Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-05-04
YELLOW FEVER ARRIVALS
That Alarmed the Good People Of George
town Nearly One Hundred Years Ago.


INTERESTING HISTORY OF An OLD AFRICAN
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM AND TOLERANCE GEN
yRAILTPszSAILED-BRAD s EocK, WHERE
HIS TROOPS DID NOT LAND.
The prevalence of yellow fever at Norfolk
and Baltimore in the year 1900 excited The live
hest feelings Of apprehension in Georgetown.
writes Mr. Hugh 7. Taggart. On August 80
Thomas Corcoran and Adam King were APP
pointed a committee ''for removing person
By the name of Clotworthy O'Neale, now con-
fined with fever in a house on the water side,
who arrived here in the public stage from the
southwark this morning" The committee
were directed to cause him to be removed ITO
such place as they may think proper. so rs to
prevent a contagion of the disorder with which
he is now confined" On September II an
other committee was appointed. consisting Of
Charles Wor.h-ngton. Thomas COrcOran and
John Rein;zen. whose duty II was made
daring the preSalauce u tho fever at
Norsoik srf Rnltipo-e 70 Frequently
v;si- tn ..+iorcHt i4Nsras. u0ssI3aS
houses AID stage Offices and make inquiry IL any
person who may come within the same. be in a
situation TO communicate SAID fever. and to re-
move suspected or afflicted persons Immediately
from town: and still another committee was
appointed. consisting of Anthony ReIGtZel.
NhArAeS ~ Beatty anu JOnn NitcneIl
attend the wharves and landing places OF the
town and 20 visi. all vessels which may come
into the river and if infected persons are found
to prevent them from landing.
THOROUGH COMMITTEE WORK.
The committee on the situation Of Clot-
worthy ONeale doubtless performed their duty
"a considerably circumstances would per-
init. but there Is a suggestion of grim humOr
not intended by them. OF course. IN the in
bS1t which
sented in the shape OF the following bill. when
taken in connection with the terms OF the reso-
lution By which they we're appointed:
"Sept 1900 Corpn. of Georgetown. DR..
10 cash paid Tor digging one grave. IS Sd. D"
The committee could have found place
more effective than the grave for preventing
contagion of the disorder with which the un-
fortunate O'Neale afflicted.
The fate of O'Neale. diving thus among
strangers il an exceedingly sad one. He had
been dispatched by his brother. boot and
shoe merchant in Baltimore. with vessel
loaded with stock 70 establish "a branch store in
Richmond. There he caught the disorder. He
was anxious to return to his home. but was re-
fused passage on vessels. He determined to
try to reach Baltimore by travelling overland.
He was denied accommodations at the houses
along the route and compelled TO sleep in
barns When be entered Georgetown he was
past recovery from the virulent disease, which
had been aggravated by exposure and lack of
attention
PLUCKY AFRICAN.
In the early part of the century there was
living in Georgetown an African by the name
Of Yarrah or Yarrow. who was treated with great
kindness by the people of the town generally
on account Of the sympathy excited by his
peculiar history. As told by Gen. Mason OF
Analostan Island to Warden iii 1911. and given
by the latter in his sketch Of the District pub
Eshed in Paris in 1916. it exhibits Iarrow as
possessed in an extraordinary degree Of the
qualities which surmount adversely. Before
the revolutionary war larrOv was brought from
Africa to the United States and there sold as a
slave to a family who lived near Georgetown on
the banks of the Potomac His master gave
him his freedom ? a reward after MANY years
of hard labor and faithful service. larrov
resolved to be Independent. He tolled late
and early and in the course OF few years
he accumulated 100. This sum was placed
BY IarrOw in the hands OF merchant. and
was all LOST through his insolvency and death
Yarrow much affected by the loss OF his
fortune: cd age wa coming AMI strength WIS
failing. bat he sill cherished the hope OF indie
rendence. lie worked Al fixed wages during
the dav AID in the evening, made nets, baskets
and other ar ic,es for sale. In few years lar
row was AGAIN rich had acquired another
hundred dollars. This was lutrusted TO another
merchant aud lost throI IN his bankruptcy.
Yarrow was >ai and depressed. but his habits
of industry IeI hin still to peTsevere In the
effort to Become indavendtnt before the day
came when h. could no longer work
THIS rIIE BANK.
lie again worked intlu~triously and unremit-
tingly for several wears. enl then found himself
in tho possession of another and larger fortune
SOD \ friend explained to- him the nature
of IA bank. and he invested his money. this time
in shares of the Bank of Columbia. IN his own
name. The bank at this time was prosperous
and larrOws necessities were nos great. and II
Is s;li that bis dividends afforded him COM
~ =. e. 1..1,f
years OF age. he il dC~crIbedas walking erect and
being active. cheerful and COOL natured. On
Christmas MS great delight to fire a gun
under the windows of the families who were his
friends which was intend q a signal for his
dram. When Young he one OF the best
swimmers ever seen in the Potomac. and even
when his muscles were s;Iffened by age he
still found pleasure in the exercise. Tie was
fond of conversation and often related the
story of his life in broken language. as follows:
'.Olde massa been tink he got all de work out
of Yaro bone. lie tell Yaro. go free. Iaro;
you been work huff tor me: go work for yOu
now. Tankee. massa. Iaro say; sure huff.
Yaro go to work for he now 1aro work
a-soon-a-late-a-hOt-a-cOl Sometime he sweat
sometime he blow a finger. He get tipenuy
bit-eighteen pcnnee- glib him to massa TO put
by-put BY dOilI. till come "a heap. Oh, poor
massa take sick-iie-Iaro money gone. oh,
Yaro go to work again. Get more dolla-wOrk
hard-more dOila- Glib him now to young
den broke-den so away. Oh, oh. oh. Iaro
old for true nov. Must work again-worky.
worky, get more dolIa. Glib him dis time to oil
de massa-ail de massa can't dle-can t go away.
Oh. Yaro dolla breed nOw-eyery spring
fall, laro get dOlla-'
INVESTED IN REAL ESTATE.
In addition to Yarrou's ownership OF stock
In the Bank of Columbia. he was able to- further
increase his worldly substance by the acquisi-
ton Of real estate. In the land records of the
District there - recorded deed dated Feb
ruarv g $500. from Francis Deakins executor
of William Deakins. TO Negro IarrOw. by which
the west half Of lot 2l7 in Beatty and Hawkins
addition was conveyed to him fee. The
property froutei on the south side of 9th street.
about midway the square between Market and
Frederick. Mr.. Balch states in his remins-
cences that Yarrah a Nohammedan from
Guinea and that an admirable likeness OF him
was painted by simpson. an accomplished
artist and portrait painter, resident III the
town.
ANNUAL FAIRS.
By the act of 1851 for the laying out of the
town it was provided that it should be lawful
for the commissioners of the town to appoint
two fairs 10 be held therein annually. the one
10 begin on the second Thursday IN April and
the other on the first Thursday in October.
which said fnjrs ShOuid be held fO- the space