Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1884-11-27
A Terrible Epidemic.

Lynchburg, Va, November 2O.-The
counties suffering from the unknown and
fatal disease before reported are Lee,
Dickinson, and the edge of Scott, in Vir-
GINA, and Hart and Lee, and the adjoin-
ing counties, in Kentucky. Owing to
their isolated positions, the particulars
are hard to be obtained. Hundreds have
died, and allowing for exaggeration, the
mortality is large. Postal Clerk Wells,
who Just arrived from that section, after
having had the epidemic, gives sad &C.
count of the epidemic. He attributes it
to mineral poison in the drought-dried
waters, and says a strong and disagree
able mineral taste like copperas exists
At the time he left, few springs were
flowing freely, and the people were COM
PEELED to drink this impregnated water.
Although it is an unknown disease, the
people call it cholera. Were it so
it could not be more decided
or disastrous. The symptoms are des-
cribed as like the Asiatic cholera, follow
ed by a terrible hemorrhage of the
bowels, and the persons attacked die or
recover in about week. 1t is frequent
ly fatal in twenty-four hours and some
times in few hours. In most instances
it visited an entire family, and is consid
cred SO contagious that in some cases,
where the party dies at once, their friends
are afraid to 90 to them. The figures of
the mortality are not known, but it is
estimated that 800 have died in the Vir-
ginia counties, and considering the small
population and the number taken the
percentage is large. At the late election
the number of deaths considerably af-
fected the majorities at various precincts,
and thirty new graves were counted In
one small cemetery as the result. The
people are demoralized and local bust
ness interests suffer alike. The scourge
visited this section in 1854. Cattle are
also dying in some sections of the coun-
try. General rains have fallen In the
State for two days past and probably the
drought is over there.
Pittsburg, November 20.-The Posts
Charlestown. w. Va, special says: Infor-
nation from Perryville, Mcdowell coun-
ty, this State, near the Virginia border,
gives frightful account of the ravages
of the so-called cholera in the extreme
southwestern counties of Pennsylvania
and the adjoining territory of Kentucky.
Making every allowance for exaggeratlon
the loss Of life has already been
appalling, while the condition of the sur
vivors is terrible in the extreme, the loss
of life thus far being estimated at from
400 to 800. Among the children and
adults we'll up in years the mortality has
been the greatest, but no class has been
exempt. In number of instances, es-
pecially along the fords of McLeans
creek, q tributary of the Big Sandy, and
in the valley of the Powell river, empty
ing into the Tennessee. entire families
have persisted, while in numerous
other cases but one or two mem
bes of households survive, and
few recover from the disorder. From
sixty to eighty per cent. of those attack.
ed die. This has been accounted for by
the fact that water is still unattainable,
and proper food and medical attendance
cannot be had. The drying up of the
streams has necessitated the stoppage of
numerous small grist mills along the
mountain valleys, and the pop
ulation for the most part appears
to be in the most abject want and misery.
The locality is almost inaccessible to the
outside world, there being no railroad
within one hundred miles, and obtain
ing reliable news is very difficult. But
if even half what is alleged be true,
the calamity is one of a most serious
nature, and calls for prompt action by
the authorities and public.