Franklin County News
Van Buren Press
Crawford County, Arkansas
August 27, 1878
THE YELLOW FEVER PLAGUE
Mournful Tidings from the Beleagured 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 withing 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 diease. 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. Singed, 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. Thre 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 ot 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.
Fran Alverson Warren
==============================================================Van Buren Press
Van Buren, Arkansas- Crawford County
September 20 1890
THE STEVENS MURDER
Fort Smith Call: Esq. Harrower, of Webb City, Franklin County, was in the
city Monday. He resides near the scene of last Friday's murder. On Friday
evening last, the evening of the murder, John Washington, a colored boy from
the vicinity of the killing came to the city and told Mr. Anderson of
Anderson & Wright, that Esq. Stevens had been killed by "Seeb" Smith, and
that it grew out of Smith having heard that Stevens was getting up a crowd
to hickory-whip him (Smith).
The story of the killing as related is briefly this: On Friday morning last
as Esq. Stevens was seated in the front room of Smith's house about four
miles from Webb City, and "Seeb" and his half brother, on the portico, Esq.
Stevens was shot by "Seeb" and died instantly. The wound was large enough to
admit of a man's hand, and the buckshot from the shot gun tore its way
through his heart and right lung, making a ghastly wound. The half brother
gave the alarm and "Seeb" Smith's premises were surrounded by a posse and he
was captured and taken to jail at Ozark.The half brother was the only eye witness outside the murderer. He states that the only words he heard uttered by Stevens were, "You don't think I would have anything to do with anything of that kind?" when "Seeb" replied, "Get out of my house G- d-you!" when he
immediately fired.The half brother is held by Esq. Harrower as a witness. The country is very much excited over the cold blooded murder, for such they deem it, and the mob law is feared.
"Seeb" Smith does not bear a very good reputation in the neighborhood. The half brother had only arrived in the country two or three days before the
killing.
Fran Alverson Warren
News about Franklin County from Germany
From Zelda Dubel, Fresno, California, 18 December 2003.
This newspaper article was tucked into the family Bible owned by Henry Brehe (1843-1913). It is in the German language and was translated by two different people. Henry immigrated from Lippe-Detmold, Germany to Franklin Co, Missouri about 1845. About 1880 he moved to Peter Pender, Franklin Co, Arkansas and homesteaded there.
A WARNING ABOUT ARKANSAS See Image of news article below translation.
Translation #1:
“The Prussian civil (political) administrator and police president Hirsch of Aix la Chapelle has published the following warning in the official paper: Those with a desire to emigrate are hereby warned most particularly against settling in a recently established colony in the State of Arkansas, in North America, located on a river of the same name, near Little Rock. Its name is ‘St. Joseph Colony’. All strongly favorable comments about the same have the sole purpose of attracting (alluring) immigration, and those who immigrate find themselves, in fact, in a sad situation. Only recently it has again happened that a Prussian settler, after a year of residence, was compelled to leave the colony, leaving behind all his possessions, so that now, on his return journey to his home, he finds himself in a desperate (comfortless) situation.”
Translation #2:
“The Prussian provincial governor and director of police, Hirsch, at Aachen, has released to the official newspaper the following warning: I warn the emigration-minded herewith quite particularly of settlement in a still not long existent colony in North America in the State of Arkansas, on the river of the same name in the neighborhood of Little Rock. It calls itself ‘St. Joseph Colony’. All recommendations of the colony have only the object of attracting immigration, and actually get the immigrants in a wretched situation. Just recently again a Prussian settler, after a year’s stay, was forced, under allowance to return, to leave his whole property to the colony, so that he now on the return voyage to the homeland is found in desperate condition."