smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1879

The true reason of the present


outbreak of yellow fever lies not so


mach in the filthy streets and alleys


of the city, but in the cupidity of


some of our people, who could not get


their consent To destroy even the


bedclothes upon which the patients


died of the fever. 1t has never


been demonstrated that the yellow


fever germ can be preserved through


the frosts and freezes of winter in


the foul air of a privy vault, but it


has been shown time and again that


wooden goods, especially blankets,


that have become saturated with


the yellow fever poison, will retain


it for a very long period even in
cold weather. 1t Is well known that
many persons in Memphis did not
hesitate to preserve and even to
sleep upon beds and bed clothing
that have been poisoned by the in
fected air of sick room or by di-
rect contact with the yellow fever
patient. These articles have been
kept, of course, in bed rooms where
the heat of fire during the day
and the warmth of the sleeper's
body at night prevented the germ
from being frozen out. In many
instances, wooden clothing that
had been hanging in the sick room,
where the air was reeking with the
foul fumes of the fever was packed
away in trunks, or with the poorer
class, in wooden boxes. Here it
remained during the winter. The
warmth generated by the fabric
was amply sufficient to preserve the
germ in all its former vigor; and |
there it lay, like deadly serpent.
only waiting for the heat Of summer
to warm it into life. Mulbrandon's |
coat, which like the shirt of Nessus,
carried death in every fold, is now
I matter of history. Another is
that mentioned in the Avalanche of
yesterday morning of a South Mem
Dhis woman who has Kept in a
wooden box all the clothing of her
husband, who perished by the fever
asst year, and even the bed clothes
lpon which he died, stained all
over with black vomIt. One of the
lblest physicians in Memphis said,
lot long ago, that there was not a
louse in the city, whether occupied
Turing the fever or not, that had
Tot been thoroughly infected by the
'ellow fever poison. 1t should be
emembered also that even those
Who fled from the city when the fe-
-er broke out, left behind them
heir carpets, bedding and winter
lothes, to receive in trust for them
he insidious poison which they
7ere trying to escape.
Year: 1879

Dear friend as the breezes of night,


Steal o'er me with cool, balmy breath,
And radiant glory of lambient light
Encircles the woodland beneath:
And bird sings rapturous lay


To his mate in bower of bliss,
My heart is singing to thee far away,
a song as impassioned as his.
Then list as the south wind goes by,
Breathing its music divine;
All, list, and though will hear the soft sigh,
Waited from my heart to thine.
And ever believe what thou nearest,
For its whisper will tell thee this truth,
That hold thee the fondest and dearest,
Of all the loved friends of my youth.
just now as the midnight advances,
The moon spreads her wings DER the sea,
And the pale stars with plying glances
Look down through the soft mist at me.
think of the hours that are sleeping
Like the faded flowers of dream,
O'er their graves pensive memory is keeping
Lone watch whore forget-me-nots CLEAN.
The days at rest in the by-gone


Are folded up close in nay heart,
Like leaves in the heart of rosebud
When summers glad sunbeams depart;
And leave it to pour all alone


Its sigh of regret on the air,
With no flower mate to hear the low tone
Or weep for its loneliness there.


-PEEPT LIE BRVE,
Year: 1879

ED. CITIZEN:-Having travelled
over large portion of the sur
rounding country, 1 thought 1
would give you few items for pub
licatioD. The drouth has been Sc
we're, buG we were blessed with a
good rain yesterday, and some
neighborhoods had been visited
with showers before, but they were
very partial and many acres of corn
are beyond redemption. But the
bottoms with good seasons will
make half crop. Oats were near
ly failure in some places and the
pastures had become so withered
and dry that cattle are falling off,
and the farmers had fears Of not
making enough to fatten their stock
for the market, and the grass being
a failure among the mountains of
Virginia will prevent cattle buyers
from driving much of the surplus
stock which has been bought up and
driven to Virginia from East Tenn.
In years past, and it brings money
into the country. They buy gener-
ally the young cattle, which farmers
can realize the money on much
sooner than to raise them until full
grown. But Notwithstanding the
drouth the people can live and feed
all refugees who want to come
to the mountains and it has been
ascertained that the correspon-
dent to the Memphis papers about
the scarcity of provisions, was
tramp and perhaps he found the
spring houses locked or ne called at
the wrong hour to beg for his
meals. l am now travelling every
day and get all accommodations
necessary and find provisions and
feed in abundance. If there was
40 corn made there Is enough wheat
in the country to feed the people.
The majority find are in favor of
the 50-4 compromise and am glad
that the leading men of both par
ties are taking the stump in favor
of it, as the question is not fairly
understood by many; some believe
to reject would repudiate the whole,
while others are in favor of 81! or
less, and if 1 understand the ques-
ton, and l so argue with others,
that it is only proposition and it'de
feated it leaves the debt as before
and it does not repudiate nor settle
the vexed question. l know it is
growing in favor and if the people
would turn out to hear the speakers
and find there is but one PROPOSE
ton, it would be carried by large
majority, as being dishonest act.
but the cry of ''stop thief at this
late hour and from a source that
honesty is foreign to and a stran-
ger, will have but little effect and
the good people of America will
know that the State has done the
best she could under her paralyzed
condition. j. III. T..


Knoxville, Tenn.
Year: 1879

the lack OF patients.


His services, together with those
of five others were accepted, and on
a certain evening they all went TO
the Ohio and Mississippi railroad
depot to take the $50 train for the
South. Young Collins, in taking
leave of the Health Officer, who had
gone down to see the little band off,
SAID: doctor, l wall either make a
reputation in Memphis or never
come home again" He arrived in
that city, and reporting to the How
ard Association for duty, was given
an assignment in part of the town
where the disease was carrying peo-
pie off by the scores.


Among others that he attended
was the family of wealthy planter.
He was successful in bringing the
children through the sickness, one
of whom was beautiful and intelli-
gent young lady.


Within short time the Doctor
himself, worn down by unceasing
labor, was smitten with the scourge,
and lay tossing feverishly in his
small room. The young lady, hear
ing of the circumstance, went to his
house and nursed him tenderly
through his sickness.


1t is almost needless to say that
by this time the youthful pair be-
came mutually attached, proposal
and acceptance followed, to which
consent was unhesitatingly given by
the parents. They were afterward
married, the father investing his
new son-in-law with a handsome in
terest in his large plantation. DR..
Collins is now one of the rising
young physicians of Memphis, and
is the efficient Secretary of its
Board of Health.
Year: 1879




Under this head John Bateman
Smith resumes control of the Fay
etteville Express, in the following
salutation:


A few years ago, circumstances
over which l had moderate control,
as well as a fierce desire to serve my
country, induced me to abandon the
lucrative post of editor to this pa
per, with all the perqUisites, emolu-
ments, pyofits, early beets, and 9th
er extraordinary vegetables thereto
belonging, TO accept in the city of
Washington an official position seri
Gus encumbered with a salary, for
the payment of which l had no 9th
er security under the sun but the
United States government. Very
naturally 1 hesitated to leave the
certainty of accumulating untold
wealth behind, to fly to future so
variegated and uncertain; but the
spirit of my revolutionary ances
tors, or something of similar import,
tugged at my heartstrings, and with
the faint hope of having my patrl
otism acknowledged in an appropri-
alton bill, / took the first train. To
those who know me it is perhaps
unnecessary to say that during the
three years and a half have lin
gered in and around the federal
city, aud fabricated the machinery
of government, l have acquired
fame enough to survive me. went
there for that purpose, and the man
who is so lost to q fine perception
of the truth as to assert that this
mild presentation of a fact tres
passes on the territory of prevarica-
ton, is a burglar, horse abductor,
a swine purloIner-and if things
should come to the worst l would
have no hesitation in branding him
as a member of the Tennessee leg
islature.


But 1 digress. The immediate
object had in view was to state in
a brief manner that, having acquired
a surplus of fame, l am now deter
mined to return to the work of
amassing a colossal fortune, and
commence at the exact point where
left of. Hence, i have resumed
not specie payment-but my old
position as editor of the Express,
and as such l salute you. Come
and see me, and if you discover any
wrinkles on my brow, or a disposi-
tioa to demand the cash in advance,
attribute these lnfirmities to the
storms of state and the cares of
government. After associating for
three years and a half with congress
men l am in the proper frame of
mind for enjoying the society of
respectable people, and besides it
will be somewhat gratifying to me
to witness your transports of JOY
at my return.


Therefore, without further expla-
nation, 1 forgive all those who cen
sured me for leaving the Express
some time ago, and humbly apollo
gize to those who mourned my de-
parture for the grief l occasioned
them. The former can repair their
fault by advertising literally, and 1
will reward the latter, when they
produce a fair sample of their tears,
bottled and securely corked, with a
choice collection of speeches on the
State debt, and may the Lord have
mercy on your souls!


JOHN BATEMAN SMITH.
Year: 1879

A correspondent at Shelbyvllle
sends the following particulars OF
the death and burial of Rev. Mr..
Tiller, of Memphis, to the Ameri-
can:


SHELBYv1LLE, July 26.'-Rev. b.
F. Tiller of Memphis, who arrived
here on Saturday last and was taken
with yellow fever, died last night at
II o'clock, and was buried at 2
o'clock this morning. He seemed
to be doing very well up to yester-
day morning, when serious symp-
toms arose and finally eliminated
in his death. The family were al.
most distracted with grief and ter
ror, and were anxious for him to be
buried as soon as possible; and the
citizens found out that he was dead
even at that late hour, and were
clamorous for his immediate inter-
ment. At the urgent request of the
Mayor the President of the Board
of Health undertook to have it
done.


1t being midnight and very dark
and rainy, it was with some diff
Guilty that hands could be found to
dig the grave. Several were soon
at it, however. The next thing was
to get an undertaken. This proved
to be impossible. That official went
to his shop, put coffin out on the
street and left it hurriedly for home
aud positively refused to have any
thing more to do with it, or to have
hearse brought out. A spring
wagon was finally pressed into ser
vice, but no one would go to put
the corpse into the cuffin. The po-
lice declined to enter the infected
house. Four brave young men final
ly volunteered and went to the
house, wrapped the dead man in a
shroud, put him into the casket and
carried him to the silent grave.
The diggers, upon seeing the Ian
tern of the sad spectral group ap-
preaching, dropped their spades
and took to their heels. The most
abject terror seemed to take posses
sion of every one that was out on
that gloomy night.


1t was solemn sight, this put
ting away in the cold ground at the
dead hour of night one OF Gods
ministers without one word of
prayer being said over him; but, in
such, times, ceremonies and proprie-
ties are not available.


We pray God there may never be
any such experience here again.
The family have been moved to the
quarantine station, and the house,
clothes and bedding thoroughly
fumigated. No fears are entertained
of the disease spreading; in fact,
the town is unusually healthy.
Year: 1879

Cincinnati Commercial: Last
year when the epidemic was raging
in Memphis, among the Cincinnati
physicians who rendered their ser
vices and lives to Health Officer
Minor was young DR.. Collins, of
this city, an unusually bright and
intellectual man, who was making a
precarious living at his practice,
not through lack of ability. for OF
that he had abundance, but from
Year: 1879

A young man living near the
suburbs drove into the city the 9th
er evening, and seeing a couple of
young ladies few blocks off wLom
he took to be his cousins, began
bowing and waving and throw
ing kisses to them When he
paused for reply he noticed that
they didn't recognize his demon
strations of joy at seeing them-nor
even recognize the young man him.
self-and it then occurred to him
that he was throwing kisses to
somebody else's cousins (all the
more blissfull for that however,.
He k Newt wouldn't do to get any
nearer and risk an apology at this
juncture, and so he slipped around
the corner and crawled into the
most convenient hole. where he is
now waiting for further develop
Year: 1879

We are to have sober jurors in
Tennessee hereafter, if the law is
enforced. An act of the late Gen
eral Assembly says:


"That either party to an action
may challenge for cause any person
presented as petit juror in either
civil or criminal proceedings or
trial pending before the courts OF
this State, and it should be cause
for challenge by either party that
such person at the time he is so
presented, Is drunk, or has been
drunk during the term of the court
then sitting, or that such juror is a
habitual drunkard."


This is an excellent law, and we
trust it will be rigidly enforced.
Year: 1879

Jonesboro Herald and Tribune


1t is understood that Ex-Gov. Neill
S. Brown will, perhaps, address our
people before long on the subject
of the State debt. We are glad to
hear this for two reasons-frst be-
cause the matter needs to be fully
discussed in order that the people
may comprehend more clearly the
importance-the deep vital interest
of the question issue, and, secondly,
because no one is more able to do
so intelligently than the gentleman
No one commands more
largely the confidence and respect
of our people, and there is no one
among our living statesmen of Ten
nessee whom they would be more
to hear.
Year: 1879

The pencil marks you SEQ around this
paragraph (thus) mean that your sub :
scription is ont or unpaid, and that you
are requested to pay up at once. We
would take great pleasure in extending
credit to our friends and patrons, but
cash alone will yay our expenses, and
we are forced to adhere to strict cash
rule. We hope you will comprehend
and appreciate the necessity of such
course, and renew your su scription
without delay. We solicit your favor.


eE- We enter no new names on our
books without the money in advance.
Year: 1879

Monday afternoon we called to see VIII
Date, who had been brought in from Nub-
sons, to whose house he had succeeded In
crawling after receiving the shock as else
where spoken Of. We found Mr.. Date getting
ON finely, except the bruises on different parts
of his body. From him we received the fol-
lowing statement: "We were about two and
a half miles from town; were driving along.
It was about 5 80 o'clock 1t was raining some.
| was singing, or, rather, hnmming, to my-
self; Mrs. LIE Suer was joking and making
fun Of my singing, when all at once | heard q
sudden crash, and then i seemed to
then aaw the incest kind of coIored stars
and heard the sweetest strains OF vocal
and instrumental music, and then thought
was floating down, down In the air; 1t was
the softeSt seat | ever had; / would like to
experience the same sensation as that again.
| should Judge 1t was about two hours and q
half before | came to. l found myself In tall
grass, and tried to get up, but could not;
mad no use OF legs and only the partial use Of
my right arm; could not raise my body from
the ground; laid on my back and turned over
on my face; could go no further. and then /
seemed to float off again in the air; then
came to, and looking up, saw house. and
then foated off again. I then came to, and
pulled myself along by the grass, and fell
into the creek. and managed TO scramble
around, and got my body half out
Of the water on the other SIDE


sde OF the era creek on small an h
not speak, az my jaws were set close; tried
to make motion to him; he laughed at me;
he was drunk, and thought that was. About
this time boy came down after water, and
caught hold Of me and helped me out and up
to the house, about half mile or so from
where / was struck. When near the door
fell, striking my head against the door, and
that opeEed my jaws. That Is the first time
that l had any control over my speech, and
then could only whisper. / couldn't make
the woman OF the house understand me then,
but she took off my wet clothes and put dry
ones on me- and then they put me In bed, and
then seemed to float away again.
Year: 1879

The Democrats of Tennessee begin to fear
that they have been caught in trap on the
State debt question: and that the defeat Of The
compromise will prove to be the entering
wedge which will split the party and turn the
vile Banner sounds a vigorous alarn. and
cracks the party whip over the head Of q
Democratic State Senator who has declared
his willingness to lay aside his politics and
settle the debt question fairly. The Tennes-
honesty is as good an investment for party
as for an individual
Year: 1879

Here is an item from the liar rison Times of the 4th inst:

 The cotton wagons are beginning b make things lively, and already from ten to fifteen loaded ones pass northward daily. We wish the Lit tie Rock Rip Van Winkle's could view the sight.

 And here IS another from the same paper like unto the first and containing similar hint to the bus mess men ofLittle Rock and Rus sellville which they would do well to heed and consider:

 One of the oldest farmers in the county remarked to us on Tuesday last, as q train of five wagons loaded with cotton was passing our office that be ''thougnt the merchants of Little Rock must be asleep, other wise they would not allow the trade of Northwest Arkansas to go to Springfield, the way they were doing"

 We urge the merchants of Little Rock to wake up and reach after the trade of North Arkansas Put your hands down into your pockets and aid in making the road to Harrison which will give the trade ofthat rich section of country an outlet south.

 Read tEc communication from Harrisou in today's paper and see what you are losing by not securing this trade. Russellyille is now thor Oughly aroused and in dead earnest about this matter. We are deter mined to do our duty and contribute our share in opening this road, and the business men Of Little Rock can well afford to give their aid and thereby hasten the good day when the business of that section of coun- try, which amounts to perhaps two or three millions of dollars annually will be done at home.

 IfLi:tle Rock wants this trade she should show it If she don't want it, it is but q short distance over to Memphis.
Year: 1879



 Why is it the republican papers abound in attacks on Tilden! Here is one that has two ill-natured artic- les on him; another that has three and 1t is almost impossible to pick up 2 republican paper that does not con tain at least one. A republican pa per is:not thought to be complete for the day that does not have an as- sault on Tilden. What.is the expla- nation of this? It IS three years since the last presidential election, and . year to the next, and Mir filden is hot before the public as 2 candidate for any position; yet the republicans are defaming him from day to day, as though they were in the, midst of contest and Tilden was their admitted antagonist We need not go far for the explanation.

 In olden times when battles were fought hand to hand, the fight always ragged thickest and hottest around the man who was tho brayest and most puissant leader; where the fighting was fercest, there the champion was known to be. So it is now. The implacable and interruptions as

 saults the republicans are making on Mr Tilden mark him as their most formidable foe. They want him out of the way, because they fear him. IL is human nature to hate and fear one whom we have wronged, and thls accounts for the republican maleyolenee towards Tilden. Two years ago they said he was insane. Next they charged him with q false return Tn his income; next with attempting to bribe the Oregon and Louisiana electors land now they ac- cuse him of dishonest dealing in ele- vated railway franchises. Either. if true, would be enough to ruin him, But this enemies demonstrate the falseness of the charges by continually seeking for new ones to take their place. Tilden not only survives the attacks made on him but grows more formidable under them, and the republicans actually hate him all the more because they can not ruin hlm.-TSt Louis Repuplcan.
Year: 1879

If Chief Justice English decides to submit his name to the next State Democratic convention as caadi- date for re election, no: 6 dissenting voice will be heard in that body. He is held in such high esteem by the bar of the state that none would con- test the seat he has so worthily fiil- cd, and the people are more than will ing to let well enough alone. Should he not be candidate, lively con test may be expected, and Hon. :. ". VI IIiiaErs will come to the front as the leading maR.--Independent Arkaasiaa.

 What the matter with you Sow, Bro, McGuiref Has it never occur cd to you, that it is much easier to PROMISE or assert that dissenting voice shall not be heard in opPosi- tion to candidate, than 1t is to de liver the votes? We imagine the next convention will speak out just as they please, notwithstanding sweeping promises on the part Of newspapers as to how they shall go. !. And, if, in the above paragraph, friend McGuire intends to say that the members of the bar Of the State of Arkansas are in favor of Judge English's reelection, (and such is the inference which would be drawn from it, he is either very poorly posted upon the sentiment of the bar, or he intentionally mistates it. So far as we know, and VIC have req son for believing that Ee do know something of the sentiment Of the bar of north western Arkansas, there Is not one Tn ten of the members of the,bar who will favor Judge En- glish's re election. There Is scarce ly a member of the bar in this judi cial distrIct who does not totally condemn his recent pistol decision