The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1879-02-25
TIE BL ICK DEATH,

the black death Ill Asia and Europe
toward the middle Of the fourteenth
century. OF these 15,OOO,OO0 arc
supposed to have pcrished in
Europe, 24,OOO,O0O in Asia Minor,
India, and tho adjnccnt countries,
and 100000 in China. One his,
torian writes concerning the appear
anco OF the plague in Europe
"terrlble omcns in tho heavens
overwhelmed the nations with dread
In 1887, large comet appeared 3;
in following years came immense
multtudcs of locusts; but in 134S
the end of the world seemed at
hand. An earthquake devastated
Cyprus, Greece. Itply and tho Alpine
valleys. Mountains cavcl in. In
the province of 'arnthcn, in Aus tria,
thirty villages and town w.lo
utterly destroyed. The atmosphere
became thick, fotid and confusing.
Wine turbld in the barrels. Fiery
meteors Illuminated the sky. 4
pillar of flames was soon over tho
Papal palace at Aviynon. These
terrors were followed by II murdcr-
Gus plague. It originated in China,
was carried through tho whole of
Asia, and in Germany received the
nlme of the "Black DEATH" because
it covered it's victims suddenly with
, black pustules, and often killed
them instantaneously. It spread
over the whole Of Europe, and it is
said that it did not rage most virus
iently in Germany. Nevertheless
l4,0OO persons died in Basle, 10000
i'll Straaburg and the same number
in Erfurt. and they persisted in all
other places in similar proportions.
In Osnabruck only seven families
are sail to have snrvivol.
For twenty five years the awful
epidemic maintained it's annihilating
sway, while at the same time
droughts, famines, floods, and
earthquakes destroyed city and
country, and vast swarms Of locusts
everywhere inflicted the tlirest raw
ages. Meantime tie whole ordc, Of
nature seemed reversed. In mid>
winter tho severcst rains wore
experienced. and in summer long
continued frosts, and volcanoes that
had been long thought extinct OPEN
ed their craters anew. Some have
attibuted the origin Of the epidemic
to the atmospheric changes produce
cd by the commissions of the earth,
combined with the decay of organic
nattcr-the myrlads Of locusts and
unnumbered bodies Of mon and
animals.
Some have also attributed that
! frightful epidemic to the then re-
corded approach of several planets
to the sun. Inasmuch as four plan~
cts enter the perihclion in 1881, we
have at least this similarity between
the present time and that dreadful
period and this circumstance, COM
bined with the sudden outbreak of
the plague that ls reported from
Europe, may give rise to the fears
that the coming planetary ploximity
to the sun is perhaps to have an evil
import for poor humanity.
! POISONING THE PopE.-A report
was current in Paris some days ago
of the attempted poisoning of the
Pope by Jesuits. The report was
telegraphed by tho Papal Nun.
. clio in Paris to Cardinal Nina,
and numerous inquiries were made
of the Pope's physician on the
/ subject. On his Holiness being
informed Of the story, lie is said to
have called his private chamberlain
and said "Thank the visitors, and
announce also III tho antechamber
that L am feeling quite well, and that
the poisoning is only for the present
pious dosire'" According to the
Pail Mall Gazctte, the report seems,
however, to have made IN cxtraordi.
nary Impression at the Vatican, and
food introduced and cooked is OK
anlined with scrnpnlous rigor.
Speaking quietly of the matter, the
Pope observed ; "The Jesuits arc
too wise. We're they to attempt
and succeed, they know that the
crime must be traced homo to them"
The Jesuits have, meanwhile, pre-
sented their ultilnatum to the Pope,
demanding to be reinstated in their
old position, and to have their share
in the government of the church,
pointing out the benefits to accrue
from their support and the damage
they are still capable of doing. Tho
Pope yields not on iota. He says
'tLet friars act the friar, and not