The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-12-25
CAPTURED BY CHOLERA.
MISS MARY TUCKER MAGTLL's Ex-
PERIENCEs IN HAMBURG.
Over a Month in the Plague at Its Worst.
Sanitary Precautions Reqnired-Bad
Water Chief Cause OF the Disease.

flTBlnld dDd IN many OuAflue VI TIC
State, was in Richmond last week, on her
way tc visit her friend. Mrs. Francis H..
Smith, OF the University. A representa-
tive Of The Times having heard that she
was in Hamburg during the recent cholera
plague there, called upon her and asked
for some account OF her experiences
under such awful circumstances, to which
rhe Kindly replied:
1 had been in Hamburg several weeks,
and expected to sail for America on the
Sth Of September.
On the I'D OF August, when I was in
the midst Of preparations for my return
home. the fearful news was brought that
the cholera had been in Hamburg for
over d week. and at that time the death
list amounted 10 about fifty a day. Moth
ing could exceed the astolishemnt and
eIsmay OF the people at this announce
ment.
Immediately cases were reported in all
parts Of the city; an order was ~placarded
all through the city, regulating the diet
OF the people, according 20 the best
means of preventing the spread OF the
disease. II was speedily determined that
II was not what was without that cor
rupted the man. but that it was that
which went into the mouth.
No water must be touched unless boil
cd, either for drinking. washing or house
cleaning; all bread must be toasted. for
fear the baker might have had some
germs about him when Il was baked;
all butter must be brought 10 boiling
point and cooled before eating; in short,
nothing must be used in the shape OF
food until Il had been brought 20 the
boiling point. II was then ACKNOWLEDGED
form the beginning tfat the waters or the
Elbe were The potent cause Of the epidemic
and. as the citizens Of Hamburg trace
all their evils TO the Jews, it was asserted
Immediately that a number OF RUSSIAN
Jews, who had landed in Hamburg, had
sold their blankets and clothing to some
old clothes dealers down on the Elbe.
and had also washed their clothing in
the Elbe. and by this means the river
had become thoroughly infected with the
germs.
1 would say in this connection that the
antipathy of Hamburgians 10 the Jew
is so great as 10 be incredible 70 the
American, and amounts almost 10 a SUI
perstiuon, and, as far as l know, there
was no more ground for attributing this
disease to the Jews han to any other
cause.
l am obliged TO testify that foreign
nations seem to be more amenabie TO the
imposition Of sanitary regulations than
we are. Americans are too Independent
in that; they think they know too much
to submit 70 such severe regulations as
are found necessary in an epidemic. But
AT once upon the PRONUNCIATION or the
sanitary laws the diet was reduced 10
the necessary limits, and HOUSEHOLDS wed
with each other in their attempts TO arrest
the spread Of the disease.
1t is a little amusing 10 remember some
dinner entertainments at when l was a
guest. where the menu consisted OF per-
fectly harmless viands, all Of which had
been subjected 10 the necessary heat, and
nj the close a member OF the household
would eolemnly arise from the table and
calling at each plate would drop four
drops of muriatic acid IN n lumber when
was as seriously partSken or ny each
a1est SO that II a chance germ should
have effected an entrance. II was az once
DESTROYED. IN consequence OF these pre-
cautions. in a few days the disease was
limited 10 the parts or the city bordering
upon the Ulbe. where the raVages were
A. Srst the city baviug been taken so
tntot,, Nv surprise, Of course there
o,as no preparatioa for 1t, and the suher-
W. horrihIe Hundreds OF bodies re-
lns ,,nhnriA. and in some cases
n,bcra there we're no means or disposlnS
If tho dead the families themselves
,-orId take out the corpses OF their most
heIoved frynds and hide them under the
49,, IN some place where they were
oftorvs is discovered.
- ,e first news Of the pestilence The
rnrror sent Or. Koch 70 Investigate the
Ter. lie acted in a very lordly and
m~her arbitrary manner In the city, max
az no excuse for the circumstances. and
carried back such a report or the condl-
ton OF Things that the Emperor was
represented in the papers as being greatly
incensed. Ii will be remembered here
that Hamburg is n free city or Germany
with its own Independent Government
and. while II furnishes its military quota
TO Prussia, In its government, II Is IN
dependent. and this eXcites the wrath and
jealousy of the other portions or the
So II was no surprise when the
Emperor was reported as saying that the
imbeciiity OF the Hamburg government
made her the laughing stock or Europe,
and that her privileges would be With
drawn from her unless there was some
speedy change. II is just as well TO say
here that had Berlin been as suddenly
attacked by the great epidemic as Ham
burg was. she would probably have
as klhtAlt 80 100 -
marathon In spite Of the presence OF the
Emperor: but there is no doubt or the
fact that Hamburg IL very much devoted
10 Bismarck. whose home, Friedrichsrhue,
Is In it's nelghborhoOd, and had a great
deal 10 do with the excitement Of the
Emperor.
bismarck Immediately wrote a letter
Of deep sympathy 10 the afflicted city
and sent them a sum OF money, while
the Fmperor turned his back upon them
md maintained a sullen silence until very
late In the history OF the disease, when
he found public opinion was so mueh
AGAINST him that he wrote a letter and
sent a contribution from the Empress
and himself. But II was a little TOO late
10 destl o Y the unhappy impression his
had made.
For five weeks the city was desolated
bv this fearful disease. but In a very
short time order supplanted confusion.
The hospitals and means Of transporting
he dead were thoroughly organized. The
streets were one long funeral procession
and night, and IL was mournful IN
iced 10 see the long line Of hearses with
sometimes a carriage or two following
all day and all night vending its way
the streets towards the eeme-
tery.
I was detained until the 18th Of Septem-
Der from my utter inability 10 make my
escape from the city. those VINO were
10 leave being subjected 20
inch an appalling process Of disinfection
Is 10 make a lady at least prefer TO face
he cholera in preference to a sanitary
,ficer.
Some idea OF this process i would like
o be able 10 convey 10 you. Before leaV-
ng Hamburg the tarveler was put In a