Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1879-07-25
THE FEVER PANICIN MEMPHIS.
How the People Abandoned Homes and
Helpless Ones at the First Alarm.
MemphiS Appel


Memphis Appeal
The result Of the autopsy ON the body
Of Mulbrandon on Wednesday after
noon spread like wildtire. At the
hotels, which are nightly thronged with
business men, the dread news WAS dis.
cuSSed in the most excited manner,
each one borrowing from the other UNI
Ill reason and common sense were lost
i'll an almost frenzy. Many, seized with
panic NJ the first announcement, fled
precipitately, taking the first trains ON
the Louisville or Charleston railroads.
As late as l. O'Clock ut night groups
of persons We're 10 be met with vainly
endeayoring To discuss what admitted
OF no discussion, some eager to squeeze
from u simple fact crumb of com.
fort, most of,hem to find in it n stronger
reason for the flight they thought it in.
spired. But put ii rs they would they
could only make out of it n case of vel
low fever, declared to be such by doc.
tors who have the public confidence.
Some drew upon their imagination for
cases that had no existence, and there
were not wanting physicians who pitt.
lessly warred upon the peace and Sc
curity of which at such times they
should be among the special guardians.
One of these suddenly found himself in
charge of frye cases, which, after careful
examination by DR.. Thornton, the
health officer, were pronounced not to
be yellow fever. The exaggerations of
men whose title stamps with authority
whatever they say touching disease
was eagerly caught up; and the panic
gained an assured strength and engulfed
the courage and discretion of al
most whole population. Since the
awful days of 1878 nothing like the ter
rors of Wednesday night greeted our
eyes until yesterday. Appeals were in
vain. Each man acted AS Il he thought
himself the special object of the VEN
geance offs fearful monster, to elude
which flight instant and rapid, was the
only means. The lessons OF the past
were forgotten. The good name of the
city, its trade, its future, the fate Of the
poor, all these were sunk under the one
consideration of personal safety. And
all this excitement, 10y which sense of
insecurity for the futile rs we'll rs the
present has been engendered, rests
upon four cases of yellow fever, three
of which were reported TO the board Of
health only after the autopsy which de-
cided so dreadful, so awful a fate for
Memphis again. All this upon four
cases, which, though six days have
passed Stree the first was taken, have
not spread beyond the residences of the
persons, and though finding three vic.
tins in one family, has, 50 far, failed Of
any effect among the nine children of
Mulbrandon. Not one of all the throng
that yesterday surged upon our high
ways like an eager wave, uttered one
word for the poor, or asked TO take
counsel for the safety of property and
life. They seemed to take it for grant
ed that the great world whose charity
came to us in unstinted abundance last
year, will this year pour upon us again
in measure proportioned to our needs.
But the great world is too busy with its
own concerns to permit itself to be an
noyed every year by community that
has proved its incapacity Tor self-help
in every other respeot-a community
that has faced civil war and cheerfully
surrendered its private property to Sc
cure victory. While we are waiting
for the fever to breed beyond the four
cases or perish in them, we suggest that
panic give way to reason, that like SEN
sible men we take counsel rs becomes
us and provide for the future.