The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1885-09-10
A FATAL scouRaB.
No Remedy Observation-Disclosures Fail
victims-sad scenes.


PARKERsBURG, w. VA, September B.
An alarming and spreading disease
of a character unknown TO the local physi.
clans, has broken out in Clay County, this
State. The greatest fatality is geographic
cally marked thus far by line drawn from
the head of Sycamore Greek across TO the
Elk, inclosing the southwestern part of the
county. Sycamore Creek is small stream
running between steep hills from six hun
dred to a thousand feet high, inclosing q
narrow valley of great richness but sparse
ly settled, owing to the fact that the land
is principally owned in large bodies by
foreign parties. There are about sixty
families on the creek and its tributaries,
nearlyiall OF whom arel poor farmers or
woodmen. They reside in small log huts or
houses Of one or two rooms, seldom more,
and are the possessors of very few of the
comforts of life and none Of its luxuiies.
Among this primitive but honest and hos
pitable people "a strange and very fatal
disease has broken out, sweeping away
fully two-thirds of the people. From the
best accounts received the disease is I'M
known to the physicians. In a number of
instances member of family has been
taken down with IL, and before a physician
could be reached, generally living alta dis
lance, the unfortunate victim would suffer
torment and die In from one TO three
hours; and before the physician would ar
rive Others of the family would be down
with It. In several instances while mem
Der of family was dying another
would be heard crying and moaning
with deadliest pain, only to join the
long host within few hours or minutes,
1t is described as having symptoms similar
TO cholera, excepting an internal hemor-
rhage which Immediately preceded death.
The fatality became so great that there
were scarcely enough able bodied persons
left to care for the sick. Being contagious,
fear, no doubt, kept many away. One
physician is reported to have been taken
with the disease while attending patients,
and to have succumbed in two hours. IL is
particularly fatal among the children. A
family named Collins lost two children,
while one named Phelps or Phillips lost
three out of four little ones; Mr.. McGraw,
one; Mr.. Morton, two; Mr.. Walker,
one, and Mr.. Leezmore, one
of the County Commissioners, one
child and grown daugh ter, all in forty
eight hours. Many others. to the number
of twenty seven, were taken with this ter
rible melady and died within three or four
days. This is reported as happening only
on one creek, while a number of fatalities
are being heard from at different points
north and south of Sycamore Creek. Owing
to the secluded position of these people,
and the difficulty in reaching them with
proper medical aid and assistance, the dis
ease will probably prove more fatal than
otherwise would have been the ease, There
are number of theories and conjectures
1t, many ascribing II to the water,
which is believed to be poisoned with
the germs of the disease. Others believe il
TO be the cholera, but are no doubt mistaken
In their belief, as the symptoms do not JUS
tify that idea. In fact, the disease APP
pears to be of the same nature. TO great
extent, as that which devastated several
localities in the lower end of the State last
fall. 1t is stated that the scenes along this |
creek during the prevalence OF the disease |
beggared description. The means and |
shrieks of pain, the terror of those
yet unstricken by the fell dis |
ease, and the sad sight Of the |
funeral rites of the victims In the lonely |
depths of the dark woods, where |
often there were scarcely enough left TO
Zig the shallow grave and consign the |
lead to their future home, the tears and |
cries of the friends and relatives OF the |
lead, were 80 sad, so heart rending, that It |
would bring tears to the eyes OF any living |
human being. None of the physicians APP |
pear as yet TO have discovered the nature |
IF the disease or TO render any aid in a |
single instance. From Sycamore Greek |
he disease is reported to be rapidly |
spreading in every direction, and if some
hing does not soon occur to stop IL, IL will |
southwestern portion ofthe
county.