The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-09-11
LETTER FROM MEMPHIS.
Alternating Hope and Fear. Sunday in
the Silent City. ..Funerals--The Gem
etery..Private Watchmen, Etc., Etc.
Correspondenee OF the Star.

The situation since writing last remains
almost the same. The yellow flag still
haunts its sickly colors to the breeze, a
reminder that the plague fingers yet among
us. Hope and despair are playing at hide
and seek, one day aifording glimpse of
one to tie watcher the next giving view
of the other in all its ghastiness. The fig
ures which denote new cases one day denote
deaths the next, and vice versa. So unac-
countabe are these changes that one tires
of theorizing and confines his thoughts to
the contemplation of The present Indeed
in doing this enough OF misery is found to
feed the imaginat on. The silent streets,
the signs of misery. 81 kness want and
death which every where thrust Themselves
into notice, make the very heart sick.
Tire CITY at night is as silent as u grave
yard. Even the usual 'voices OF the
night seem hushed in solemn and omi-
nous silence. The sudden alarm of "tire!H
which sometimes rings suddenly out upon
the still air, sounds wild and startling.
This sensation is enhanced BY lingering
feeling of insecurity, and the fear of gem
eral conhagratiop. Another feature that
serves to make night yet more solemn is
the tolIing OF The midnight bells, which is
still persisted IN.
Sunday in Memphis has ceased to be
observed. The stringent laws enacted
against the selling of liquor on that day
have fallen into disuse and the saloons hold
forth with wide open do rs.
Divine service is not celebrated anywhere
i'll the cit y, it being against the rules OF the
State Board Of Health to hold meetings in
1 = II 4 Il.
few OF the Cathedrals, it is true but the
privilege is EXTENDED no further. This law
is particularly hard on the negro popula-
ton, who deem II an outage upon them
that they are not permitted to hold their
way, however, to elude this 4aw, as it does
not prevent them from meeting outside OF
the corr Grafton.
A beautiful park, known as ESIoval Just
outside of the city limits is made a rendcz-
vous for all Heavenward- bound darkies.
They meet there in vast thr0ngs every Sun
day. and hold prayer meetings every day
in the week.
One remarkable character OF the colorcd
element is too apparent to be passed over
unnoticed. Their fondness for attending
the funeral of one Of their race, whom per-
haps IN life they nave held in almost uni
versal exccration. The opportunity of fol-
lowing body 10 the grave, perehed upon
cushions in q carriage and at somebody
else expense, is not to- be resisted As
consequence the remains of those of the
colored race who have left enough to defrav
the expense of gorgeous funeral, are fol-
lowed by as long n procession as the law will
allow, while such men 81 Judge Raw, John
Skeifington and w. W. Guy were followed
BY only cir most intimate friends. Many
bodies go entirely unattended to their last
resting place; others followed by wife or
mother, whose heartrenjng cries are
enough to melt heart Of stone. One of
the saddest sights of the year was a poor,
lone woman in a carriage, with the coffin Of
her only babe beside her. Her heart seemed
fairly bursting with GRIEF, ana her sobs
choke even him who remembers beholding
the sad scene.
EImwood, the beautiful city of the dead.
is much better managed now than last
year. Some difficulty has been expert
enced from providers, bus a Gordon of
watchmen now surround the place, and
have 50 far prevented any desecration of
the graves. At first, however, two of these
watchmen caused the manager a good deal
of annoyance. Mr.. Philips had concluded
to leave one Of them, Thomas Flood, in
charge, while he went North to recuperate.
Flood accompanied Philips to Raleigh
Springs, a few miles IRON the Gtv and left
him there expecting to take Northern
bound train, while he drove the buggy
back to the city, got on tear, and wound
up the next morning in the StatiOn-house,
beastly drunk, and raying like "a mailman.
Fortunately Philips did not succeed in
taking the train, and returned, or there is
no knowing what scenes might have been
enacted at ElmTood under Floods man
agtmGnt.
The regular watchmen OF the city, the
police are almost Incompatible. The
smalluess Of the force. however is but too
apparent, when we come to consider the
frequent robberies committed. Nearly ey-
cry member has had the fever, and are, as n
rule men OF a sonnd understanding and
firm principles The Chief, p. r. Athy, is
too well known to need comment, and not
withstanding the grief he must feel at the
loss of promising son and daughter, he
goes about his work with an indomitable
will and energy determined to overcome
every obstacle. Only one policeman has
yet been caught mapping, and he was inn
mediately discharged, notwithstanding the
fact that he had been faithful officer for
years As the Chief said TO him, This is
no time for fooling."
In consequence Of an attack made on the
police in a card in the Avalanche. signed r.
II. Kideout, a reporter OF that paper made
the rounds at night with Captain of
police, and found every man on his post.
Rideout was arrested that very night,
charged with prowling and carrying con
cealed weapons. He tired to make it
appear in the evidence next morning that
it was malice that prompted his arrest, but
the fact that notorious thief who has
been nicknamed SNAKE" was arrested in
his company, was suffieient to dispel any
such argument. Rideout was a watehman,
but was arrested SOME distance from the
property over which he exercised surveil-
ance. In truth, absent citizens have more
to fear frola the private Watchmen left in
charge Of their premises, than from any
other source.
Several of them have been convicted of
burglary and are a source Of continual ar
noyance to the pohee. A CAPTAIN and ser
geant Of police are now regularly employed
in attending TO letters Of absent citizens,
asking that their premises be cared for.
doors and windows fastened which they had
neglected to attend to- that eats or dogs
which they had left penned up in a room
expecting to be back in few days be re-
NJ