Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-08-30

Of this dread disease, and as educ alton and
methods improve the periods for the visitation
OF cholera win be still further apart Between
the first two periods there were twenty years
and II the disease secures . foo thold in this
country this year forty years will have elapsed
since the last visitation. The dreadful fatality
Of the disease now spreading over Europe has
reawakened the interest In the sanitary condi-
ton OF this country TO cope with the plague
and also recalled the horrible scenes Of 1854
That this country is far better prepared 90 cope
with cholera than the European countries IL q
well understood fact, New York with its closely
collected tenement districts being about the
only city that need fear OF its securing foot
mold Forty years has made vast difference
In the mode Of living in this country and edu-
cation, coupled with plenty OF money has dis
PEELED many superstitious ideas from among
the more ignorant Of our citizens and enabled
the adoption OF sanitary ideas that were not
thought Of forty years back.
reporter of THE STAR happened upon a
man IN the big pension building who resided in
Columbia, Pa, In 1852. His description of the
scenes that took place in that little town pos
sessed many thrilling points and wiz no doubt
prove Of interest at this time.
The summer of that year was an exceptional
one as regards the great heat and drought and
placed the country in a condition that made
the development of the cholera germs an easy
matter Columbia was situated upon the banks
OF the Susquehanna river about eighty miles
west of Philadelphia on the PENNSYLVANIA rail-
road. and an the memory Of Columbia's Oldest
residents the river was never known to be so
low. The water stood stagnant and a noisome
green scum covered the water from shore TO
shore, n distance of about mile. Communion
ton by Telegraph and rail were Of the crudest
nature at that time, and. although cholera was
raging in Philadelphia Boston, New York and
baltimore, brought there from European cities
the news was slow in reaching Columbia. and
filtered through the country in a meacer and
unsatisfactory manner.
WOMAN AND TWO CHILDREN.
One morning about o clock a way passenger.
known as the emIgrant train on the Pennsylva-
mia road, pulled into Columbia and the usual
crowd of loungers we're on hand 10 nee: il even
at that early hour. A German woman with two
children were sick ON board the tram and the
conductor concluded 90 take them from the
train at that point. IA the woman appearcd to be
IN terrible agony and the children we're also
very ill. No idea OF the nature OF the woman'-
maiady was formed. and the ever ready, good
natured crowd lent willing hands 20 assist the
woman and her children from the tain with "a
much case and comfort as was possible aud
quickly carried them 10 a frame shantv along
side the track close b. the station. This UNI
usual hustle around the station. of course drew
additional onlookers and soon quite crowd had
collected around the little shanty hnNiou-Iy in
quiring the cause of the excitement and for nar-
ticulars. The train had pulled out fro:.l the
station and disappeared around the curve TO
the north Of the town in a whirl of smoke and
dust.
One of the station loungers "a soon as he
hal learned thst a woman was sick. had started
for a physician and quickly routed that gentle
man out of bed and hurried him 20 The station
Even vet the nature Of the woman disease had
not been suspected or even suspcionod. A. the
doctor approached the shanty wherein Law the
woman, surrounded by her little ones and some
half a dozen gaping men and two or three
women, the crowd fell back and quickly closed
| In after him and he made his way in haste 10
the side Of the woman. The poor German emf
grant had grown worse so Rapidly that at this
| time she was about breathing her last. One look
was enough for the physician. With blaacked
face he turned to the little crowd and in hafky
voice said:
my God it's the cholera. Get out of this as
soon as you cam,
THE CROWD SCATTERED.
The injunction was Unnecessary Had bolt
of lightning struck in their midst or an Garth
quake opened up rent in the earth at their
feet the dsInay and panic of the crowd could
not have been more marked. Pell NELL he!ter
skslter the crowd scampered over the tracks
and up the streets away from that po-tilence-
stricken spot. the doctor being left alone 10 eX-
anime and administer TO the stricken woman
anu ueT niue ones. In Jew minutes the
woman had breathed her last and in n couple
hours the children had also Joined their mother
IN the last sleep Tradition has it that out Of
the crowd of thirty-Cight people that crowded
| IN and around that iittle shaHty not one escaped
the grim scourge.
Like wild fire the news spread and the widest
excitement prevailed. Many quickly gathered
together their household effects and crossed the
river toward \ ork and Baltimore. while others
went up the north bunk of the river toward
Harrisburg
In this way the scourge was carried TO those
cities and although it did not become epidemic
there II gave them awful scare and brought
out all the latent energies of their respective
health boards and resulted in the cleansing of
the towns mentioned the like of which had not
been seen since their inception. Baltimore. of
course, suffered considerably. Harrisburg and
York only slightly.
or those in Columbia who could not get
away on account of family ties and financial
interest, and would not leave it if thew could,
a terrible enemy TO be faced and to be
fought down. Soft coal and pitch were hauled
in carts to the intersecing corners of the streets
and fired, the smoke and smell being under
stood to be a good disinfectant. But nothing
appeared to be able 10 stop the spread of the
disease and soon the bells on the different
churches began TO toll. giving notice of the
death Of one of its members.
CONTINUOUS ToLLISG OF THE DEATHS
~ WIS thc tlcu W lOAl the NUMBER OF
years Of the deceased. but deaths became so
numerous that a continuous tolling was kept
up. The heavy black smoke from the pitch and
coal assembled on high and hung over the city
like pail, adding additional gloom TO the al
ready dismal scenes being enacted below.
Deaths became so frequent that the people be-
came in a manner hardened, and instead of
fright an utter disregard to the value of life
took its place. The neighboring towns, Of
course, put out Quarantine guards TO protect
their communities from invasion Of the panic
stricken inhabitants, but many passed the lines
during the hours Of the night. Very few citi-
gems were seen on the streets. and at one time
starvation threatened them. II is said that one
could greet q friend on the street. pass the
news Of the day, an in an hours time one or
both would be dead. Funerals were not
thought of. The ministers of the gospel would
come to the house, say q few words over the |
dead, the body would be placed in q wagon or
hearse, IL the latter was not In use there being |
only one In the town, and rushed of to the |
cemetery.
OF the train and it's passengers on which the |
dread disease was brought to Columbia little |
was learned ct the time, but IL was supposed |
that the appearance Of cholera far west as |
Pitsburg IVES traosable to this train or its pas
sengers.
Out In the cemetery an old darkey was dig |
ging long lines Of trenches in which 70 bury the /