Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1879-06-26
STORY OF A PLAGUE.
The British Officer who was Measured
his Goffir, in, Noxxz A.laa

The British Officer who was Measured for
his Coffin in New Orleans.
]. F. H. Claiborne writes from Nat
chez, Miss, to New York paper, giving
some yellow fever recollections. We Sc
!lect this story from his letter..
During one of the epidemics made
| the acquaintance of veteran officer of
| the British army, who. Lad served many
years in the East and West Indies, and
bad visited New Orleans at distant inter-
walls to look after and dispose of con-
siderable estate he bad inherited of a
relative. He had many OF the noble
qualities of. the high-bred Englishman,
had some of his peculiarities, as you will
probably infer from the following nara
tive: ....
"A number Of years ago I was at the
chief hotel in this city, then known as
Bealle's. It was in September, AMI the
yellow fever was prevailing, but as had
long served in the tropics, felt no appre-
tension. My vis q v's at dinner was Mr..
Cameron, young Scotchman, CONNER
cial agent Of Glasgow house; For three
days we dined, drove out, and spent our
evenings together. On the fourth day at
dinner he was not present. While sip
pins, my sherry the landlord passed, and
[ inquired for Mr.. Cameron.
I ~" Major said he, your friend cannot
dine to-day, but if you please l will con-
duct you to him.
"Struck with his manner, and with
these. words, which though uttered with
nonchalance, had something ominous
| about them, rose from the: table, and in
| silence followed Mr.. Bealle. He threw
open small parlor, and there lay, stark
and stiff, the gay young man with whom
l had parted the previous day. He had
been seized Immediately after leaving my
room, and died with the vomit about ten
in the morning. And so little impression
had it made, so much was such death
within the every day line of incidents, it
had not disturbed the business Of the
house; nor had the landlord, nor the
waiter, considered it of sufficient impor-
lance to mention it to me-
"In those days, in New Orleans, resi-
dent gentlemen never appeared in the
hotel at breakfast. But if they were abb
sent at dinner, you might apply for let
tiers of, administration on their estates.
Either a duel or the vomit had carried
them off.
my poor friend was already in his
coffin, and, even in my grief I could not
help observing its elaborate fnish-solid
mahogany, trimmed with satin and vel
vet, with a silver plate, and his name and
escutcheon beautifully emblazoncd.
81 expressed my surprise that all this
could be done, when the subject had only
been dead few hours. =, ~ -. vi;
! "tsMajor,' said he, with a smile, that is
easily explained. We have an under
taker attached to this house. Mr.! Cam
eron's coffin has heen on hand for twelve
months
8" What, sir, had he a presentiment of
death?' - =, = ii: ::
"'No, Major,not at all. But in this city
the march Of disease is rapid Jour fevers
kill sometimes in few hours; decompo-
s1tion Immediately ensues.'. 1t is the rule
Of my house, from July to! October, to
measure every boarder for his coffin while
he is registering his name! The chances
are seven to ten he will want lit in q fort
nightp ~: I.i.; ~. ~.
ment, Mr.. Bealle continued: If you will
do me the honor to follow me-: you shall
see for yourself ------- 49,
,ttHe led the way to the attic, and there,
ranged around in grim array, stood fifteen
or twenty collins, Of different finish, label
ed with the names of his boarders, with
my own conspicuous among them, with
my name, rank, and arms glittering on
the plateE Il i!;>.35 = -. :.
II was dumb with. surprise and rage,
| and if I had "a pier would have run
| him through without uttering a word.s9
60 Major said he blaDdly, and with
the air Of a man who, felt that he had rem.
dered me a favor, your measure was taken
the moment of your arrival. y gu announ-
ced your intention to stay several months,
and while registering your name my I'm
dertaker, who watches the arrivals, and is
very expert, applied his tape line. ! hope,
sir, you; are pleased. We always consult
the British peerage and annla1 army list:
I a"I was really too much shocked: to re-
ply, but Immediately :, retreated to my
room. packed my. baggage, and rang for
Emy bill, determined not to sleep another
might inca hotel where collins were made,
and probably. graves, dug before hand
! Here is my BILL continued the major,
opening a pocketbook and handing me a
Plece of tinle-worn paper:5,::.t IL ~.
NAL; FL ~ - T, B, A, - ..
Ten days bording and lodging at g. $40 O. eo