The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1879-05-30
TEEE EsLACEz DEATH.
a Fatn4 case of JIse Plague Az
SAN francisco.
San Francisco Chronicle. ]

Anas.asia Doe was o ycUrg woman
Of twenty seven, employed sor the past
three or four months IS companion
by Mrs Sarah Eo-chikof, an elderly
aud inGrm Russian lady occupying
suit Of apartments in block near the
Junction Of Vallejo street and Mont
comcry avenue. She was known 10
tho house and in the uoighborhood as
Mary, and vas q strong, healthy, we'll
formed, good looking girl. Last Sa.
uriay afternoon she was slightly ius
disposed, bat was in her usual robust
health 90 Sunday. On Monday she
vas troubled with strange weakness,
but q glass of gin restored her, aud
sbo performed her usual work. On
Tuesday she was feeling too unwel. 10
work, and she sent for her brother
Il called FOR her with e carriage. She
walked 10 the carriage, rode to the
house If her sister. Mrs Edward Sass,
No 1925 Folsom street and whcu she
arrived there she walked from the
carriage to the house She was weak,
but had no other evidence If illness
This was at two o'clock in tbo after
noon. An hour later she was seized
wi,h dreadful pains 10 The chest and
abdomen, and a physician, DR. +. O
Schmidt. Of - Folsom street was
sent for, and he saw her at SIX o clock.
She was then suffering lrighttuily, but
vas conscious, and rcmaipe2 so until
seven o'clock. At cieht o'clock she
died Soon after death the body as
sumed very dark copper color, with
here and there a large number of spots
of still darker hue. Information OF
these facts having reached ths Chron
icIe office, . reporter was detailed to
investigate the matter. lie proceeded
FIRST to the Health Office. aud ascal
tanned that the cause assigned for the
death was typhus petichailis, common
ly known as the Black Plague. In
curry at the Coroner's Office disclosed
the fact that nothing had been done
10y that official in the matter. The
scene Of death was next visited, but
the relatives were unable to throw any
light upon the matter. The brother
in law was still doubtful as to the
cause Of tie death, while the brother,
who bad carefully Investigated the
matter, was satisfied there had been no
foul play.
Dr. Schmidt was next visited and
intoEs icwcd 10 reference to the case.
lie said: IT was called to attend the
deceased on Tuesday last, aud found
her suffering from very malignant ty
plus fever. She was conscious at six
in the evening. about which time I
saw her. I prescribed for her aud left
considered il a very strange case.
Tuesday night q man came to my
house and said she was dead. I ex-
pectod death. He said there was some
thing wrong. I told him I would call
/ the Dext morning. On Wednesday
/ morning I went there aud saw the
body L. had turned a very dark
copper color, and was covered with
still darker spots on the breast aud
arms. As her friends wsro complain
iog II foul play | gave them written
opinion Of the ease, as I expected the
health officer or Coroner would make
an examination. | then went to the
health officer and gave the gentleman
IN charge the particulars Of the case
and saying that il was very strange
one, and that [ would like to have Dr.
Mears see the remaius. | gave the
cause Of the death IN the certificate as
typhus petichiais, aud fully believe Il
to be such. 1t was the same as "tht
pest. The man saw in the health
office said he would inform DR.. Mears
l have heard nothing Of the ease since
then. The various plaques that have
appeared are similar IN some respects
20 this case. / don't know the cdar-
acier of the present Russian plague
. bat | believe 1t can be disseminated 10 Q
paper, letter or package. | have never
seen any other case OF a similar nature
to this, nor heard Of one. [ am quite
positive 1t was 4 form Of the plague
and the case demands the immediate
) attention Of the health officer.
The reporter Of the Chronicle called
upon number of the highest medical
authorities in the city-men of long
experience aud extensive practice. Not
one Of them had ever had any actual
knowledge of a real case Of typhus
petichialis in this city; some had never
heard OF any as occurring here, and one
weli-known gentleman did not believe
1t probable that it did exist From
several 1t was learned that the name
plague was applied 10 various leycrs