The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1897-11-20
HEROES OF THE PLAGUE.
BRAVE MEN WHO GAVE UP THEIR
LIVES IN YELLOW FEVER TIME.


Terrible Epidemic of 1878-Touching
Young Men Who Died at Their Posts.
Yellow fever has developed the
worlds greatest heroes and heroines.
Out of the horror, misery and ter
ror of an epidemic of the dread disease
there have come characters whose
sublime acts of courage and heroism
will ever be remembered. The fever
which is now causing panic in the
South recalls to mind that greatest
epidemic in our history in 1878.
During the epidemic thousands of
people died, entire cities were depop-
ulated, some of the fairest of Southern
cities almost blotted from the map,
and the whole South was demoralized.
The epidemic ragged fercely in Mem
phis, and it was in this city that the
greatest acts Of bravery were dis
played.
The most touching example of heroic
devotion to duty and absolute indiffer-
ence to fear in helping the people he
loved is furnished by the acts of young
Herbert Landrum, brother of Dr.
W. W. Landrum, pastor of the First
Baptist Church, in this city. Herbert
Landrum was one of the martyrs of
journalism, who went to their death
during the famous plague at Memphis,
because they were too brave to leave
their posts.
Young Laudrum cheerfully gave his
life in trying to save young jeff Davis,
the son Of the President of the Con-
federacy. At that time Landrum was
city editor Of the Memphis Avalanche.
When the epidemic broke out at Mem
phis he was at Nashville reporting o
Democratic convention. He left at
once for home, and during the rest Of
his life never left the city Of. death and
desolation. Though but twenty years
of age, he was among the brightest
newspaper men Of the country. He
had displayed rare ability and talent
in his work and had won fine repu-
tation as writer. Memphis at that
time had a population of $4,000. This
was reduced by flight to $4,000, and
strict quarantine stopped the exodus
or the city would have been deserted.
OF the $4,000 left in the city, 5000
had the yellow fever. OF the patients,
1900 died. For weeks the city was
shut off from the world. Sickness and
death were in every house. The police
force was disorganized. Riot and out
lawry prevailed, and added to the
already overwhelming terror of the
situation. Such conditions necessarily
develop the best and the worst in the
human character. In this reign of
terror hundreds who had never dis
played any very striking qualities de-
veloped natures full Of enduring
strength and courage.
Among the bravest and most active
was Herbert Landrum. He would
labor all Gay at his newspaper duties
and would sit by the side OF some SUI
fering patient all night, ministering to
wants that were soon to end with
death.
Every day hundreds would die.
Thompson, the noble editor-in chief
OF the Avalanche, fell victim to the
dread destroyer. Other members of
the staff died Or left the city. In a
few weeks after the beginning of the
epidemic the young city editor was the
only member of the staff left. The
printers had died or refugeed, and
only one composition was left. He and
Landrum swore to stick to their posts
until death tore them away. They
kept their oath.
1t was on bright September day
that Jefferson Davis, Jr., was touched
by the breath of the disease. Nurses
were scarce, and the young mans
friends had to nurse him. True to his
friends even in times of greatest dan
ger, Herbert Landrum went to the
bedside of the son Of the great man
whom all the South still loves and
honors though he is dead. For days
Landrum was by the side of his
friend Then death came and re-
lieved the devoted watcher. All this
time he continued to publish small
daily paper in which there was no
news except Of fever.
The fever, Of course, claimed Ian
drum. He knew that he would have
it when he went to watch by Davis,
but he was not afraid. He had in his
nature the same brave loyal qualities
that made his father famous during
that long epidemic.
He was sick but one day before he
began to recover. In few days he
was able to 60 to work. He went back
to his duties and, with the aid of the
printer, published the Avalanche. He
worked but one day. Then he re-
lapsed. In few hours he was dead.
He had kept his word. He died ct
his post, the last of his staff.
The next day the compositor died
and the Avalanche was printed no