Yellow Fever
Col. H. W. Walter has remained in the city, and has done noble work in organizing and directing the measures for relief. Frank and Jimmie Walter have also done noble work, and are at the post of duty.
Gen. W. S. Featherston, Howard Falconer, Rev's. J. H. Miller, J. N. Craig and D. J. Oliver were doing well at 5 o'clock Thursday afternoon. We hope soon to see them upon our streets.
The Louisville Clearing House Committee has won the never-dying gratitude of the afflicted people of Holly Springs. The Committee has been untiring in its labors, and has done much to alleviate the sorrows of our people.
The colored people of Holly Springs have given many instances of heroic devotion to our stricken city. They have, almost without exception manifested a willingness and earnestness to labor in the good cause of nursing the sick and helping the destitute and needy. The names of the heroic ones will be remembered when these terrible days shall have ended.
We Assure You
The “Get-Aways” can rest in the peaceful assurance that nothing that was possible, has been left undone to mitigate the horrors of the terrible pestilence that has visited our city.
Words cannot express the gratitude of the suffering people of Holly Springs to those who, in every section, have so nobly responded to appeals for help. The sick and destitute have offered their prayers to Heaven for their noble benefactors.
Selden and Glenn Fant, S. H. Pryor, W. H. Jones, City Marshal, Hugh Winborn and others of our citizens, (whose names we hope to mention hereafter, have stood nobly at their posts, and have done invaluable service. May Heaven spare them, is the prayer of all who admire heroism and devotion to duty.
Capt. George M. Buchanan has acted the true friend of our people.
Occasional Edition
Physicians who are with us
A. R. Gourrier, Walter Bailey, Jr., M. L. Segeur and H. L. Metcalfe, New Orleans; A. H. Sheldon, of “Can't Get Away Club”, Mobile; G. H. Gray, Dennison, Texas; T. D. Manning, R. M. Swearingen, Austin, Texas; J. W. Fennell, Holly Springs; J. Lewis, of Denison, Iowa.
Dr. Manning being down with the fever, Dr. Sheldon is the only Physician left in the Hospital. He and the devoted Sisters are kept very busy in their labors of love and mercy. May their lives be spared and God reward them. Since the above was written, Dr. Lewis goes to the Hospital to assist Dr. Sheldon.
J.B. Knox, of Memphis, is a volunteer among us and a truer, a better or a more faithful man never volunteered. He cheers the poor and he helps everybody.
Since Mosby left his post Mr. D. Flannery, of New Orleans has been our operator, and assisted by Mr. Thomas Mansker of our own place. All honor to these gentlemen. W. T. Harrison, Telegraph Operator, from New Orleans, took charge of the Telegraph office on the 17th. It takes a man of nerve and undaunted courage to enter our town at this time for the purpose of remaining with us, and helping us in our distressed condition, and such a man we believe Mr. Harrison to be. He is a genial good fellow, and we trust and pray he may be spared the fate of noble young Redding, the Operator at Grenada, who offered up his life in the cause of humanity.
The noble-hearted physicians, who so heroically came to our relief, and who are doing so much for the sick of our once happy town, will never be forgotten. Their names and memories will be forever embalmed in our memories and hearts. May God bless them!
Holly Springs Occasional, Holly Springs, Oct. 11th, 1878
Dr. Walter Bailey
New Orleans has done a noble part by this people, Hons. A. J. Vandergriff, F. R. Southmayd and Gen F. N. Ogden representing the Howards have placed us under lasting obligations. In no instance have they contributed more to our relief and aid than when they sent to us Dr. Walter Bailey. He was the first medical assistance that reached us from abroad. He came at a time when the situation was appalling. Though young in years and never having had the fever he entered the field like a veteran and how nobly and successfully he has performed his work we all know. All honor to him, we are proud to acknowledge that so worthy, faithful and successful a physician has been with us in this great calamity. Dr. Bailey is an honor to his profession and a credit to those he represents.
Editor of the Occasional – This is no time for compliments, but duty to all. Capt. Thomas B. Rogers, Ship-Master from New Orleans, must have a record. This gentleman is here with us, accredited from no association, Sailor like, a ramble, we are proud to state to his many friends, that he, a stranger, is our honored Secretary to Col. W. J. L. Holland, President Relief Committee, a responsible position, which he admirably fills, we would like more such as Capt. Rogers. – McM.
Editor of the Occasional – One among the many noble men who have come to our rescue, I am prompted to give honorable notice of Dr. A. R. Gourrier, having met this gentleman in Paris pursuing his studies with great energy, have since met him in New Orleans enjoying a large and remunerative practice. Ploquimine Parish, La., place the “wreath” for valiant work battling with Bronze John. We of this city do appreciate him, we also know his value, I speak of him, I know, not knowing any of the other noble gentlemen of the medical corps. They shall have their champion, all honor to them. – Veratis.
We are able this morning to offer our congratulations to the people of Holly Springs and the country at large, upon the subsidence of the pestilence, which “walketh at noon-day and wasteth in darkness”. At the same time we cannot too forcibly impress upon those who are away, to make haste very slowly, in returning home. It may be that, the great diminution of new cases is attributable to lack of new material. Any such accession will therefore be adding fuel to flames almost extinguished.
In this terrible fight we are now waging with the grim destroyer, where so many noble ones are sacrificing comfort, prospects, ay!, and periling life itself, it were invidious in singling out any one to whom the medal should be awarded; but a common sense of justice impels us to give to the world the name of Dr. R. M. Swearingen of Brenham, Texas, who for measureless energy and conspicuous devotion to his sick is facile princeps.
Holly Springs Occasional, Holly Springs, Oct. 31st, 1878
H. L. Metcalfe, M. D.
When Holly Springs rises from her bed of fearful protracted suffering, drained of her noblest and bluest blood, and comes with spectre fingers and throbbing heart to overhaul her long list of sacred obligations, let her not forget what she owes to this true man. It is a debt that will enrich her with the paying thought it must be paid in gems purer and rarer far than any crown jewels – gratitude and love deep, enduring, changeless. Doctor Metcalfe standing with wan cheeks upon the threshold of his own sick room in which he struggled with the most terrible of all diseases, heard her cry of agony and despite remonstrances and tears of loved ones came at once, arriving in her hour of blackest darkness and sorest need, when it almost seemed that God himself had forsaken her. He brought with him the energy and hopefulness of youth combined with the coolness and sound judgment of riper years. How untiringly, how wisely, how skillfully, how tenderly, how lovingly he ministered to her, those who stood round her bed will tell. May she and her children pray with uplifted hands and hearts that in his case an exception be made to the rule formulated by the Heathen philosopher, but established by human experience with bitter tears from the death of Abel to the death of Holland, that “whom the Gods love die young”. – J. W. R.
Anyone wishing to purchase any article in the grocery line would do well to call on Capt. Jack Abbott at the hotel, and examine his samples before ordering elsewhere.
Business of the Town
Messrs. J. B. Rosenfield & Co., are represented by Mr. Louis Rosenfield.
Sam H. Pryor is ready to the serve the customers of W. A. Jones & Co.
B. A. Meyers has never closed his establishment except during the illness of Mrs. M.
O. J. Quiggins has opened his up town store and seems to be doing a good business.
Mr. Bateman has taken charge of the store formerly occupied by Mr. Hugh Winborn.
Crump, Hull & Finley opened a few days ago. Mr. John Jackson dispersed and explanatory clerk in charge.
J. W. Fant & Co., opened for business on the small scale on last Friday week, with Messrs. Henderson and Abbott in charge.
Dear Editor: Since the 27th of September the manly form of Capt. Thos. B. Rogers has been seen, day and night, early and late, at his difficult and arduous post, corresponding Secretary to the Relief Committee, his pleasant smile and genial manner captivates all who come in contact with him. One of a gallant band of heroes, whom the Crescent City may well be proud of, and whom we, of our stricken and desolated city, shall ever remember, with gratitude and admiration. – P. R.
Rev. Benj. Black, colored, has worked faithfully since the fever began to make inroad upon his people.
In another column of this morning's issue, we offer some crude suggestions of our own, as to the advisability of those away from home – not returning yet.
Subsequently we have seen a communication from a physician, who speaks ex cathreda, and whose name and good work in this place, will be a sure passport to the confidence of the entire community.
Dr. A. R. Gourrier in allusion to the propriety of allowing refugees to return to Holly Springs, says: “In no instance, should any return, before a good freeze, and not then, before each house has been well fumigated with burning sulphur. This should be done now; or as soon as the last cases shall have occurred. Fires should be built on every hearth, and the houses aired for several days after the freeze, before being occupied. The graveyard should be surrounded by a cordon of quick lime, and each individual grave should have spread upon it a bushel of lime at least, to neutralize the gases, which will necessarily result from decomposition. In my opinion, all sanitary laws should be rigidly enforced, to prevent if possible any fever, which may occur, after the epidemic is over, from running into a typhoid form. This is a good advice, and emanating from so reliable a source, should be followed to the letter.
The Relief Committee of Holly Springs has, as if by intuition, understood and mastered the situation. Almost overwhelmed by the difficulties, which meet it at every step, in the beginning of the epidemic, it has, reduced every department, for the relief of the sufferers, to a smooth working condition. In this is been ably assisted by volunteers from all parts of the country, and by no one, more zealously and successfully than Capt. Jack Abbott of New Orleans.
Our sick have had all the attention that skillful, experienced physicians and good nurses could give. It was when turned over to the cook, and the convalescents, as well as other hungry men and women were looking for something toothsome, that Capt. Jack came to the fore and loomed up in his grand proportions as Boniface. As a big success in his new role, he has only showed that versatility of talent, which inherit goodness of heart, a determination to do all the good in his power to his fellow man, is so apt to develop. May he live long and prosper.
The population of Holly Springs never being large, since the inception of the scourge, is becoming small “by degrees and beautifully less”. Doctors, Nurses, and clerks seeing that in the near future, their occupations will be gone, are quietly packing their valises and getting ready for leaving. There will be a perfect hegira in a few days. If any thing could reconcile us to parting with people, whose devotion to the sick in the hours of their supreme distress and affliction, it is the knowledge that they would not leave, were there any thing more for them to do. They carry with them, wherever they go, our heart felt thanks for the good they have done and our best wishes for their future well-being.
Editor of the Occasional – The genial face of Col. Macmurdo sheds rays of brilliant hope upon our stricken city. Every one of us south of “the Line” knows the honored name, he is here on the field, and may a kind providence protect him and send him to his loved ones in due time. All you citizens of our depopulated city recollect the Colonel in your devotions. – Sailor
Col. W. J. L. Holland
“Hung be the heavens with black, yield day to night, comets, brandish your crystal tresses in the sky; and with them, scourge the bad, revolting stars, that have consented to Holland's death”. We buried Friday last the man whose name heads this imperfect sketch; with a moral heroism and sublime courage , far greater than that, which is required to lend a forlorn hope or charge a battery, ay; with the chivalry and devotion, which inspired and animated the Paladin of old, this brave man and Christian gentleman, went down, battling in the sacred cause of humanity. Day and night for, more than two months, has he led the advance in the onset against the enemy, his white plume, always to be seen where the battle raged fiercest, a point around which his devoted adherents might rally, and when the day was almost won, a Parthian shot from the retreating foe, struck and laid him low. Holly Springs mourns for him with bowed heads, and will wear his memory green in their heart of hearts.
The Relief Committee will have every sanitary precaution taken, and every part of the city thoroughly fumigated.
Special attention is called to card of Board of Health requesting authorities to keep refugees away until all danger from yellow fever is over.
Maj. Sam Frank and Capt. George M. Buchanan have both done noble work for Holly Springs by soliciting and obtaining aid, i.e. money and supplies for the sufferers. May God bless them, is the earnest prayer of a grateful community.
Office Board of Health – Holly Springs, Oct. 29th, 1878 – We, the Board of Health, of Holly Springs, solemnly warn the absent citizens of the great danger of returning until the last case of “Yellow Fever” shall have disappeared from the city and vicinity, and after that at least two good frosts have occurred. As stated before, the Board of Health will promptly inform them when it is safe to return. – A. M. Lyles, President; H. L. Metcalfe, Secretary
After diligent inquiry, we can find no one who has been neglected while down with the fever since the Relief Committee has been organized.
The visiting Physicians with their accompanying corps of nurses and attaches are leaving, and citizens recovering from fever are supplying their places.
Do not return to your homes until sufficient cold weather comes to drive away every vestige of yellow fever, is the advice of those who know whereof they speak.
Too much cannot be said in praise of the actions and labors of Mr. D. E. Brittenum, in every situation which he has been called to and he has had a trial at them all, from nurse to general “supervisor of all work” and the fever thrown in for good measure.
Dr. J. H. Athey is again at his post, Joe Howard is with him.
W. I. McGowan cheers us again with his genial smile.
His Honor, Mayor Laurence, will assume the duties of his position in a few days.
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