The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1884-12-03
NIGHT DISPATCHES.
rerrible Ravages Of The
Plague in Virginia.
Whole Neighborhoods Dsd-
mated in a Short Time.
A Drummer Gives an Ac-
count Of the Disease.
Reception to Senator Logan
at Washington.
Schurz's Letter on the Leg
islative Question.
The Chinese Waging War
on Christians,
Horrible Tale Of Oistrees.

LOUISVILLE, Nov. Oh. Loomis,
the travelling representative of q New
York Arm, is in the city to-day, bav-
ing just returned from . trip through,
the pIague-stricken district of East
ern Kentucky. Loomis said: 81
vas four days in Martin county.
without disposing of q single article.
The people are absolutely crazy.
Tbey have no use for anything but
collins. A great deal has been
pr.nted in the newspapers about the
situation in Martin and adjoining
counties, but it mas been out an i'm.
perfect reflex Of the existing de-
uulorsple cOuditiou. 1 know Instances
vuere who Z families have died
vjthln a week. While neighbour
hoods have been swallowed up in
the grave, where u man has sur-
vlved 10 bury mis- family and friends
and then been found dead, with
no living creature near him
except IN some cases Q
faithful dog Ficoks Of sheep and
dr. we. of c .LLle that used tn browse
Gu tue hillsldes and along ne range
Of The Cumberland now lay dead aud
rvlting. White pebbles giisten IN
the bottom of creek beds; wells and
eisterns have been drained to the
bottom and springs are no longer to
he relied upon for a supply of water.
The ground is | literally parched, and
where vegetation formerly bloomed
luxlriantIy there is nothing but de-
CIV. Thousands are said TO have
died within the past few weeks"
"What,i in the Oplnion of the natives
Is the cause of this fatal calamity"
ut is very evident that the chief
agent of death is starvation. The
people in those districts are almost
without communication with the cut
side world. An occasional drummer
like myself strays among them once
ayear and the few most prosperous
visit some large cities once in q life
time. A good season brings with 1t
bountiful crops. Wool and other
native products are rudely manufac-
tured into clothing; but when the
crops fail them the order OF things y
reversed. I am speaking now q
backwoods neighbornoOds, where the
plague has ragged with the great
eat fatality. I learned while In Mar
tin county that the crop yield for two
successive -asons had been q failure.
The natives are without money and
without means to purchase bread
The shutting off of the water supply
has brought to the surface q poison
Gus liquid. Famished for water, the
people drank, and the consequence
was death.
The first symptoms are violent
gripings and after this raging head
ache. Hot fever ensues AID the pa
tent usually fingers two days, SUI
tring mental agony before death. l
understand several physicians nave
been commissioned by the state 70
make a careful analysis of d wager
and describe the poisonous lngreoi-
ents. Relief has recently been ols-
patched to Martin from nelghOorln8
Counties. Before I left there was y
light rain Tell with prospects OF con
tuued falling. The opinion prevails
the plague has passed through lts
most dangerous stages and Is nov On
the wane. During the last few days
Of my stay I heard OF very 1e"
deatbs,n