1825 Report on Yellow Fever in Key West, Monroe County, Florida

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lpeppers@ouachita.lib.la.us

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Washita Gazette (Monroe, Louisiana)
October 25, 1825
Page 2, Column 1

FROM KEY WEST.
     CHARLESTON. Aug. 10 - By a gentlemen, passenger in the schr. Thorn
arrived yesterday from Key West, we learn that the yellow fever was
prevailing at the place, to an alarming extent.  When Com. Warrington
left there, (5 or 6 weeks past) there were at the Island, about thirty
marines, and thirty to forty sailors.  Of this number, when our informant
departed, but three men of the marines were able to preform (sic) duty,
two-thirds of them being dead and the remainder living very ill.  Lieut.
com'dt. Tupper was left in a dying state.  the fever was also very fatal
among the sailors-- the hospital being crowded with the sick and but five
or six enabled to do duty.  Captain James McIntosh, the commander of the
Island, was down with the fever.  Sailing master Harby, commanding the
navy yard, had just recovered from severe illness.  The U.S. sloop Vagabond,
under command of midshipman Fatio, had been dispatched for the purpose of
endeavering to fall in with Com. Warrington, off Havanna or Matanzas, to
inform him of the great mortality prevailing at Key West and to advise with
him concerning the removal of the remainder of the U.S. forces, &c. before
they all fell victims to the fever.