The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-08-06
Some Memories of Virginia's Last
Outbreak of yellow Fever,
WHY NORFOLK REMEMBERS IT.
The Name Of the Disease Brings With
IL Memories of the Terrible
Scourge That Swept That City
Half II Century Ago.

Home, across the bay from the city
may have appeared unnatural and cX-
aggerated 10 those not acquainted with
Norfolks history. II would seem 70 an
outsider that, with modern quarantine
precautions and all the armament or
modern medical science at command, such
an outbreak ten miles across An open
rOadstead would amount TO nothing more
than an unpleasant incident, with 40
serious cause for alarm. To the old resi-
dent Of Norfolk. however. IL was diI-
ferent matter. The name of yellow foyer
brought with IL the memories and tradl-
tons of the last great outbreak OF 1870,
when for three months the cities Of Nor
folk and Portsmouth were swept as by
fire, when business was suspended. when
an who could had fed from the terrors
OF the scoUrge, and when. during the
height of the epidemic, there were not
enough able-bodled peoNe IN the town TO
nurse the sick and TO bury the dead.
The record of this great epidemic which
sprung from a single infected ship, Us
largely forgotten history north OF the
Potomac. but 10 old residents of Norfolk
fl is stil a terrible memory. A costly
monomument there bears testimony 10 the
faithful services OF those who died in
fighting the scourge and the history OF
volume, compiled at the request OF the
survivors. by Mr.. William Forrest, OF
Norfolk. who had not only lived through
the season Of terror, but carried on al
the time journal in which the happen
ings in the unfortunate community were
chronicled from day TO day
HIS introduction to the chronicle Of the
epidemic gives a vivid picture not only OF
Norfolk during the plague, but or the IN
effsccabla imprint that the visitation left
ON those who witnessed and survived II.
| lie says In part:
A VISITATION OF HORROR.
THE mysterious and pestilential vista
ton with which Portsmouth and NorIolk
were afflicted I'm 1855 is justly classed
among the most terrible calamities that
ever visited any community.
"some idea OF the destructiveness or
|. the pestilence may be formed by compar-
| ing 1t with the great plague or London.
| In that plague one I'm seventeen died' mere
| one in three. When the black plague az
hicted London I'm 1865 and carried on lVwV
souls. Although the total number or VIC
tins OF the Norfolk epidemic was not so
great. the mortality as VIII be seem was
much higher.
"Wrh regard to the origin Of the cpl
denic there are. Of course, different opin-
ions. some commended tho disease was OF
local origin. some that IL was imported
bv the Inflated steamer Ben Franklin
others regarded it as a scourse or pesu-
leutial visitation specially sent by the
Advise and Just Ruler and which mas
been slowly passing along the Atlantic
coast. stopping at Pensacola IN le35 aho
travelling thence n0rthHardly, sweeping
off muluudes On Charleston and SaVah-
nah IN 1874 and travelling on 10 cevastate
other cities of the seaboard.'
FEVER-LADEN SHIP.
The local chrOnicler then goes on 20
make OUT a strong case against the
steamer Franklin, which I'm tradition at
least. is held i'm Norfolk 90 have been the
sole and sufficient cause of tie FEVER
endemic. The history Of the case al
least shows woeful lack of acumen
on the part of the port officials or mat
day as well as Of deception on the part
Of the vessels captain.
The Franklin was on her way north AZ
the time from 81. Thomas 10 New York
The yellow fever was epidemic I'm ST.
Thomas az the time and broke out among
the Franklin's crew on the voyage. The
vessel was old and leaky. and encountered
such severe weather that she was forced
10 seek a port, and after some debate,
chose Norfolk. She came into the ROADS
on June 7th black. weatherbeaten and
forbidding enough but no one In the
town dreamed what burden or terror
she was bearing under her ight-battened
matches. ,.,.-
A Mr.. Harper and. as the chronicler
puts IT. Other esteemed, reputable ard
trustworthy citizens" boarded the yes
sci IN search of tropical fruit, and We're
informed by the crew that there was
fever on board. Others from the shore
saw one afternoon a coffin and mat
tress on the top of one Of the hatches.
the coffin was carried ashore and buried
of old Fort Norfolk. and the mattress
washed ashore near the same SPOT Then
the body OF a man. his face and hands
the color Of an orange. foated ashore
He was believed 20 have fallen over
board in his delNum lie was buried
near where he was found without an IN
quest.
Two sailors swan ashore, saying they
preferred DO take the chances of drown
ing 10 death by fever on the ship. This
would have seemed enough warning for
almost any community. but when the
captain of the Franklin stoutly declared
20 the port officials that ne had no fever
aboard the ship was allowed 10 come
I'D 10 PAGE & Aliens shpyard for re-
pairs Mr. Harper and others prophesied
an outbreak Of fever. but the captain
promised 10 keep his matches down. and
not 20 break out his cargo, so he tied up
al the Gosoort wharf.
DEATH CLAIMED HER PART
Almost Immediately the fever broke out
among the shipwrights who went 10 work
on the vessel. In two days a boiler
maker was stricken and died The ship
yard was deserted and all work suspend
ed Cases broke out along the water
front. and the section was boarded OF
and put under quarantine, but II was too
late The refugees from that section OF
the town had spread it 10 an parts os
Portsmouth and 70 Barry's Row, I'm Nor
folk, where there were several cases.
The citizens became alarmed. and Rarrv's
Row was burned IN hone Of purifying
that section, but the disease spread lie
wildire TO the utmost suburbs OF both
towns.
There was panic and en- exodus. A
third Of the population left in a few days.
but the sc0urge fed fat on those who
were left Then it was that the scenes
described by Mr.. Forester were enacted.
grass grew in the sodden streets. and the
silence was broken by the howirg or
oWneriees dogs and the hurried rumble II
tie dead cart Bodies were left without
niermeni for as long as forty-eigLt hours
IN spite OF The fact that putrefaction cfm-
menced almost before the breath had
passed. The town was deserted by the
birds except the wrens and the loatn-
some plague fly. an insect hitherto I'M
known, made IT'S appearance Whole
streets were deserted and costly homes