The evening tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 189?-190?, 1897-01-20
PLAGUE AND A PANIC.
THE TERRIBLE CONDITION OF AZ
FAIRS IN BOMBAY.

superstitious Natives Believe the Author
tiles Arc In League With the Pestilenoc
Out Of Revenge-Those Still Alive Are
Leaving the City by Hundreds.
The Bombay correspondent of the
European edition of the New York Her
aid sends the following:
The plague continues as bad as ever,
and there is little prospect Of its abating
for some time to come. The official rec
ords are getting nearer the truth now,
but the real state Of affairs is certainly
alarming, and no one can tell what is
before us. The panic, which was abat-
ing, has been renewed, and the exodus
from the city has recommended with a
vengeance. Indeed, it may fairly be said
that thousands of people are running
away from the place as if somebody
were pursuing them. Going toward the
bunders the other day, / saw large
crowds of people ru@.ling along the road,
carrying bundles VI their belongings
with them and dragging their children
behind them.
l stopped few of them and inquired
the reason Of the haste and was told
that they were going off to their viii
lagos down the coast to get away from
the plague and the authorities, who were
anxious to secure the lives of 10, 900
people for the recent outrage on the
queens statue! They seriously believed
that TO- 000 innocents were to be slaugh-
tered and were determined not to be
among the number cf victims; hence
they were hurrying to catch the steam
er. But" pointed out, "there is
plenty of tine. Why hurry? The steam
er will not start for four hours more"
The answer was returned that thou
sands more would be hurrying to the
spot directly, and they were afraid OF
being left behind. The scene at the
bunders was remarkable one. The peo-
pie were huddled together like so many
sheep, all clamoring for tickets. The
poor officials were at their wits ends,
and when the steamer started it left be-
hind crowds Of disappointed ones, some
Of whom in the confusion got separated
from their families and loved ones and
were weeping piteously.
Rather than return to their homes
these crowds remained at the bunders
waiting for the next steamer. Similar
scenes are witnessed at the railway sta
tions, all Of which are crowded with
passengers night and day, all eager to get
away from Bombay. Many offices have
suffered in consequence Of the clerks
taking leave Many of them were re-
fused leave and were told that they
would lose their appointments if they
went away, but this does not keep them
back. They would rather risk their ap-
pointments than stay in Bombay. The
larger employers Of labor are suffering
severely. Establishments in which hum
dreds of workmen are employed have
now only got few people left. Several
places Of business have had to be closed
in consequence The mills are beginning
to be affected, and if once the panic
takes hold Of the mill hands the Conse-
quences will be very serious for the in
oustry.
One mill manager told me the other
day that he had no fewer than 315 men
short that day. Streets that few days
ago were crowded and busy are now de-
serted. Driving through one large street
only yesterday l came across several
large buildings totally deserted, while
others had only one fiat out of five or
six occupied. A regiment Of native in
fantry whose lines are in the vicinity
Of one of the most affected wards has
been moved ont into camp, one Of the
most frequented parts Of our sea face
being taken up for this purpose, much
to the annoyance of the general public.
One Of our best maidans has thus been
converted into dressing room for 60(
of our sepoys, and yet the civil authori.
ties make no protest. It was quite right
to move the regiment from the barracks
but why not send them into camp some
little distance out?
1 paid another visit to the Hindo(
burning ground today and saw 80 bodie.
being burned on the various spots Sc
apart for their cremation, while 10 9th
ers were waiting their turn, 3 Of then
outside the gate on the public road.
also saw the bodies of two Hindoos wh'
had died from the plague being washet
and dressed ON the public roadway. II
one of our most crowded thoroughfare
witnessed this from the tram car il
which was riding.
The Parsees are being attacked il
large numbers also. 4saw no fewer tina,
seven Parsee funerals two days az
while driving through the town. / me
the seven in about 40 minutes time. The,
are clearing. out into the suburbs yer.
rapidly. Houses that could formerl
have been had in these parts for 80 O
90 rupees month are now fetchin
hundreds. Up till recently the cases oc
CURED only singly, but now when a cas-
occurs in family two or three other
take it quickly, and all. die, 80 tha
while the funeral preparations for on
member are being arranged anothe
member dies. / have, indeed, witnesse
some very distressing scenes, and til
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