The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-09-01
STRICKEN HAMBURG.

Almost Reign OF Terror In the Pest-Rid-
den City-713 Fresh Cases.
Special to the India napolis Journal
HAMBURG, Aug. S1.-The air is cooler,
and the sky has been overcast since 6
o'clock this morning. Reports to the Board
Of Health show the development of 7l3
fresh cases and 276 deaths. This is q de-
crease since yesterday of ninety seven in
the number of cases developed and OF
forty three in the number of deathA The
people of the city feel no encouragement.
however, to expect on this account the I'm.
mediate abatement of the disease So many
hopes have been raised by official an.
nouncements in the last week. only to be
shattered within the next twenty-four
hours, that public confidence is en-.
tirely gone. The panic seems to
have complete possession of the city.
Every body who can is leaving or prepar-
ing to leave. Several keepers of the largest
hotels contemplate closing their houses
should the plague be at its present height
on Saturday. Shops are closing by the
score, either because cholera has appeared
among employees CT because the proprietori
have feared to remain In town to conduct
their business. No accurate estimate of
the numbers leaving the city DAILY is to be
had, but they are now we'll up in the thou
sands. Railways running to Lubbock, Ro-
stock and other seaside towns are crowded
at all hours, although extra cars have been
attached to all of them.
In most of tho less freauented streets o
person may walk half mile without meet
ing half a dozen persons. and in several
streets where all traffic has been forbidden
the silence and baroness are broken only
by the passing of physicians and health
Off icers. At almost every turn hearses OF
dead wagons or met yet the burials do not
keep pace with the deaths. it is said that
i'll the whole city, at fewest. $50 bodies
which should have been inferred last n ght
still await burial. An extraordinary effort
was made to-day to remedy the perilous
condition of affairs. and 395 burials have
been made against 29O on yesterday but
the increase of mortality, as a result OF
bad weather yesterday and last night. has
counterbalanced the exertions of the au-
th0rities.
The physicians OF the city are terribly
overworked. and many have been Obliged
they may rest. Those attached to the
health board are completely exhausted.
and to-day the board asked for 10 more to
relieve the present force. which has worked
steadily day and night for the last week.
The government is said TO be threatened
with diiiicnlty in handling the mails. AZ
several clerks and postmen have developed
symptoms of the cholera tonight, and &
panic seems imminent among them.
The most remarkable change that has
ever come over the city is remarked at the
docks along the barbor. All the excursion
steamers and small pleasure craft lie idle
and deserted. The sailing craft which
touch here irregularly and line the water
front with their spars are almost totally
lacking. Only few of the larger steam-
ships which run to ports along the German
coast continue uninterrupted In theiI
trade. The dockers have little OF no en-
ployment, and most of them have no money
for their families. Should shipping not re-
vive within the next week they and their
families will be upon the verge of starva-
ton. In the suburbs Barneck and Rothen-
bergdorf. where the largest number OF
cases has been reported to-day. the pooreg
families are suffering for many necessities
of life In consequence OF lack of work for
the men and the closing of shops where
they have been accustomed TO trading on
credit.
There is no questioning the fact that the
present cholera epidemic is the wort that
has ever visited this city. and every hour
the situation becomes worse. People are
dying off like sheep. A fearful feeling of
apprehension hangs over the whole city, .
and the belief that the doctors are helpless
to fight the scourge grows in strength.
The people feel that they arc helpless in
the face of the terrible visitation that has
come on them. and many OF them have
gwen up hope of escaping the disease.
This. IN itself ia a calamity, for courage 10
one of the essential factors IN fighting the
epidemic. Your correspondent has seen in
the military drill-sheG the bodies OF
four hundred victims awaiting burial.
Owing TO red-tape it is i'm possible TO bury
all the dead under the usual regulations
for the law requires the produc OF
papers of identification before the body is
consigned TO the grave. Under ordinary
circumstances these papers are easily pro-
curable. but now, when whole families
have been carried off by the scourgc. the
grestest difficulty IL experienced In Gettins