The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1897-10-21
IN YELLOW FEVER TIME.
Heroes Who Sacrificed Their Lives
for Others.


lime acts of courage and heroism will |
ever be remembered. The fever which |
is now causing a panic in the south re
calls to mind that greatest epidemic in
our history in 1873.
During that epidemic thousands of
people died, entire cities were depopu-
lated, some of the fairest of southern
cities almost blotted from the map, and
the whole south was demOralized. The
epidemic ragged fiercest in Memphis.
and it was in this city that the greatest
acts of bravery were displayed.
The most touching example of heroic
devotion to duty and absolute inditfer-
ence to fear in helping the people he
loved is furnished in the acts Of young
Herbert Landrum, a brother of DR.. w.
w. Landrum, pastor of the First Baptist
church. in this city. Herbert Landrum
was one of the martyrs of journalism,
viii went to their death during that ia
nous plague at Memphis, because they
W ere too brave to leave their posts.
Young Landrum cheerfully gave his
life in trying to save young jeff Davis,
lut SUI VI tIC IJlCSlNltII VI NhC WI
acy. At that time Landrum was city
editor of the Memphis Avalanche. When
the epidemic broke out at Memphis he
was at Nashville reporting a democratic
convention He left at once for home.
and during the rest of life never left the
city of death and desOlation. Though
but 90 years of age, he was among the
l., Of Ia
try. He had displayed rare ability and
talent in his work and had won a fine
reputation as a writer. Memphis at
that time had a population of $4,000.
This was reduced by flight to $4,000, and
struct guarantees 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 dsorganized. Riot and outlawry
| prevailed. and added TO the already
| overwhelming terror of the situation.
! Such conditions necessarily developed
! the best and the worst in the human
character. In this region of terror hun
dreds who had never displayed any
very striking qualities developed ma
lures full of enduring strength and
courage
Among the bravest and most active
was Herbert Landrum. He would labor
ell day at his newspaper duties and
would sit by the side of some suffering
| :, =.
that were soon to end with death.
Every day hundreds would die.
| Thompson. the noble editOr-in-chief of
the Avalanche. fell a 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 compositor
was left He and Landr'um swore TO
sticll to their posts until death tore
them away. They kept their oath.
1t was ON a brign: September day that
Jefferson Davis, j., 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 danger, Herbert
Iandrum went to the bedside of the sol
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 thi.
time he continued to publish sinai
I ! :. 4. !
: except Of fever.
The fever, of course, claimed Ian
drum He knew that he would have i
when he went to watch by Davis. but h
was not afraid. He had in his natur,
the same brave loyal qualities tina
made his father famous during tina
long epidemic.
He was sick but one day before h.
began to recover. In few days he wa
: able to 90 to work. He went back to hi
u duties and, with the aid of the printer
c published the Avalanche. He WORKED
but one day. Then he relapsed. In
Q few hours he was dead He had KEEP
i his word. He died at his post, the las
t of the staff.
u The next day the compositOr died an
l. the Avalanche was printed no more
Landrum could have left the city as tn
: others did. but he chose to stand by hi
{ post of duty.
II George Landrum was another brothe
5 who gave up his life for his untiring de
d votion to his friend. At the beginnin
II of the outbreak he left Memphis TO cal
: ry to Augusta the children of DR.. Bogg
e who is now chancellor of the state un
81 yersity, but who was then pastor of
\ PRESBYTERIAN church in Memphis. Whe
d he had landed the children safe in Al
g gusta George Landrum went back
,e Memphis to help care for the sutferin!
- When he arrived at night he found
man and two women holding a drunke
carousal in his fathers house. He aske
them what they were doing and the
said they were the nurses The ma
told him that every one in the hou'
y was dead but his father and mother. T
- ordered the drunken trio from II
house and went to nurse his parent
80 who afterward recovered.
~ The son was soon taken i'll and fe
' DAYS after his brother Herbert's dea
:. he died.
- The nurses who saved the lives
~ &c ~