The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-09-01
DYING like SHEEP.

And Hundreds of Bodies Lying Unburicd
at HamburG-Peoplc, Panic-Strickon,
Fleeing From tho city-PichOnded Ohl-
clals Who Insist on FormalitieS-Whole
Families Wiped Out
HAMBURG, August 3l.-Evening-
There is no questioning the fact that
tho present cholera epidemic is the
worst that has ever visited this city, and
every hour the situation becomes worse.
The people are dying off like sheep and
the plague is spreading. 1t was thought
Yesterday that the epidemic was abat-
ing in virulence, the number OF new
cases and deaths reported for Monday
being far below those OF the day pre-
ceding. Unfortunately this was not
the case. 1t was only temporary halt
in the onward march OF the plague and
now it is again marching forward, now
ing down its victims by the score. a
fearful feeling OF apprehension hangs
over the whole city, and the belief that
the doctors arc helpless to fight the
scouree grows in strength.
The people feel that they are helpless
in the face OF the terrible visitation
that has come ON them and many OF
them have given up hopes OF escaping
the disease. This is in itself Calam-
ity, for courage is ono Of the essential
factors in fighting the epidemic. Tho
representative of,the Associated Press
here has seen in the military drill shed
tho bodies Of 400 victims awaiting burial.
Owing to red tape 1t is impossible to
bury all the dead under tho usual regu-
lations. for tho law requires tho pro-
duction OF the papers Of identification
before the body is consigned to the
grave. Undor ordinary circumstances
these papers are easily procurable, but
now, when whole families have been
carried off by the scourge, tho greatest
difficulty is experienced in getting the
papers. Unless tho frightfui mortality
abates it will be necessary to shortly set
aside the law and bury the victims as
hastily as possible. Already it is be-
lieyed that the infection has been spread
by the dead.
Bitter imprecations are heaped upon
the authorities for their piG.headedness
in letting the victims lie unburled to
scatter the contagion among the living
while they hunt for papers to show tho
age, occupation, etc, of tho dead per-
sons. A reign OF terror prevails and
every person who can possibly do so is
fleeing the city. An exception must be
made, however, to this assertion. Those
whose duty calls them to attend the
sufferers, physicians and those who
have volunteered their services, are do
ing 4 work that requires the extreme OF
heroism. Among the hospitals, every
where where they can help, they taKe
their lives in their hands without hope
Of fame or reward and do their utmost
to alleviate the awful sutferings OF the
plague stricken victims.
The ordinary form OF burial will soon
have to be abandoned and trenches
filed with quick lime will have to be
resorted to. In many parts OF the city
the shops OF grocers, bakers aud butch
ers have been closed by the police, the
owners and their men being stricken
down while attending to business.
The Prussian ministry OF war has or
dered the garrison Lazaretto at Altona
TO supply the Hamburg hospitals with
five hundred beds.
The registers who record tho deathi