The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1884-11-27
A Terrible Scourpe

A Terrible Scourge.
The details OF a most singular and fear.
1ul sceurge, which has been raging for
weeks in the extreme Southwest Of tin
State. have just been made public. TN.
infected region is an extended, mountain
Gus territory and takes in the corners o.
virginia West Virginia and Kentucky.
LII IS a section sparcely settled, inaccessible
and inhabited by population that gain q
scanty subsistence chiefly by hunting. fish
Ing with here and there an attempt at ag-
riculture.
Inc extreme drouth has stopped the
iiow of the springs, dried up the streams
ana LETT both people and stock in distress
ing condition, The region is rich in min
erals, and the flow of small streams that
percolate through the mountain sides has
become so iinpregnated with the iron and
sulphur that The water is almost deadly
poison. This it is thought has been the
cause OF the fearful epidemic that has at
tackled the people, killing them by scores.
destroying whole families, and leaving
scarcely enough in some neighborhoods to
give decent burial to the dead. The raw
ages OF the disease resemble the horrible
''black death.'' None whom il attacks
seldom survive longer than twenty.four
hours. Its fearful fatality is aggravated
by the absence of the means to combat it.
Physicians are scarcely known in this Sec
tion, and the proper medicines cannot be
obtained. Only the crudest remedies. ad /.
mlnistered by unskilled hands. have been
employed, and it often happens that the
nurses are called from the bed side of the
dying to make the coffin or,tdig the grave
for the dead Not only is there an absence
OF medical attention. but the most distress
ing restitution prevails among those who
have survived. At best the crops are mea-
gre. The wants of the people are few.
ms year, however. the drought has al.
most made barren the patches cultivated !;
the drying of the streams has driven out
the game, and absolute starvation stares
many OF the stricken people in the face.
The entire isolation of the region has
rendered it almost impossible to apply for,
much less obtain assistance. 1t requires
weeks OF travel through an almost painless
wilderness to reach some of the most needy,
and it is to this want of communication
with the outside world that the distress is
in no small measure due. Indeed it has
been next to impossible to get an intelli-
GENT idea of tbp condition ~ 4lo x>lo,,,.
ridden population. but the reports are suf-
ficiently well authenticated to leave no
doubt of the wretched lot of these wretched
people and the pressing necessity for aid.
Money and provisions are now being sent.
and the recent rains have proved blessing
in reyiving the water sources, and lessen
ing the spread of the epidemic. To add to
the distress, forest fires have broken out.
and many families have been driven from
their houses. The village of Perryton was
completely destroyed. Numbers would
abandon the region altogether were they
able to do so. Relief Committees are or
ganizing in neighboring towns, and con-
tributions are being received from dis
lance.
a number of affecting incidents are re-
lated in connection with the plague, and
heroism of finer texture than ever dis
played on the field of battle has been
brought to light. Among the most help
full OF all the workers was IL Methodist
preacher named Joseph Emmons. He re-
sided at Gladeyille, a small hamlet in the
Cumberland mountains. He had a wife
and three children and salary of $3.50 per
year, one half of which comes from the
missionary society. When the plague first
made it's appearance he had but $40. His
own family was among the first to be at
tackled, and his wife and two children were
the sacrifices called for. With his own
hands he made collins for the dear ones, |
dug the graves and covered the bodies over,
saying above them the simple burial SER
vice, and being himself the solitary
mourner
Since the above was in type, we notice
a letter published in the Richmond Dis.
patch, from Genl Jno. d. Imboden, deny
ing the truth of the statements heretofore |
published, and upon which the above was
Gen. d. says that the. drouth |
has been severe and Indignant typaaof |
flux has made its appearance, but not. b |
like widespread restitution prevail
we are glad to know that the reports sent |