The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-07-12

establishment OF the quarantine was re-
fused. The apprehensions awakened We're
18th OF July or the fact that the
yellow-feyer had made its appearance
in New Orleans, and threatened to
become epidemic. So soon MS this news
was verified the city authorities con-
sented to the establishment OF a quarantine.
DIR. Erskinc, the city health-officer, at once
established quarantine stations on the Men,
phis and Charleston railroad six miles from
the city. on the, Mississippi and Tennessee
railroad twelve miles from the city, aud on
the river at the southern point OF Presi-
deDps island. The uneasy feeling Of the
people, however, was aggravated by the an
nouncement on the I'd OF August of case
OF yellow.feyer at the City Hospital. which
terminated fatally the next day. and by the
dispatches from New Orleans, which showed
a terrible mortality.
On the 9th OF August the fever made its
appearance at Grenada, and there was call
for nurses and physicians. THIS so alarmed
the people in Memphis that business was
neglected, and inquiry showed that the dis
ease had already made Judgment in the
city. On the 18th OF August there were
twenty-five new cases, and people fed
panic-stricken' from the city, which nobody
now denied was infected. The next day
there were thirty-three new eases, and q
hegira ensued, in which the stream OF fugi-
tives seemed to be endless, and they were rs
mad as they were countless. Railroad trains
were taken possession OF by force OF arms,
and people were thrust into the car-win.
dows over the bodies OF those who already
occupied seats. Every station and town
soon had its quota Of refugees from Men,
phis, who carried with them the seeds Of
the disease. In less than ten days, by the
gath OF August q, 900 persons left the city,
and in two weeks afterwards 5000 others
were in camp, leaving less than $4,000 TO
face the disease they could not escape.
BY the Goth of August shotgun quar-
aptincs were established ut nearly all points
in the interior, as we'll rs upon the river :;
| trade was embargoed and travel prohibited.
| By the last week in August the panic was
over In the city. There were then, it was
! estimated, about 5000 cases OF fever. Most
| OF The white men who were not sick were
engaged in the work Of relief. The weather
was intensely hot and dry, and the city was
almost as deSolate as desert. The poor
were reduced to beggary, and even the rich
accepted aims. White women were seldom
seen, and children never, and even dogs,
cats, and rats had fed. The bodies Of hu-
man beings who had died alone were
found in their houses, and some even in the
streets. The churches were closed, and the
police force was reduced from forty-one
men to seven. At the graveyard the bell
was tollcd for weeks by young girl until
she was stricken down, but she recovered
and resumed her place. Nothing thrived
in the city but theft. Persons who came
TO nurse died, leaving trunks filled with Sill
Yerware, iewelry, bric-a-brac. and clothing
which they had stolen. But the Towards
and the negro male nurses were devoted
and did noble work. Besides these, an I'M
fortunate "woman Of the town" gave uy
her house to be used rs a hospital and
nurscd the sick until she herself died.
Others followed her example.
On the 18th OF September, the day OF the
heaviest mortality. many sangrine persons
gave way. Help had been sent in abun-
dance, New York alone contributing $44,-
900. but the army Of nurses from the North
and West fell almost before they had begun
their work. By the 4th Of November over
5000 persons, or 70 per cent. OF the white
people who remained in the city, had died.
| The total per centage was one in four.
Then DR.. John Erskine, who had labored
cheerfully and continuously, gave up and
died.
| During the first week in November, nearly
| three months after the disease became epi-
demic in Memphis, the disease decreased in
violence and gradually disappeared.-
| World.
| LITTLE ROCK IN EXCELLENT SANITARY COSDI-
TION-PREPARING 10 FIGHT THE FEVER.
LITTLE ROCK, ARK, July 1.-THE yellow
fever news from Memphis creates profound
excitement. Little Rock is in excellent
sanitary condition. Nevertheless the Board
| of Health met and resolved that no train on
the Memphis and Little Rock railroad shall
| be permitted to enter within the quarantine
| limits, five miles east Of the city, after L.
o'clock to-day. ueath-officers were ordered
to be placed on the lro Mountain road.
DR.. Calum was appointed to meet the in.
coming Memphis trains. Mayor Fletcher
was notified to appoint sufficient number
of sanitary policemen to be placed under
| the control Of the sanitary officer, Pat. Nor
rison. Numerous anxious inquiries by tele.
graph from neighboring cities OF the State
are made to the Board of Health, looking to
full cooperation with the Little Rock OFF,
GERS.
THE SITUATION AT GALVESTON.
GALVESTON, July 11.-The Board oil
Health last evening declared quarantine
against Memphis, and freight from that
point will not be allowed 10 enter the city.
Passengers will be admitted only after the
expiration of twenty days from their de.
parture. The Board also passed resolu.
ton that all vessels from healthy ports out
side the tropics shall be forbidden to touch
at Key West.
MONTGOMERY.
MONTGOMERY. July 1.-The Mayor OF The
city has quarantined all freight and passen.
gers from Memphis.
Saratoga Regatta.
ANOTHER VICTORY FOR VIRGINIA AT SARATOGA
LAKE.
SARATOGA LAKE. July 11.-The water and