Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1915-05-20
published by Request.
The Yellow Fever
Epidemic of 1898

As il may prove interesting TO some
of our readers, who may not have
known of the yellow Fever epidemic.
which ragged in Philadelphia in the
year 1893. we publish a description.
(which appeared in the Philadelphia
North American of May 10, 1901 OF
that terrible peStilence, from an ex-
tract by Mr.. Neville B. Craig. from a
number of letters in his possession
written by Major Hodgdon, great
grandfather of DIR. A. T. Hodgdon.
of na-on-the-Patuxent, St. Mary's
County, Md.
General Hodgdon was in charge Of
the arsenals and military stores Of the
United States, ON the staff of General |
Washington, was frequently the guest
of General Washington at Mt. Vernon:
his wife, Of whom he speaks, was
Mary Hodge, the daughter of Andrew
Hodge, of Philadelphia.
The editor of this department Is
indebted to Neville Il. Craig. of
Philadelphia, for the following ex-
tracts from letters. the originals are
in his possession, written in 1898
10y Major Samuel Hodgdon, L .S.A..
TO Major Isaac Craig. then deputy
quartermaster and military store
keeper at Fort Pitt.
These letters were all written dur
ing the yellow fever epidemic here.
and reveal, as nothing else can. the
fidelity and patriotism of the writer
who, when Philadelphia was prac-
tically abandoned as the seat of
national government, would not de-
sert his post of duty and neglect the
forwarding of supplies urgently
needed by our soldiers in the field.
The original spelling, grammar,
punctuation and capitals are pre-
served
August -, 1898.
a wasting and destructive fever
RACES in this CITY & particularly IN
my Observation-Disclosures this reach
es you | shall probably have one or
more to mourn in my family, who
fell victims TO it.
August 81, 1898.
The disorder that has proved ia |
tai to great number of our inhab |
tants still RACES i'm my family and !
neighborhood. myself am SO en-
feebled by it as to make il painful |
as to address you-yet some circum- |
stances make it necessary.
AT present my Wife lies dangerous |
~ ill-a Miss Phillips in my home
more so-and my son very weak
Jones my clerk is dead as is Poor
l.udowick-Mr. Knox is very i'll
Adiou-I quit the pain scene
September :, 1898.
The moral sickness RACES yet
many have fallen victims to it
yesterday Doctor Hutchinson added |
one more To the number slain by il |
he died about IL O'Clock have
lost two of my family-Joncs, one
of my clerks and Old Ludowick-
my Wife is yet ill.,
September 81, 1898.
Myself and Blessed be
God-are nearl y recovered from the |
Malignant disorder that has made
such havock in our City, the scene
has surrass'd everything that | have
before seen-the dying groanS has
filled our ears all night and che dead
has rushed on our eyes with the re-
turning day-whole families have
been swept away-we have great
cause for thankfulness-with re-
speeding to smoking and repacking
the Cloathing, believe nothing
more vas intended by the Secretary
of War than attention in that way
to the two last Loads that were
packed-indeed / gave him. ut his
request, my opinion in writing on
the subiect-that even that caution
To the last Loads was unnecessary
for reasons at large offered i'm my
Let'er-it was morally and almost
Physically impossible for infection
TO have reached any of the Clothing
indeed large part of the Cloth
ing was on the road before there
was any infection in the city.
The President of the United States
is gone TO Mount Vernon-the Sec
rotary of the Treasury to New York
the Secretary of foreign affairs to
Virginia and the Secretary of War
To Boston-the last has kept my
hands full OF business-No franks
are left, all Letters now pay postage
You will charge what you pay
No papers are printed consequently
you have no newspapers---the Print
ers, with more than half the in
habitants of the City are gone into
the country, all business is ut
stand. | thank you for the Copy of
my former Letter and must request
the same favor for this---I have no
no one 10 assist me. Knox is better
and removed to the country"
October 4, 1893.
The last Sum sent up by Order
of the Secretary of War was 4 round
sum, without particular respect To
your balance or estimale---In his
absence it will / fear be difficult 10
obtain money---nevertheless | will
do all in my power to keep YOU am
ply supplied
October IS, 1898.
The disease is abating---the |
President is expected in Town next