The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1879-03-20
The Plague in South America.

hACh Los DUH Wtl5tf4- Va SLt AOA u
of the great famine Of China, and
scarcely an incident Of the progress of
the plague in Europe has been allowed
to escape the notice Of the newspapers,
but the great calamity in Brazil has re-
ceived comparatively little attention.
Some months ago brief dispatch motto
ed the ravages % the smallpox in con-
nection with the drought and famine in
orc Of the northern provinces, but this
and subsequent reports were confined to
generaities, and failed 10 give al ade-
Quate idea Of the horrible visitation.
Last year, when the yellow fever des-
olated so many districts II the Southern
States, he sympathetic people Of our
entep.ising nation had railroads, steam
boats, and the telegraph Al hand 10 en-
able them 10 render efficient service Ind
prompt assistance. Under the most
favorable circumstances tie soourge WAS
terrible enough, and the deaths in the
infected regions reached a total Of nearly
10000. But in the stricken provinces
of Brazil the deaths, n population of
100000, numbered nearly 100000.
The particulars Of the great calamity
are given in letters from Ceara, Brazil,
to the New York Herald. The writer
penetrated TO the infected districts, AID
speaks from personal observation, pic
turing q scene Of deso-ation and terror
that scarcely has It's equal in The history
Of fanines and plaques.
The province Of Cears is ABOUT as
large as the Middle States, and was n
habited ~ class Of people dependant
on The ero1s Of thai- sna, farms fer
support Their were no manufactures,
no Industries, no trade With other regions,
few roads, no railroad aud no telegraph.
The principal commercial town on the
coast, Eo-taleza, las no harbor, and re-
ports Of he famine, which began n
I877, were a lorc time n ,eaching she
government CT the outside world BY
tho beginning CT 1878 TIE mortality
from starvation was terrible, and the
panio-stricten and starving peasants
focked 70 the Larger towns Here there
was little TO give, and tie government
aid came slowly Men fought ike
tigers for refuse, women died with starv-
ing children IN their arms, and, in some
cases, men ind women ca: the bodies
Of their own children. 4 is estimated
that 10000 people died from hunger
A. last supplies reached the famine
districts, but the igno-a-t people We're
deniors.lized, ard il was difficult 20 en-
force sanitary regulations. The dead
bodies Of those who rad starred were
in many cases not buried, and IL other
cases only few handouts Of earth had
been thrown upon them. The survivors
huddled together IL towns, lived in filth
and idleness- The whole population Of
the province was gathered OF 9 strip Of
territory along the coast not more than
seyenty-fye miles wide. The drought
still continued, the birds, insects, and
animals died. The people were fed by
government rations bur the fearful
deathrate continued, and il was discov-
cred that the small pox had broken out
among The refugees This was in June,
1878, and the disease spread rapidly to
all classes, including the weather. and
aristocratic people Of the cities. Up to
this date the government had had the
advice and aid Of these Now all be-
came panic-stricken. and a reign Of terror
was inaugurated. II the 10000 people
gathered in and about Fortaleza the
dea.h-rate II the latter part of
November was over 800 per day On
the last day Of November there were
574 deaths, and during the month nearly
$4,000 interments had taken place in the
two cemeteries, and thousands Of dead
bodies lag unburied in the forests At
this date over 10000 people were sick,
and on December 10th the deaths from
smallpox were nearly l,0s0. This was
the death-rate Of the great London
plague, but there was there population
of 100000. At Fortaleza, With e pop
ulation of only 5000, there were 1000
deaths in a single day The death-rate
decreased from that date, dropping on
December Goth TO 400, and by Decem-
Der 30th to 200. The registere deaths
for the month were 1000
In the midst of such { pestilei &c thet..
was necessarily much carelessness a. t.