Milford chronicle. [volume] (Milford, Del.) 1878-1974, 1885-09-18
YELLOW FEVER'S ABODE.
Stories or the Disease Told
by Vera Cruzans.
Strange and CHASTITY Tales With Which
the People Cheer Visitors

Among the numerous yellow-fever
stories with which Vera Cruzaus are
won't to cheer visiting strangers
writes correspondent Of the Cincin-
natl Commercial Gazette. they tell us
that once a vessel drifted into port,
apparently at random, and without
hosting any of the usual signals.
Rumors ran through the town that
pirate ship had arrived, or some for
eign embassy on a secret mission; but
finally the strange craft was boarded
by the authorities, who found it to be
acharnel-house Of decomposing corpses,
for every soul had persisted of vomito.
One day a Norwegian vessel touched at
Vera Cruz on some trivial errand, the
captain having hesitated, it is said,
about doing so, as there was no special
necessity for stopping. The result
was the taking on a passenger, who, a
few days later, came down with yell
low-fever, and every man on the ship,
both officers and crew, died at sea be-
fore their destination was reached.
During seasons of epidemic. when
Vera Cruz is crowded with the dead
and dying. stranger patients need not
expect much care, though the hospi-
tails are many and well managed. Mon
ey can not buy nor Christian charity
bestow that for which the demand is
so much greater than the supply
Frightful tales are told of numbers
who barely escaped being buried alive,
and only on the resurrection day can
it be known how many miserable
wretches have actually met that awful
fate. Last year as the driver of the
cart which conveys eorpses from the
hospital to the cemetery was making
his nocturnal journey he was frighten-
ed nearly out Of his senses by one of
his load suddenly kicking the cover
off his coffin and demanding to know
his destination. Others but carelessly
buried by sleepy workmen have been
known to unearth themselves and
have been found in the morning sit
ting at the cemetery gate airily attired
in winding sheets.
It is stated that few years ago an
American lady who was supposed to
have died during an epidemic, was
about to be cast, uncofiined, into the
common pit with a score of corpses.
The sexton, espying a valuable ring
upon her finger, tossed her upon the
ground at one side, intending to rob
before burying her. The shock of the
fall partially restored her from the
cOmatose condition that frequently
follows this disease. When the ghOul
had completed the remainder of his
task and turned to secure the jewel,
he was Mortified to see two big blue
eyes fixed upon him. Fortunately,
but by rare chance, he did not dash
her into the waiting grave, nor run
away in alright, but carried the half
conscious creature back to the hospit-
al, where she was restored to health.
yellow fever when not contracted
during a tine of violent epidemic, is
by no means the worst sickness under
the sun. Every thing depends upon
careful nursing, and possibly some
what upon temperate habits and the
previous condition of the system. The
majority do not die, and it must be re-
membered that only the number of
deaths are recorded, not the thousands
who have it and recover. 1t certainly
mas advantages over the Roman fever,
typhoid, and kindred ailment, in that
the victim is quickly killed or cured,
and there are no secondary stages, nor
bad effects left lingering in the blood.
When 1 fell into Inconsistencies, one
hot March morning, after vainly fight
ing against the disease for some days,
the Vera Cruz friends seemed to re-
gard it in the light of huge joke
which could have but one happy ter
mination-immunity from future dan
ger. The brave little lady in whose
house we were guest has nursed many
of her country people through the
fever, and not one has died. She and
her husband are both from the United
States. and have lived for several years
in Vera Cruz. through all the success
sive epidemics, and have no fear of
Yellow Jack.
A Dream Of Science.
A.-.ar,fDonk vooohonfoa1 nnninnnr