Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1879-06-06
The Plague in Moscow in 177O-71.

The appearance of the plague in the
Astrakhan Government has revived the
memory of the terrible outbreak in
Moscow during part of the years 1870
and 1771. The first victims were the
soldiers whom shot and steel had
spared during the war waged against
Turkey. 1t then made its way into
Russia from the southwest, extending
as far north as Serpukhof. 1t first be-
gan to declare itself in December, 1770,
but it was for some time ignored or
denied, the Empress Catherine II.
writing to say that if any one said
there was plague in Moscow he led
nothing but fever was to be feared.
But after being kept under by the win
ter's frost and officially protested
against during the summer, the pest
burst forth in the autumn with fury
which even ukases could not control.
By the middle Of. September, 1771, the
condition of Moscow was terrible.
From 800 to LOCO deaths took place
every day. The upper classes fed
from the plague-strieken town, and
the populace took to rioting. On the
10th (27th) Of September broke out
what is generally known as the
'tchumny bunt, " or plague riot. The
pOpulace assembled in crowds before
one of the gates of the kremlin, wish
ing to avail themselves of the good
offices of the Bogolyubof miraculous
Madonna The Archbishop Ambrose
Zertis- -Kamensky prudently ordered the
picture to be removed from its usual
locality to a more open spot, IN order
to avoid the danger likely to arise from
the thronging together of so many
plague-fearing worshiPers. A cry was
raised that he was stealing the holy
portrait, and that he must be put to
death. He fled in disguise from the
hemlin, and took refuge in the Dons-
koi monastery. Thither, however, he
was pursued, and there he was torn
from behind the altar. "For two
hours," according to the evidence Of
an eyewitness, he was beaten with
eudgel. Then he was left for dead.
But after a time his right hand was
seen to move, whereupOn the rioters
again attacked him, beating him on
the head till he died. Only bY grape
shot was the riot suppressed. A few
uGNH 4alGL IEL4NC4 III A4QcLQM OOAA1
Gregory 0rlof, sent expressly by the
Empress to put down the plague. The
city, so long deprived of guidance, re-
eeived him with rapture. And, in
truth, be deserved to be hailed with
acclamation; for he attacked the
plague with such Tigor that he over
came it. Drawing q number Of sani-
tary eordons round Moscow, he main
tanned so strict q quarantine that even
the dogs which ran across his lines and
the crows which flew over them were
shot. All popular gatherings we're
prohibited; no burials were allowed
within the city; and the faithful were
even prevented from entering the
churches, being obliged to listen to
divine service from without. Before
Count Orlof's arrival the common peo-
pie had showed q decided aversion
toward the hospitals, in which they
were roughly treated and badly fed by
coarse and ignorant medical practi-
tioners. Orlof inspected the buildings
SET apart for the sufferers. visited them
frequently, and soon brought about
change greatly for the better in the
treatment of the patients. The num-
Der Of daily deaths soon fell to 500,
and then became smaller and smaller
until the plague was stayed. Count
Orlof was enabled on Nov. % 20. s.
to leave Moscow rejoicing over a clean
bill of health. On his return to st,
Petersburg the Count was received
with many manifestations of Joy and
triumph. A medal was struck in his
honor, bearing on one side his por-
trait, and on the other a representa-
tion of Curtius leaping into the gulf,
with an inscription that " Russia, too,
possesses such sons" Hercules slay-
ing the Len@n Hydra would have
formed, perhaps, more appropriate
image Pal Mall Gazette.