The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1888-10-17

dren, Betsy Rhodes, sailor and Robert
Haskell. Five who went TO the hospital
came out alive. This building had been 0e-
cupied In 1913 by some sick soldiers that
were taken with HulPs army and were taken
sick with fever on board the cartel ship on
their passage from Quebec TO be exchanged:
Ten or twelve died and were buried back OF
the hlll. Those who died with the small p0x
were buried at the same place. The graves
are now enclosed with line Of stone posts.
IL IS north OF the Cleaves monument.
ms was In April, 1924. / then lived at
the North End and recollect the c0nsterna-
tion manifested at the presence Of the small
p0x The streets near were fenced across by
order OF the authorities. and sentinel set to
prevent strangers OF, others from exposing
themselves: Several families Of the neigh
borhood left their houses. A brick pest
house was Immediately erected near the
burial place back of the hill which was long
since demolished. There was no severe Wis
1924 to 1872, when there were 46 deaths dur
ing the winter Of 1928. No other disease
than the small pox has visited the town in
cases that could be called an epidemic.
In 1798 John Burnham, who built and
owned the wharf yet bearing his name. took
the yellow fever from an infected vessel that
came to his wharf-I think from the West
Indies, and with his wife, and son John,
died with it. There were IA deaths by yell
low fever In 1902, In Saco and Biddeford.
The disease was brought in vessel into the
river.
The Asiatic cholera first appeared in North
America at Quebec in June, 1882, and at
Montreal soon after. 1t appeared In New
York the last OF June. 1t was at its height
there on the 25th Of July, when there were
ii5 deaths. 1t appeared in Boston at the
middle Of August. The greatest number Of
deaths in a day was six. The whole number
of deaths there was 65. The whole country
was alarmed at its first appearance and ev-
cry precaution was taken TO prevent It's
spread. Portland never had such a scrub
bing and whitewashing.
On the 18th OF August, 1882, the Harvest,
Capt. Phineas Drinkwater, arrived from
New York with two cases OF cholera on
board. Both were sailors belonging 10 the
crew. The brig was anchored at quarantine,
and the authorities notified. DIR. j. L. Gil
clan. Helwas sent down and found the men
lying on the quarter deck In a state Of col
lapse, and covered with a canvas. They
both died that night. The others Of the
crew were taken on shore to a loft In q COW
stable on House Island where the doctor re-
mained nearly week with them. The pan
lc of the city officers prevented his release.
He and myself boarded at the time at the old
Elm House usually occupying adjoining seats
at the table. The doctor was released and
came up to town on Sunday. He arrived al
the hotel after we were seated at dinner.
His seat being vacant he SAT down before
any one noticed him. asked him where he
was from, to which he replied that he was
just released from the island. My appetite
left me, and with his other next neighbor
left the room. No othersof the ships COM
pany had the disease, and they were soon re-
leased. This was the extent Of Portland s
experience with the dreaded cholera.
In December. 184S, the cholera again
appeared in New York. IL spread to
most Of the Atlantic cities and to the Miss
issippi. 1t was much more fatal In Boston
than it was in 1882, but it did not reach Port
land.
Thousands shall fall beside thee, and ten thous
andat thy right hand, but 1t shall not come nigh
fheeu