Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1897-12-30

n IpNIGllT The time the sum
MI nier Of 1870. Panic reigned in
/ the little city on the gulf coast.
Stumpedc more wild and terrible than
that of frightened cattle possessed the
peope. 4 stampede more desperate than
that of some thirteen years before when
the citizens fed madly away TO the for
ests and cities of the East to escape the
rush of the conpuering 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. Neitli-
er man. woman nor child could hope to
escape from his iron grasp if once he Sc
cured firm hold on the town
For several days there had been sub
dued terror pcrvading the community
Away ut Mobile Scranton, Pensacola and
other coast towns they knew the flag of
pestlencc was hanging against the flag
staff. They knew that it was but queS-
tien of affew short hours when the vel
low death would be among them Pa
ticntly. with the fatalism of the natives
of that cline. the Creo,es had awaited its
coming. They had suffered before and
would suffer again, if it pleased the Di-
vine Master to visit them with his wrath
But they were but small portion Of the
populacc Even before the coming of the
plague the people had been hastily prepar-
ing for that fearful exodus from home
and kindred even, il by leaving relatives
behind personal safety could be won
1t had come at last. The day before Il
schooner put into the little .halb)r. \
sick seaman was taken ashore. lie was
Infected as the doctors believed. All that
al lac, ,;,,ht vol ln,
nLout the streets furtively Watching each
other fearful of being stricken with the
scourge by mere contact. The next morn
ing men abandoned their usual occula-
lions and marched in broken and irrcSo-
ute columns toward the city hall. Would
the fatefu bulletin announce their doom
They gazed at each other in the same fur
live, uneasy way which had marked the
Intercourse of ncighhors and friends fol
more than a week. They feared to look
bnd were yet drawn by the irresistible
fascination of him who must learn tno
worst if death itself be the result AT
last one man lifted hollow and fear-worn
Eyes to the bulletin board. With wild
hriek he turned and lied toward his
home. 1t had come. Over on the little
Blackboard was Il signal all knew. Ii
was in the terse and significant langua re
amiliar to all who had faced the yellow
eath 1t said:
Seaman landed yesterday died of yel-
bw fever at midnight. Two more deaths
rom the same cause have occurred since
Quarantine will be established mt mid
= sight. All who wish to leave will take
office. GOODRICH, NJ. II.
WRIGHT. NJ. d."
That was all. But what pregnant all
that people. Eighteen hours remained
leave or remain. Who should get away
rst: Certainty long expected gave wings
fear. Stampede, panic more terl ib.e
ban that of animals walled in by lire
hccecded to the silence and inaction of
\ lele forcboding. Vehicles of all kinds
II lshed from the most unexpected places
ousehold goods hastily caught UP borne
ong in the arms of family and servant
/. ldcd to the crowding of the already con
y. ested streets. Men fought and snared
n ke angry dogs to win Il few feet farther
ON the infected city. Women dragging
ddlins babies unwilingly by the arms
shed frantically along in the vain en-
(avor to keep pace with the rapid strides
X husband and father.
y In the group of men who first stood
" out that bulletin board WAS George
Nj fhu'lcA' iuihoe'i'ah' hehdflck mao
n yea "eath on i'd"s IL strIckeh heiu ana
stranger TO rear; lie was lanket
bo had followed in the wake of the men
!: DO settled in the South after the. war
II II young man. he had brought h.
n sh and energy into the stronghold OF
febcl and won fame, fortune and re-
~ fct, if not genuine love. Tail. athletic
III accomplished ne maze MS way with
Al tact OF ms shrcWd, canhy scottish an
Try. lie had hecn III magnolia for sev-
a Years ana, Wliiie he iiad never raced
ep'ueni'c' lie had heard strahge stores
'he noli'ss or Tue people "heh the yel-
as ''"e was ho'Sfea on 'he cry hal.
., ne s,o"" mere IN Wohaer ana amaze
I, ~ at my 'ci,riu' rush ne was accost
ssa y; Va" INN puicr' one OF me ieauers
& II ''e n"''Ne eltineht. hu'ier was Il
i'!' sihewy '"hhiir VINO mad seer
" ''iheS IA me war lie ied his pretty
nuu sii n Nianij Z as ne Struggled win thl'
isNJ wa IN the eHort TO reach the city hal
sxt temporary refuge Heorge loved
~ me win an me lorce OF ms strong
=, 'urh nature ne was loved III return
y rue u. '"'eIui words had not been spok
uO Inc old man saw the mutual love
Whi!e he ana not relish '4ank'
~ soh-'n'iaw' was too good father
OIL Prihg sorrow to ms only child.
~ nat are you dong there! he called
80. ne younger man. Yellow Jack has
M e. 'iet away. man. OFT to the woods
ygys ne Norm you came from. You wont
Se day in this plague-rdden spot
- rs it SO bad as that:' was the care