasanton, was ex
pended in endeayoring to alleviate tn
suffering poor. l made no money i
= Memphis. | did not go there 70
: gain, nor henor or glory, or reputation
but for humanity's sake, and holdin
the views that | do in regard to tina
J dreadful scourge, | would have beel
| recreant to every feeling of humanit
r had | remained away. Firmly fxel
, in those views, | went boldly, after hav
ing asked the protection of Almight
! God, feeling, age knowing, .as well as
, can know anything, that there was n,
| danger for me in that poisoned atmos
phere, Therefore | am now here, an
Q deserve no honor for simply doing m
d. duty. There were braver men i
Memphis than | am. Men from tn
= North and West bearing scars upo
a their bodies received in the struggl
y with these very people whom they ha
come to succor, and never having ha
: or seen yellow fever, in enterin
t Memphis at that time, exhibite
more heroism and bravery than wa
ever shown upon the most hotly con
e testd battle field of the late war. TIL
j majority Of them now quietly sleep j
r the beautiful cemetery Of Elmwood
having laid down their lives for tn
suffering people of Southern city
and by their acts done more to hea
the wounds occasioned by the late un
pleasantness than everything else tina
$ has occurred, proving to the worl
that the American people are one peo
pie in spite Of all that politicians ma,
say. These men were the true heroes O
Memphis. Hoping this explanation
e will stop any further discussion of tn
e subject, | remain, Respectfully yours
, w. i, COLEMAN, NJ. D.
SAN ANTONIO, Nov. p, 1878.