Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1895-09-22
written for the Sunday Register.
DICK BURNS AND HIS CASE OF
YELLOW FEVER.

seems that the limited amount of intel
ligence with which humanity is invest
ed. is soon swallowed up in fright and
grave and silly conduct is the rule.
Because some particular disorder is
the topic all human ailments must log
ically be that particular disorder; the
poor child In arms with its teething or
cholera infantum comes under the ban,
while several Industrious nocturnal
mosquitoes can float a yellow flag in a
short while
IL seems. too. that the man of physic,
who should be sensible and unaffected,
loses his head as it were and all the
symptoms he ever knew rotate in a
confused mass through his brain. and
between brotherly Quarrels and s1in-
ions the poor patient succumbS and is
often obliged 10 enquire of the under
taker or st. Peter what he really did
die with anyhow.
We knew of q physician once. a most
estimable man. who at one time had,
according to his diagnosis. twenty
we'll defined cases Of malignant ma
larial fever. 10 a neighbOrhoOd that
would have amazed the Almighty to
have known it could even exist.
But an this has nothing TO do with
the following bit of historical truth:
A few years ago when the yellow
fever ragged with such desOlation in
Jacksonville. Fla. and the neighbOring
towns. we were staying in the South.
Among various companions was Dick
fnT II
souled fellow. who whiled many a
weary hour away with tales of the
wire-h0w he had sent the swiftest
message and return that had ever went
by wire and cable, announcing the
death OF q Russian lady Of rank TO rel
atives i'm ST. Petersburg, this tale
among them-for Dick was a telegraph
operator -Nnomadic yet remarkably
clever.
One evening he came into the Office
with a rather serious face.
Here's a pretty go. he said.
Whats up nOw?'
81 must report at Meridian; the fifth
operator there has died of fever and /
am 10 take his place
After imparting this mOurnful intel
lgence. he said that he desired me TO
go along
7 could not 90. I had offered my
services 10 the managing editor some
time before. I wanted to 60 TO Jack
sonville TO hear the cannon that thun-
dered night and day on the levees, a
Chinese cure that would kill the dis
ease germs. they said-to breathe the
air made smoky and red by burning
tar-but the managing editor said my
proposition was nOnsencical and that
the paper would be held accessory to
nv death. When he observed the
great Eastern papers special CORE
sDondents going 10 the district he
changed hts mind-also changed mine
so / told Dick I would not go-then,
TOO. 7 had no business at Meridian
anyway.
After the imbibation Of several
drinks of the usual nerve remedy DICK
went aboard the train alone.
Meridian was a junction where two
railroads cross. the most important
structure in the town being the station
building. which contained the ticket
and telegraph Office, bar. lunch room
and hotel
The SIGHT that met Dick as he step
ned from the train was anything but
enthusing. Along the station platform
No the farther end was row of large,
peculiar looking packages neatly wrap
ned and several in unbleached muslin,
reminding one vaguely of canvas COW
cred hams-but they were defunct Al
rican citizens awaiting transportation
and burial
He took charge of the telegraph Of
fee and assumed duty at once. The
office Afforded only necessary room, on
account of its overcrowded accumula-
ton of valuable Quarantined express
matter and freight. among the articles
being q number of hampers OF cham
paene. He attended to business nicely
for one. two. three days, always,
though. with a longing eve on those
/ champagne hampers.
on the fourth day Dick reasoned that
I he was tired of whisky, and more, that
a mass Of gentle breeding and delicate
nerves being obliged TO see dead col
ored folks swathed in white piled con-
tinuallv before him. was entitled TO
champagne-and more. the person who
I owned the champagne would never
miss tiff be did il would be easy 20
blame 10 10 the theft OF a dead African.
Re opened a bottle. IL was splendid
I he opened another, then more.
/ The day after this the press of the
I country announced that The heroic
Dick Burns was stricken at his post
with fever and fell from his chair, his
/ last message but half completed
But poor heroic Dick. When he
awoke he was i'm a strange cOmpart-
I ment. not his Office. no confused boxes
I of goods and champagne hampers, but
/ he saw I'm q bleary sort of way pale
sweet faced figure i'm black. a sister OF
/ charity. sitting by curtained window
Mr.. Burns experienced a horrible
thirst
Gimme a drink of water-a gallon
I a barrel" he exclaimed. The sweet
/ faced sister merely shook her head neg
atively. but did not obey.
/ Besides this Burns felt exceedingly
/ and intentionally warm.
Hot. very hot, Why shouldn't he
/ He was surrounded with hot water bot
/ ties on all sides-a mustard plaster on
/ his wrists. forehead, ankles and across
/ his stomach.
With Quickness he realized the TO-
I phet like surrounding.
] "HelenblazeS, -, - "! Where
am 10" and he made an effort TO get up
I but q call from the nurse and a muscu-
/ lar Senegambian quickly entered anC
pinioned him back in bed
You must De quiet the nurse said;
I YOU have fever.
Fever. fever nothing, / have nc
fever. want a drink and I want this
I Internal stun taken from around me
] He protested in vain, his struggles
| were useless. for the muscular ETH
! onian hold him. The doctor arrived