Year: 1879

/
has just returned from Memphis, re-
lated to a Journal reporter a number
OF incidents in regard to the yellow
fever scourge in that city, which
have melancholy interest. Mr.. Tag
gart lived at Memphis during con-
siderable part OF the epidemic last
year, and was all the time a close and
careful observer of the events occur
ing around him. Among other things,
he said:


"All the fatal cas- OF yellow fever
with one exception) which occurred
in Memphis this year. previous to last
Saturday, were located in the very
best part OF the city. The victims all
lived In houses situate on high
ground, where there was plenty OF
air, and where il would seem disease
was least likely 10 strike. Judge
Ray, who was the first to die, lived
iu beautiful house, apparently in "a
most healthy situation. There had
been death from yellow fever last
year In the Judges household, but
every possible precaution had been
taken in the way OF disinfecting and
cleansing TO prevent reappearance
OF the disease. Judge Ray was seized
with the fever while pleading at the
bench. and was obliged to adjJurn
court. His house has become the
! center from which tho fever has
spread through that part OF the
city.


Whatever else may be the cause
OF yellow fever. feel sure that the
question OF dirt or cleanliness has
little to do with Ii. L know every
part Of the city Of Memphis, and its
condition this year is one OF excep-
tional cleanliness. The city was
quite as clean as indianapolis is to-
day, and much cleaner than Louis
vile. What may be the origin OF
the dis ase do not pretend to say,
and the doctors who have had the
most experience in treating ii are the
men who are most reluctant 10 ex-
press an opinion on this subject; but
the opinion 10 constantly gaining
ground that it belongs 10 that part Of
the country, is natural TO IL, and will
now originate there even il it is not
introduced.


scarcely any idea can be formed
oi the dreadful prospect which lies
before the fifteen or twenty thousand
people who will be compelled to stay
la Memphis for lack OF means to get
away. With the exception of two
coloTed military companies who have
volunteered their services AS guard,
aud few OF the police who will stay
on duty. ii is feared the citizens will
be without protection, aud here is a
large representation OF the danger
ous classes ia the city that greatly
needs watching. There will be little
or no work f.r anybody. and people
cannot raise money by selling furni-
ture or clothes because there Is none
TO buy. Add to all this the scarcity
OF provisions, and the fact that every
little town within twenty or thirty
miles OF Memphis has quarantined in
the strictest possible manner against
Memphis, aud you will see that the
prospect is indeed appalling. Do not
think there will be as much outside
help for yellow fever sufferers this
year as there was last summer; the
people OF Memphis do not expect
there will be, and yet they can
scarcely do much to help them
s.ives.


This quarantine against Memphis
by the surrounding towns, however
necessary 1t may be, Is In itself a
dreadful hardship to a great many.
Men are stationed on every road all
around these towns. with double bar
reled shot-guns. and ordered to shoot
any person coming from Memphis
who attempts to pass them. Fami
lies are often divided in this way,
and parents and their children are
shut off from each other. l had a
man In my employ last year who was
left in Memphis with one OF his chill
dren Ga little girl year or two old
when the quarantine was declared.
He rode as far as he could on the
cars. but 1t was only after walking a
long distance across the country and
risking his life several times that he
rea, he'd the house where his relatives
were stopping, only to be told that il
he came anywhere near the house he
would be shot.


"One Of the most distressing fea
lures Of such an epidemic is that ut
ter callousness with which the dead
are treated. People become so hard
ened that they handle the dead body
OF human being with as little re-
spect as they would "A dog. L saw a
man last summer riding along the
street seated On pile OF collins each
OF hich contained a corpse. Pres
emily he remembered it was break
fast time, and went into a restaurant
to get something. A moment or two
after he was riding along again, eat
ing his breakfast off of coffin lid,
with swarms OF flies buzzing all
a Il L. In, .rhioh IA a hoo., o. 4 rnofod