The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1897-01-13


that Of frightened cattle possessed the
people. A stampede more desperate than
that of some thirteen years before when
the citizens fled madly away to the for
ests and cities of the East to escape the
rush OF the conquering Yankees. From
down the coast had come the dread It'd
ings of the invasion Of yellow JACK.
Here was an enemy which they knew
from horrid experience spared not Meth
er man. woman nor child could hope 10
escape from his iron grasp II once ne Sc
cured a firm hold on the town.
For several days there had been sub
dued terror pervading the community.
Away at Mobile, Scranton, Pensacola and
other coast towns they knew the nag OF
pestilence was hanging against the nag
staff. They knew that it was but ques-
ton of a few short hours when the vel
low death would be among them. Pa
tiently. with the fatalism OF the natives
OF that cline. the Creoles had awaited ITS
coming. They had suffered before and
would suffer again, if it pleased the Dl-
vine Master to visit them with his wrath.
But they were but Il small portion OF the
populace. Even before the coming OF the
plague the people had been hastily prepar-
ing for that fearful exodus from home
and kindred even. if by leaving relatives
behind personal safety could be won.
1t had come at last. The day before
schooner put into the little harbor. A
sick seaman was taken ashore, he was
/ infected as the doctors believed, All that
4 day and until late at nigh men walked
/ about the streets furtively watching each
other, fearful Of being stricken with the
scourge by mere contact. The next morn
ing men abandoned their usual occupa-
tons and marched in broken and irreso-
lutte columns toward the city hall, Would
the fateful bulletin announce their doom
They gazed at each other In the same fur'
tive. uneasy way which had marked the
intercourse Of neighbors and friends foI
more than a week. They feared to look
and were yet drawn by the irresistible
fascination Of him who must learn the
worst il death itself be the result. Al
last one man lifted hollow and fear-worn
eyes to the bulletin board. With a wild
shrek he turned and fed toward his
home. 1t had come. Over on the littlt
blackboard was a signal all knew. |
was in the terse and significant Language
familiar TO all who had faced the yellow
death. 1t said:
Seaman landed yesterday died Of vel
low fever at midnight. Two more death
from the same cause have occurred since
Quarantine will be established at mid
night, All who wish to leave will tax
notice. GOODRICH, NJ. d.
WRIGHT, NJ. D."
That was all. But what pregnant a.
. to that people Eighteen hours rename
. TO leave or remain. Who should get ava
: first? Certainty long expected gave wing
, 20 fear. Stampede, panic more terribl
than that Of animals walled in by hr
succeeded to the silence and inaction Q
mere foreboding. Vehicles of all kind
rushed from the most unexpected places
Household goods hastily caught up born
S along in the arms of family and servaI
: added to the crowding Of the already col
!, gested streets. Men fought and snarle
Il like angry dogs to win few feet fartht
v from the infected city. Women draggin
Y toddling babies unwillingly by the arm
rushed frantically along in the vain el
deavor to keep pace with the rapid strid,
J of husband aud father.
In the group of men who first stoC
about that bulletin board was Georl
', Kendrick, lumberman. kendriok b,
Is faced death on many stricken field al
= was a stranger to fear. He was Yank
! who had followed in the wake of the IN,
who settled in the South after the wa
Still young man, he had brought
push and energy into the stronghold
the rebel and won fame, fortune and l
IN spect, If not genuine love. Tall, athlei
IN and accomplished. he made his way wi
ISIS the tact Of his shrewd, canny Scottish a
uS cestry. He had been In Magnolia for Sc
TO- eral years, and, while he had never fac
an epidemic, he had heard strange stori
Of the doings Of the people when the Y
nd low flag was hoisted on the city hall.
as As he stood there in wonder and anna
tn ment at that fearful rush he was aeco
>" ed by old Jim Butler, one of the lead,
of the native element. Butler was
o's gaunt, sineyy Johnnie" who had sc
er, hot times IN the war, He led his pre-
daughter Mamie as he struggled with Il
. crowd in the effort to reach the city b
for temporary refuge. George 10y
Mamie with all the force of his stro
taciturn nature. He was loved in retu
= but the fateful words had not been sp
., en-. The old man saw the mutual l.
- and. while he did not relish "Yar
ia for a son-in-law, was too good a fat
llU to bring sorrow to his only child.
- What are you doing therey' he cal
TO the younger man. yellow Jack
come. Get away, man. Off to the wo
} or the North you came from. You VIC
!. last a day in this plague-ridden spot
. us it 50 bad as thatF was the cS
w. less reply. Where do you go and W
heo | shall not leave until know | must.
"Bad?" snorted Butler, in vast disg
"You never fought a battle with Vel
Jack. can readily see that. You see I
per sun up there? Well, it will blaze I
way until November. No hope can co
r,, The dreadful scourge will rule this t.
INV until al are dead or Jack Frost Sc
/, him in his frozen grip and strangles
r., to innocence. This is what you stay
, meet. Come away, for Gods sake,
don't triie with death. You are not
- climatcd yet and will fall as certainl,
the sun will rise to blister and wither
fever-stricken people.
u "Oh, do come with us" pleaded the
IN whose frightened eyes grew blacker '
w the greater fear aroused by her fail
AZ stern words. Come to the pineries OF
Nd the city and away from this fearful /
M / implore you to come.
"Mebbe | might be of use here,
!. the Yankees reply. If it is as bal
die. YOU say. then help will be needed.
ang YOU 90. sirf Well, IL you stay,
d sIs also. | may be needed Who can t
,ver- Il have nothing to fear. You all,
res .,f,,,,. o,,d ono rd
Ions. Butter answer. NoiS "hu eV''
}. ID. child until this is over | must sta
ss ........,.. -; II
ST. help maintain the quafahtlhe Nhlch