THE YELLOW FEVER PLAGUE
The following article was transcribed and donated
by Fran Warren
Van Buren Press
Crawford County, Arkansas
August 27, 1878
THE YELLOW FEVER PLAGUE
Mournful Tidings from the Beleaguered Cities of the South:
MEMPHIS, August 21- Reports from various Relief Committees
and Board of
Health, up to noon, show that the hopes of abatement, yesterday,
were at
least premature. Last night and this morning there was quite an
increase in
the number of new cases- twenty-five being reported from 5 p.m.
yesterday,
till noon today. There is an increase in the death rate also,
the Howard
Association alone reporting eight deaths, with reports of some
visitors not
in. Another feature developed this morning is that no part of
the city
enjoys immunity from the plague, as the cases reported are located
in
different parts of the city, several being found on Linden street,
in the
southern part of the city. Relief is being received by the Citizens'
Committee daily, and many persons are availing themselves of the
use of
tents to get their families out of the city.
VICKSBURG, August 21- It is estimated that there are 200 cases
of yellow
fever under treatment. 12 deaths within the last twenty-four hours,
among
them R. H. Shelby, lawyer. Among the new cases today, are Dr.
Balfour,
Health Officer, and Dr. Robbins.
By authority of Most Worshipful G. M. MURPHY, an appeal has
been made to all
Masons, whosoever disposed, to contribute to the relief of the
destitute and
sick in this city. The appeal is signed by W. R. PAXTON, Grand
Commander of
Knights Templar, and Chairman of Relief Committee.
GRENADAY, Miss., August 21- The death rate has not been so
large today. This
is not on account of any let up of the disease. There have been
not less than
seventy-five negroes taken down in the last twenty-four hours.
We have
twelve in the hospital. Many of them prefer to die to going to
the hospital,
although they are equally cared for with the whites. This is the
most
malignant type I have ever seen in any country. In fact, it is
a pestilence
that will not yield to medicines; both of our doctors are dumbfounded
at the
malignity of the disease. Frequently, after the seventh or eighth
day, after
using every care, they die in a few hours. Our efforts are paralyzed
for
want of proper remedies; we are short of lemons, ice, beef tea,
and in fact,
all kinds of nourishment for the sick. Five percent of the whole
population
have died. Money to pay nurses, and for the care of the indigent
sick is
much needed. Signed, W. G. SMITH, Vice President Memphis Howard
Association.
JACKSON, Miss., August 22- The panic produced by yellow fever
is
unparalleled, the people fleeing from the pestilence in every
direction.
Jackson is almost deserted, business of all kinds being suspended.
Nothing
is thought of but escape from the scourge. We are hourly expecting
the
pestilence in Jackson.
SUMMITT, Miss., August 22- A family of seven is stricken with
the yellow
fever four miles from here. Two deaths occurred here today. The
health of
this city is excellent. Great excitement exists and the city and
county will
be rigidly quarantined.
VICKSBURG, August 22- The yellow fever is attacking the negroes.
Numbers are
stricken down daily. There are fully fifty new cases today with
10 deaths up
to 3 p. m. There is a great need of physicians. Dr. Robbins and
Balfour are
improving and in a far way of recovery. Some estimate that there
are 600
cases of yellow fever here but the general estimate is 300.
MEMPHIS, August 23- There were fifty new cases and ten deaths
yesterday.
There is great depression on account of the increase. Capt. J.
D. ELLIOT
died last night and Phil BURTON, both of yellow fever. Gen. W
J SMITH is low
with it.
Bronze JOHN holds his own with wonderful tenacity. A slight decrease
in the
number of new cases but an increase in deaths over yesterday.
Up to noon
yesterday the number of cases reported was 23, and for twenty-four
hours,
37. The deaths up to noon today, were 10 and for twenty-four hours
13. Among
the dead reported today are ex-Representative John ROUSH, John
C. T. FORBES,
freight agent, and Isaac ISAACS, and among the new cases are Mr.
and Mrs. B.
A. HOLLANDER. The Board of health at a meeting this morning, declared
the
fever epidemic and advised all who could do so to leave the city.
The
Memphis and Charleston road have offered free transportation to
refugees.
NEW ORLEANS, August 23- Up to 7 p.m. yesterday sixty new cases
and ten
deaths had been reported to the board of health since noon; these
will be
included in today's report. The funerals continue to later hours
than usual.
One reported this evening after 7 o'clock, lanterns will be used
for lights.
New cases, one hundred and forty three; deaths fifty.
The following dispatch was received in Boston, on the 20th
inst.:
Memphis, Tenn., Aug. 20, 1878
To Mayor PIERCE:
We are sadly afflicted and unable to supply the wants of our
poor. Can
Boston help us? G. R. FLIPPEN, Mayor, Casey YOUNG, Mem. Con.
A reply to the above from Mayor PIERCE, authorizing the Mayor
of Memphis to
draw on him at site for $1,500, was immediately forwarded. Such
acts of
generosity on the part of Boston will do much to fill up the hideous
chasm
that has so widely and so long sundered the East and the South.
June 28, 1899
ONE CASE OF SMALL POX
There is one well developed case of small pox in the pest
house on the island and just below town, the patient being Bill
TURNER, colored, who with a family of four, lived in Babylon until
the discovery of the disease yesterday.
When Drs. PARCHMAN and DIBRELL discovered the smallpox in
the patient they at once compelled each member of the family to
keep indoors and had a guard placed over the premises to keep
them from leaving or anyone visiting the house. They also stretched
ropes across the streets so no one could pass the infected building,
and put up the yellow flag as a warning to the general public.
Upon asking as to how the disease was brought to Van Buren,
we were informed by the physicians that on the 18th of May a negro,
who had been working on the Choctaw Railroad, reached Van Buren
and stopped at TURNER’s. Ten days or two weeks later he was
taken sick, but the attack was so mild that they did not call
in a physician. A few days later he was sufficiently recovered
to be up, and none of the negroes with whom he was stopping realized
the fact that he had the smallpox. The case developed yesterday
as a result, and the chances are that all the TURNER family will
have it, but from them there is practically no danger.
The Board of Health had a hurried meeting at the Mayor’s
office at 4 p m, to devise means by with the citizens of Van Buren
might be given all protection possible. The meeting was presided
over by Mayor ENGLAND, President of the Board. R F BROWN was elected
secretary, and J W McKINNEY was elected a member of the Board
to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of O W WILLIAMS.
It was decided to establish a pest house on the sand bar just
below the city, and Chief of Police MERRILL was instructed to
secure two tents and put them up and to move the TURNER family
to them just as soon as possible, as well as all other persons
known to have been exposed. It was also ordered that all persons
living in close proximity to the Turner house be vaccinated, for
which a fee of 50 cents was to be charged. While in session the
Board of Health also ordered that all weeds on vacant lots and
alleys be cut down, and when sufficiently cured to be burned.
In accordance to the orders from the Board, Chief of Police
MERRILL secured two tents and had them put up on the island, and
at 7 p m secured a wagon, and loading the TURNER family therein
hauled them to the river front, and after loading them on a sand
barge towed them across to the island and installed them in their
temporary quarters, there to await the development of the disease.
The wants of those temporarily confined will be supplied, and
they will be given the medical attention necessary.
The Board of Health believed it best to burn the house in
which the TURNERs lived. The property belonged to Attorney E B
PIERCE, and he very quickly gave his consent, as he did not desire
it left there as a menace to his own or his neighbors’ families.
As a result, Chief PERNOT, taking a hose company with him, went
to the place and setting fire to it allowed it to be consumed,
thus destroying the last danger from the premises in with the
disease first made its appearance.
NOTE: I thought I would put a human
face on the man who was the patient, and whose home was burned.
The article was interesting indeed,
especially since Turner, whose home was burned was one of the
many USCTs---former slaves and former union soldiers who served
in the US Colored Troops. Turner was a Civil war veteran who served
in the 83rd, USCT. Turner was a witness in a Civil war pension
hearing for another fellow soldier, and spoke about his own military
life saying:
On Oct 7, 1892 :
I am about 56 years old. My occupation
is a carpenter; PO address Van Buren, Crawford County, Arkansas."
"I was 1st Duty Sergant,
Co. G of the 83rd USCT. I served from Sept 1863 - the fall of
1865. I lived on Lees Creek 9 miles from Van Buren,
Arkansas. I knew Ran Maxey (the soldier applying for the pension).
He lived on the old Maxey farm, I have known him for 30 years.
We have both lived right here in Van Buren ever since discharge."
I have checked my notes and see that
Richard Turner filed for and received a pension himself, and I
shall be obtaining his military pension file from the National
Archives in the next week or so.
He is among the several dozen Union
soldiers who claimed Crawford County as their home.
Angela http://www.arkansasfreedmen.com