Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1881-01-31
DEATH AND pEsoLA1low.
Stricken With an Epidemic. the Little VII
lage Of Jefferson, Waits iss Fate Alone in
the Solitude of DesolatioI.


Stricken With an Epidemic. the Little VII |
lase Of Jefferson, Waits its Fate Alone in |
the Solitude of Desolation.
Canton Advocate.
It was wild stormy, wintry day last
Friday as the down train from Yankton
was ploughing through the drifts, the
picket line established below Elk Point
to prevent travel from the infected small
pox district. was passed and the Eager
eyes OF every passenger was peering
through the frosted windows at the cheer
less gloomy landscape and the lonely
farm houses that are within the prescribed
ban. The snow come from tho north in
titful binding gusts, at times obscuring
the view entirely, and threatening
blockade Of the train. The day OF itself
was one of gloom and depression. aside
from the sad surroundings where pesti-
lence and death was stalking in it's most
loathsome form. AS we approached JEFF
ferson, an increase in speed was attained,
and without heraIding its approach by
whistle the tram flew through the village,
past the depot and beyond, giving lis tiit-
ting picture of a Stunned pestilent and
death stricken village. Only one person
was seen, and he did not even look up, as
he merely stumbled through the drifted
streets-perhaps he was but messenger
OF another death to a neighboring house.
The warning signals were tluttering from
many houses. telling us Of some occupant
stricken with the disease that strikes such
dread in the community. Truly does the
skeleton, that is said to be in every house.
hold, hover over Jefferson. The fever
racked victims are doomed to writhe in
their sufferings in many instances with
out the solace or tender aid of friends. SO
general is the spread of the disease.
Death has taken the wife, when no one
but grief-stricken husband was by to
minister the last wants, who has left the
remains alone while he has procured the
coffin and arranged for hasty aud almost
unclvlllzed burial. Children have been
borne from the house where the parents
are too far gone to even known Of their
loss, and who soon followed. Scarcely a
household. but that has felt the chill
touch or daily waits its turn. Deprived
of intercourse with the outer world, the
mails even being interdicted. roads pick
eted, travel entirely suspended, and the
most dreary winter known prevailing,
the sad condition of this community, en-.
lists the sympathy of all who hears OF its
terrible atfiiction. The authorities of
oAAAoA SSNAoS AosS eahCA CtCIN pIctAu.
tion possible for their relief, and to pre-
vent it's spread, employing a physician
and help at SIS per day, two pickets are
stationed on the principal highway ap.
proaches to Elk Point. and at the outlet
below to Sioux City, who stop all travel
to and from. but receive orders and deliv.
er them for all necessaries required, SO
that much suffering is alleviated in this
. manner.
1t is feared by some that the exposure
has been great before these precautions
were taken that the spread of the disease
will be general. In Bon Homme county
two cases and one death has occurred, ,anC
Monday the 18th inst, one man who wa.
in wood camp OF % choppers came dowr
with it. At Calliope also one or two
cases have been reported, but they CLAIM
that it was only verioloid. Howeye
groundless it is hoped these reports ma,
prove, caution is the better part of valoii
and parents should guard against it.
!, spread here, and have the entire famil,
!, vaccinated.