The Ouachita Telegraph - Yellow Fever Epidemic in Shreveport Date: May 2000 Submitted by: Lora Peppers ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** The Ouachita Telegraph Saturday, September 13, 1873 Page 2, Column 2 OUR UNFORTUNATE SISTER CITY. There were thirty deaths in Shreveport Thursday, and eighteen yesterday up to 4 o'clock, P.M. The condition of the people of Shreveport is truly distressing, and calls for help. Funds are badly needed, and we suggest to the people of Monroe a liberal contribution to the necessities of our afflicted sister city. Any money left at this office for this hold cause, or with any responsible person, will be forwarded. Immediate aid is required. The Ouachita Telegraph Saturday, September 20, 1873 Page 2, Column 3 Health of Monroe. The young man from Shreveport, (Mr. M.Johnson,) whose sickness with something like yellow fever we noticed last week, is dead. Yellow fever, just before his death, was clearly developed. The steward of the same house is down with fever, and has some of the symptoms of yellow fever, as we learn from his attending physician, Dr. Aby. There is not the lest indication elsewhere in the city, of the yellow fever, and the general health is unusually good. We are informed this (Friday) morning by Dr. Aby, that his patient is free of fever and doing well. He says it is not yellow fever. No other case of sickness has excited the least alarm here. The extravagant rumors concerning Monroe and Trenton are simply without foundation. At both places the health is good and business is moving steadily on. The Ouachita Telegraph Saturday, September 20, 1873 Page 2, Column 2 Deaths of Prominent Citizens. SHREVEPORT, Sep. 14. — The following is a list of prominent citizens who have fallen victims to the scourage: Rober Craig, merchant; S.D. Pitts, an old resident; Joe Howell, Dave Weil, merchants; J.H. Williamson, professor in academy' G.J. Riddle, butcher; Dr. Hibbette; Julius Kahn, merchant; Mrs. W.E. Hamilton; Robert Wheaton, a hatter; Chas. M. Pomeroy, steamboatman; John Munday, merchant; W.T. Brooks, hotel keeper; Mrs. Fannie Fleming, wife of a druggist; T.D. Walker, a merchant and family; Simon Kahn, merchant; J.W. McCoy, butcher; L. Asher, brother of a banker. The Ouachita Telegraph Friday, September 26, 1873 Page 2, Column 4 THE EPIDEMIC IN SHREVEPORT. We take the following from the Daily Times of the 23d: We still hear of new cases among the whites of the city, though the subjects last two days the disease has attacked the black people, and many of them have been taken down. The increse in the suburbs is fearful, hardly missing a person as it extends its territory. — Several families have all their number down. The disease is certainly malignant when it takes acclimated whites and robust negroes. The cloudy cool weather has an injurious effect on those who are sick and many of them have had symptoms. Among our prominent citizens who have died since our last report were O.T. Collins, of the firm of Mundy & Collins; and R.D. Sale, of the firm of Sale & Murphy; and C.O. Phelps, City Recorder; and Dr. J.B. Wise. The Ouachita Telegraph Friday, September 26, 1873 Page 2, Column 4 WEBSTER. [From the index, 20th.] There is no yellow fever in Minden as yet; nevertheless, the report has gone out that we have several cases. We suppose that this report sprung from the fact that a negro boy who left Shreveport when the pestilence first appeared there died in this town a few days ago. Physicians here inform us that the disease is not contagious, but is wholly atmospheric. Upon this theory, which no doubt is correct, Minden, being far remote from the infected city, Shreveport, is not in the least danger. The Ouachita Telegraph Friday, October 3, 1873 Page 4, Column 1 THE STRICKEN CITY. How life passes in a city afflicted as Shreveport is, and what must be the sad tale of woe in such a time of distress, our readers may gather from the following items from the Shreveport Daily Times of the 27th and 28th : We regret to learn that Major Moncure's eldest daughter died of the fever yesterday. Late yesterday afternoon Whitt McKellar, son of Ed McKellar, and Major James Ashton were dying. Mr. Ed Pierson, who died on Friday night, was a relapse case. He was out one week ago, and appeared to be in good health. Two supply trains arrived from the interior, bringing in supplies much needed by our suffering people. One train came to the depot and the other stopped at the race track. We regret to learn that General John J. Hodges died at his plantation on Friday. He contracted the fever in this city, and was treated here until convalescent. He then went home, relapsed and died. Sam Peters, the cashier of the Freedman's Savings Bank of this city, died yesterday of the fever. He was returned by the Radical election board as member elect to Congress, from this district, for the coming two years. He was much respected by all classes. The mayor of this city yesterday received the following dispatch: NEW ORLEANS, Sept. 23, 1873. To the mayor of Shreveport: The Poydras Female Asylum will provide temporary or permanent rooms for the girls made orphans by the epidemic, if you have no such institutions in your city for such purposes. M. LIZENBERG, President. We learn that Mr. N. Sutherland died in the country eight miles from the city on Thursday, from the fever. A few hours later, Mr. Page, his partner, died in this city from the same disease. Thus in a few hours a leading dry goods firm of this city has been blotted out of existence. The epidemic still holds us in its fearful grasp, and is hourly taking off its victims. It is difficult to speak one moment favorable of any one case, for the next moment may contradict it. Quite a number of our old citizens who are down, were reported favorably upon last evening, but it is not safe to say what the morning may have in store for them. We heard of but few new cases yesterday, but the course of the disease is so treacherous that conjectures are out of the question. At times it apparently lulls, but only to take a frest start. The atmosphere is so impregnated with the pestilence that hardly any person feels well. Mr. Whitt McKellar, who died night before last, was the eldest son of Ed. McKellar, a highly esteemed merchant of this city. At the outbreak of the epidemic, Mr. Ed. McKellar and his family left for the interior, and the son was urgently pressed to go, but he persisted in remaining to look after the business of the house. He was a very promising young man, and his death will be a severe blow to his father. Poor Whitt, we will remember his efforts for three weeks to keep up a cheerful feeling, and when taken down expressed the strongest hope of recovery. From the hour he was taken, to the hour of his death the fever never left him. The Ouachita Telegraph Friday, October 17, 1873 Page 2, Column 4 NOBLE VICTIM OF THE SHREVEPORT EPIDEMIC. [From the Mobile Register.] We all remember the noble, the brave, the generous Alfred Saville. His death has been as heroic as his life had been. During the dark days of the unjust war waged by the North against the South, Alfred Saville was attached to the command of General John H. Morgan, that hero butchered in cold blood after surrender, and as such the recital of his feats on the enemy's telegraphic lines have often enlivened the gloomy circles gathred around our camp fires, and many were the "tricks" he played on the perplexed Federals, sending them right and left in search of imaginary foes, while his daring chief was sweeping through their lines in quest of men and horses; and no one has forgotten how, having taken possession of the line between the Federals and Nashville, he gave peremptory orders there not to send any more troops, but plenty of ammunition, and how an old friend, then in charge at Nashville, detecting the peculiar touch or fingering of the bogus operator, flashed back to him this good humored answer: "Get out, Saville, or I'll send the cavalry after you." And now the brave spirit which animated and inspired that robust body and that lofty soul, has been surrender(ed) to his Maker, and like his afflicted friend, we say, from the bottom of our hearts: May he rest in peace and receive the reard of a faithful servent. The Ouachita Telegraph Friday, October 17, 1873 Page 2, Column 3 SHREVEPORT. [From the Daily Times] SACRILEGIOUS. — The Catholic priest who died on Thursday was robbed of his watch, cross and other paraphernalia after he was dead. The suspected persons were arrested, but as nothing could be proven on them they were set free. Suspicion however was so strong against them that they were ordered to leave the city instantly.