Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-02-05
A ROMANCE OF THE PLAGUE.
A Newspaper Man Nurses a Fever
Patient and Is Cared for i'm Return.


Baltimore Special to the Philadelphia Times. Feb. g
quiet wedding in Jacksonville, Fla, next
Wednesday evening will be the happy sequel to
charming romance of the yellow fever cpl
demic. The groom is Fred W. Kettle, a we'll
known newspaper man, formerly of Baltimore;
the bride Miss Rosina Patterson, one of the
beauties of Jacksonville and a noted singer
whose sweet voice had won her the name of
the Nightingale of the South. Two years ago
MIR. Kettle left his home in this city and located
In Jacksonville. He soon became prominently
identified with newspaper work there, not only
In local capacity, but as the correspondent of
northern and western newspapers. When the
fever broke out last summer he was advised by
his friends to leave, as, not being acclimated
he would surely fall victim to the disease.
He continued at his work. however. until the
relief committee. under Bishop Weed was
organized. Then he volunteered his entire
time to the arduous duties of secretary of the
committee. The physicians warned him, but
he fearlessly entered the battle against the
scourge. As the epidemic increased his labors
became more difficult, and day and night be
was almost continually at his desk or i'll the
infected home of the sick.
Mr.. Kettle had become acquainted with Miss
Patterson before the fever broke out. She was
among the first to be stricken. In those terri
bic days, when one or more members of nearly
every family in the little southern city were
down with the disease, friends nursed friends
and III turn were often themselves attended by
the very ones whose lives they had helped to
save. When Miss Patterson and her mother
were both ill Mr.. Kettle assisted in caring for
them in their delirium. Both recovered and
the friendship between the convalescent maiden
and the young secretary of the relief COM
mlttee became a stronger affection. In Sep
TENDER, when the death rate was as its highest
and physicians, nurses and the heroic band of
workers on the relief committee were nearly
worn out, Mr.. Kettle attacked with a chill
while working at his desk. and realized that
Yellow Jack had at last fastened his
grip upon him. He babe his fellow-workers
goodbye and prepared to start for the Sand
hills, the pest hospital, from which so few ever
returned. He stopped on his way through the
town at the residence of Miss Patterson to say
farewell. She would not permit him to go to
the hospital. but returned with him at once to
his deserted boarding house. and for two weeks
day and night lovingly cared for the sufferer.
For several days his life was in great danger.
but finally reason returned and the fever SUBJ
sided. The attending physician, on Mr.. Kettles
convalescence, placed the hand of the faithful
girl in that of the sick man. remarking:
Young man, to this noble girl you owe your
life''
The attachment thus formed between the
two will now be perpetuated in wedlock.
Miss Patterson is a descendant of the family
of Patterson, after whom the town of Pater-
son, n. J., is named. Mr.. Kettle is secretary
of the Church Year publishing company, of
Florida