The yellow fever epidemic of 1878, in Memphis, Tenn. : Embracing a complete list of the dead, the names of the doctors and nurses employed, names of all who contributed money or means, and the names and history of the Howards, together with other data, and lists of the dead elsewhere / By J.M. Keating.

  • Keating, John McLeod, 1830-1906
Date:
1879
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The yellow fever epidemic of 1878, in Memphis, Tenn. : Embracing a complete list of the dead, the names of the doctors and nurses employed, names of all who contributed money or means, and the names and history of the Howards, together with other data, and lists of the dead elsewhere / By J.M. Keating. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine Library & Archives Service. The original may be consulted at London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine Library & Archives Service.

    441/462 (page 437)
    nole tlmt lias ti-anspired witliin the past pixty days. In otlier words, river Ijiisincss wcmld be completely dried up but for tiie great event of to-day, which will be iiailed all aloiij,' the river, as the CAaiufecrs passes down, with eager deliglit. No quarantine laws will be formidable enough to (irevent the gieat canier of help for the needy and distressed from landing at any and all ports. The freight consist.s of every thing.needful for the sick, the convalescent, and the tiestitute, .•^nch as medicines, clothing, and general h(;«seh(dd .sup- plies. It is a complete equipment, and has been gotten up in siiape in a I'eniarkably short space of time. The ciiartering of the boat, the purchase of the supplies, and all other expenses, will not fall short of twenty-five thousand dollars. It is one of the grandest single works of charity yet accomplished. Tlie money to ])urchase the goods came from all over the country, so that it may be appropriately called a national ofiering. The boat is under charge of a United Stales officer. Lieutenant H. II. Eenne;-, and tlie supplies were selected and purchased by General Beckwithand United States Assistant-Surgeon Wyman. The following is a list of those on board: Officer in charge, Lieut. H. H. Benner, Eighteenth Infantry. Lieut. Chas. S.^Hall, Thirteenth Infantry. H. M. Keys, assistant-surgeon United States Hospital Service. F. T. Reily, assistant-physician. First engineer, Wni. Shejiherd. H. S. Kessler, prescription clerk. Second engineer, Martin Williams. H. S. Hyde, correspondent. Mtite, Thomas Wetzell. Captain of the boat, Vincent M. Yore. Carpenter, II. Mulford. Clerk, Loyd A. Hayncs. AVatehman, J. M. Dalton. Pilots, Geo. Longwell and Chas. Duffy. Steward, Robert J. Mateliman. Besides these, there are twenty-five firemen, chambermaids, cooks, ca})in-boys, roust- abouts, and deck-hands, making a total of forty-one people. All seemed to be in good .spirits, and all hope to come back safe. In noting the departure from that jiort of the John Ms Cliambers, the St. Louis Evening Post, of the 4th instant, snys: The two United States officers have been in the South, and believe themselves acclimated. Lieut. Benner yesterday received a draft; for five hundred dollars, sent to him by the LTnited States army officers stationed at New York city, with the request that he distribute it among the most deserving, wherever he shouM go. The boat will probably be gone twenty days, and may not go below Vicksluirg. The first stopiiing-plaee will be Hickman, Kentinds'y. A good many articles of freight had not arrived, but Governor Shephertl thought it unwise to wait longer. Early this morning quite a crowd began to gather on the wharf about tiie Cliamher.s. From her mast-head floated a yellow streamer, with the words on it, National Relief Boat, while on her left was a large canvas with the same inscription in iieavy black letters. Both decks were crowded with boxes, barrels, and packages of all kinds, and everv thing was hurry and bustle. At lialf-past nine o'clock Governor Shepherd, i\Ir. John T. Mitchell, (ieneral Bcckwith, and Mr. VV. H. Bliss came on board, and proceeded to make till tiual preparations for the final departure. One thousand dollars was delivered to Lieutenant Benner, to use as he saw best, and full in- structions given to the oflicers. There was some delay, because the two surgeons were not on time. They arrived at half-past ten, and at fifteen minutes to eleven o'clock the bell rang for the last time, hasty and earnest farewells were said, and the Cliumbers slowly backed out into the great river. Governor She)>herd, Mr. Bliss, ISIr. Mitchell, and Geii. Beckwith stood on the edge of the wharf-boat, and, along with hundreds of others whose hearts were full of sympathy, watcheii her until she turned her head down stream and began to stetim away. She went with the good wishes of the whole nation, and a million prayers are going up for the safe return of the men on board. To go was something like walking into the jaws of death, for few have gone from the North into the plague- stricken land who lived to return. It is something like a bourne from which no traveler does return. But, whether tiiey come back or not, their good work will be done, and the nation honored by a noble deed. Many a sufferer will be relieved, many a heart made glad, and many a life saved. It is such things that weld together the hearts of the North and the people of the South, and is another proof of the eloquent saying of the gi-eal .-ind iametited (jrovernor Yates, that the Mississippi was never made to run through a divided country. All honor to Governor A. K. Shepherd, the chairman of the National Relief Committee, and the man, above all others, who has contributed to the succe.ss of this great national undertaking; and great credit is due to Mr. W. H. Bliss for his un- , tiring labons, and also to Mr. john T.'Mitchell, of Washington.