Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1898-01-07

49, the little city on the gulf coast.
Stampede more wild md terrible than
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 com the dread It'd
lngs of the invasion of yellow Jack
Here was an enemy which they knew
from horrid experience spared not. Meth
err man, woman nor child could hope to
escape from his iron grasp if once he Sc
cured a firm hold on the town.
For several days there had been sub
dued terror pcrvading the community.
Away at Mobile, Scranton, Pensacola and
other coast towns they knew the flag Of
pestilence was hanging against the flag
staff. They knew that it was but a ques-
ton of n few short hours when the yell
low death would be among them. Pa
tiently, with the fataiism of the natives
of that cline, the Creoles 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 a small portion of the
p6pulace. 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 Il
schooner put into the little harbor. A
sick seaman was taken ashore. He was
infected as the doctors believed. All that
day and until late ut night 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-
tions and marched in broken and irreso-
lutte columns toward the city hall. Would
the fateful bulletin announce their doom?
They gazed Mt each other in the same fur
tive, uneasy way which had marked the
intercourse Of neighbors and friends for
more than n week. They feared to look
and were yet drawn by the irresistible
fascination of him who must learn tne
worst if death itself be the result. At
last one man lifted hollow and fear-worn
eyes to the bulletin board. With n wild
shrek he turned and fed toward his
home. II had come. Over on the little
blackboard was Il signal all knew. 1t
was in the terse and significant language
familiar to all who had faced the yellow
death. 1t said:
Seaman landed yesterday died of yell
low fever Mt midnight. Two more deaths
from the SAINT cause have occurred since.
Quarantine will be established at mid
night. All who wish TO leave will take
notice. GOODRICH, NJ. ID,
WRIGHT, NJ. D."
That was all. But what a pregnant all
to that people. Eighteen hours remained
to leave or remain. Who should get away
first! Certainty long expected gave wings
to fear. Stampede, panic more terrible
than that Of animals walled in by fire
succeeded to the silence and i"naction of
mere foreboding. Vehicles of all kinds
rushed from the most unexpected places.
Household goods hastily caught up borne
along in the arms of family and servant
added to the crowding Of the already CON
gcstcd streets. Men fought and snarled
like angry dogs to win n few feet farther
from the infected city. Women dragging
toddling babies unwillingly by the arms
rushed frantically along in the vain en-
deavor to keep pace with the rapid strides
of husband and father.