USA > Tennessee > Shelby County > Memphis > A history of the yellow fever : 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 > Part 67
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Appeil, Oct. her Sth .- The steamer John M. Chambers, a vessel chartered by citizens of Washington City and St. Louis, and loaded at the latter city with a complete cargo of supplies, passed this port yesterday, being the first incident in river circles worthy of
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note that has transpired within the past sixty days. In other words, river business would be completely dried up but for the great event of to-day, which will be hailed all along the river, as the Chambers passes down, with eager delight. No quarantine laws will be formidable enough to prevent the great carrier of help for the needy and distressed from landing at any and all ports. The freight consists of every thing needful for the sick, the convalescent, and the destitute, such as medicines, clothing, and general household sup- plies. It is a complete equipment, and has been gotten up in shape in a remarkably short space of time. The chartering 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. The money to purchase the goods came from all over the country, so that it may be appropriately called a national offering. The boat is under charge of a United States officer, Lieutenant II. H. Benner, and the supplies were selected and purchased by General Beckwith and United States Assistant-Surgeon Wyman. The following is a list of those on board :
Otheer in charge. Lieut. If. H. Benner, Eighteenth Infantry. Lieut. Chas. S. Hall, Thirteenth Infantry.
Il. M. Keys, assistant-surgeon United States Hospital Service.
F. T. Reily, assistant-physician. .
First engineer. Win. Shepd.erd.
H. S. Kessler, preseription elerk. Second engineer. Martin Williams.
JI. S. Hyde, corresponilent.
Mate, Thomas Wetzell.
Captain of the boat, Vincent MI. Yore.
Carpenter, HI. Mulford.
Clerk, Loyd .A. Haynes.
Watchman, J. M. Dalton.
Pilots, Geo. Longwell and Chas. Duffy.
Steward, Robert J. Matchman.
Besides chese, there are twenty-five firemen, chambermaids, cooks, cabin-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 sate. In noting the departure from that port of the John M. Chambers, the St. Louis Evening Post, of the 4th instant, says: "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 United States army officers stationed at New York city, with the request that he distribute it among the most deserving, wherever he should go. The boat will probably be gone twenty days, and may not go below Vicksburg. The first stopping-place will be Hickman. Kentucky. A good many articles of freight had not arrived, but Governor Shepherd thought it unwise to wait longer. Early this morning quite a crowd began to gather on the wharf about the Chambers. 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 heavy black letters. Both decks were crowded with boxes, barrels, and packages of all kinds, and every thing was hurry and bustle. At half-past nine o'clock Governor Shepherd, Mr. John T. Mitchell. General Beckwith, and Mr. W. H. Blis came on board, and proceeded to make all final preparations for the final departure. Que thousand dollars was delivered to Lieutenant Benner, to use as he saw best, and full in- structions given to the officers. 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 Chambers slowly backed out into the great river. Governor Shepherd, Mr. Bliss, Mr. Mitchell, and Gen. Beckwith stood on the edge of the wharf-boat. and. along with hundreds of others whose hearts were full of sympathy, watched her until she turned her head down stream and began to steam away. She went with the good wishes of the whole nation, and a million prayer- 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 they come back or not, their good work will be done, and the nation honored by a noble deed. Many a sniferer 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 i- another proof of the eloquent saying of the great and lamented Governor Yates, that the Mississippi was never made to run through a divided country. All honor to Governor A. R. Shepherd, the chairman of the National Relief Committee, and the man, above all others, who has contributed to the success of this great national undertaking; and great credit is due to Mr. W. If. Bliss for his un- tiring labors, and also to Mr. John T. Mitchell, of Washington."
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BENNER RELIEF FUND.
Appeal, November 11 .- At half-past two o'clock yesterday afternoon the Benner bale af cotton, contributed through Miss Clara Conway, for the benefit of the family of the late Lieutenant Benner, United States Army, who died at his post on board the government supply boat, near Vicksburg, on the Mississippi River, while relieving the wants of th .: yellow-fever sufferers, was sold at public auction in front of the cotton exchange by Mr. A. E. Frankland, auctioneer. The bale weighed 505 pounds, and classed middling fair. The bidding was lively, Mr. Simon W. Green starting it at fifty cents per pound. Majer G. V. Rambant bid ninety-five cents. Mr. Green called. it ninety-eight cents, Major Rain- bait $1.00, Mr. Green >1.01, and Major Rambaut :9.02, and it was knocked down at 51.02 a pound. The bale weighing 506 pounds, brought 8516.12. The bale was sold by sul- seription under the direction of a committee of the cotton exchange, composed of Me -- r -. G. V. Rambant, Simon W. Green, H. M. Neely, John K. Speed, and C. T. Curtis. On the sale being made auctioneer Frankland read the following notice :
" The members of the Memphis Cotton Exchange most respectfully donate the Benner bale of cotton to the cotton exchanges of New Orleans, Galveston, Mobile, Savanah. Charleston, and Richmond, Virginia, with the sincere request that cach one pass it to the other after it has been sold, the proceeds to be forwarded to the Benner fund, care of the secretary of the treasury." The contributors to the innd are as follows :
We, the undersigned, hereby agree to pay the amounts hereto annexed and opposite our names, the same to be used in the purchase of a bale of cotton donated by Miss Clara Conway to the " Benner relief fund," the money subscribed for the said purchase to co to that fund : Hill & Mitchell, 810; Joyner, Lemmon & Gale, $10; W. S. Jack & Co .. SI0 ; Ferguson & Hampson, 810; Goodbar & Co., 810; Schwab & Co., 810; Rice, Stix & Co., $10; James S. Wilkins, S10; Mammoth cotton press, $10; Brown & Jones, $10; Union cotton compress association, S10; Johnson & Vance. $10; Bohlen, Huse & Co., SID); Oliver Finnie & Co., S10; B. Lowenstein & Bros., S5 ; Walker Brothers & Co .. $5; Town- send, Woolly & Co., S5 ; Guy, Dillard & Coffin, S10; J. J. Freeman, $5 ; Felix Fransciola. $5; Porter. Taylor & Co., SJo; Peter Trazey, $5; Joe Wetter, S5; G. If. Latham. 55 ; , Clark, 55; S. Mansfeld. 85; W. B. Galbreath & Co .. $10; J. T Pettit, $10; Gover & Co., $15: A. M. Scarborough, 85; C. T. Curtis, $5; Ad. Storm, 85; J. S. Richardson & Co., S5; Horace E. Andrews, 85; J. M. James and Sons, 85; M. Gavin & Co., $5 ; School- feld, Hanauer & Co., $5; Cooper & Co., S5; Ashbrook & White, $5; Pearce. Suggs & Co., $5; Harris, Mallory & Co., S5; Bowles & Son., S10; J. H. Coffee & Co., S2; J. J. Bushy & Co., S5; E. M. Apperson & Co., S10) ; Furstenheim & Wellford, $5; Hadder and Avery. $5; J. F. Frank & Co., $5; C. P. Hunt & Co., $5; Fader, Jacobs & Co., $5; Hill. Fon- taine & Co., $5; C. B. Carter & Co., 85; Day & Proudfit, 85; W. H. Wood, 85; Orgill Bros. & Co., $5; Thos. H. Allen & Co., 85; A. Vacarro & Co., 85; John K. Speed, $5; M. I. Meacham & Co .. 55; Estes, Doan Co., 85: Brooks, Neely & Co., 815; J. T. Fargason & Co., 815; J. W. Jefferson & Co., 85; G. Falls & Co., STD; Win. M. Roots, 85: Cage & Fisher, 85; Wm. R. Moore. 85; W. S. Bruce & Co., $10; R. G. Craig, 82; Gruble, An- tin & Berry, S5: Wills & Wildberger, $2; Martin & Co., 85; Mitchell, Hoffman & Co .. $5; F. S. Davis, 85; A. M. Agelasto, $5; R. V. Vredenburgh, $5; E. G. Barnaby, $1.
DISPOSITION OF FUNDS AND BALE.
Major Rambaut will send the check for the amount to Miss Clara Conway, who will transmit it to the secretary of the treasury of the United States. The bale of cotton will be sent, after being fixed up with bagging, ties, etc., to New Orleans, in accordance with the wish of the cotton exchange. It is not intended to permit the cotton bale to be taken or sent outside of the cotton States of the South.
Rev. C. K. Marshall, writing, on the 17th of October, to the Louisville Courier-Journal. gives the following account of the funeral of Lieutenant Benner, the brave soldier who perished at his post : " I have just participated in the most solemn and imposing funeral ceremony I ever witnessed here in nearly half a century. We have buried the coti- mander of the national relief expedition. Lientenant Benner sleeps to-night in the national cemetery, by the side of the majestic waters of the great river. The gallant Custer, fighting to his death in defense of and dying with his brave band of heroes, did not meet death more noble than has this chivalrous and heroic young officer. He heard the Macedonian ery, and in its incarnation came to our relief. The hero martyr fell in the sacred performance of the highest obligation. We received him and his companions as au abridgement of the nation's sympathy, wept with joy at meeting such tender, noble. manly courage and solicitude. When he sickened, we trembled. When he died this morning. we all wept in sorrow for so great a loss. The burial brought into procession every movable article. It was over a mile in length, and thousands thronged the streets to pay their tribute of mourning for the public bereavement. All the military compra-
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nies, fire companies, orders, and societies, colored and white, all the clergy of every denom- ination, Catholic and Protestant, all the convalescents able to stand, and weeping women and tender young people. turned out to testify their sense of the calamity. The officers of the Howard Association followed the hearse, next to Lieutenant fall, and the mayor and ahiermen of the city accompanied them. The Right Rev. Bishop Adams read the solemn service at the grave, as the setting sun was just passing from view, emblematic of our departed brother , and amidst the surrounding masses of real mourners, we laid his mortal remains to rest. May his name shine while the stars shine, and good men pay homage at his grave. while these waves of this inland sea glide to the distant ocean ; and may the magnanimous and philanthropie people who have blessed us in this deep- est distress never experience the necessities of our helpless, suffering, and desolate con- dition. We send our sympathies to, and offer our prayers for, the sorrowing family of the noble dead."
SERMON OF REV. DR. LANDRUM ON THE EPIDEMIC.
DELIVERED AT THE CENTRAL BAPTIST CHURCH ON SUNDAY, OCT. 26th. 1978.
The first services in ten weeks were Held at the Central Baptist Church last Sunday. Rev. Dr. Landrum was in the pulpit, and the sermon which he preached, a report of which we give below, will be found a sermon for the times, a reminder of what we have passed through and of what we must do to be saved from similar affliction, in the future. Dr. Landrum, after the singing of hymn No. 5, gospel series, opened with the following
PRAYER :
O God, who didst create and redeem us, who dost permit us to call thee Father, to thee we confess our sins and acknowledge our dependence. We are unworthy the least of thy mercies. We thank thee so many of us have met together for praise, for forgiveness, for blessing. We thank thee for the Sabbath; for a desire to conse- crate ourselves to thy service; for the gift of thy Son, our Savior, by whose death, resurrection, and ascension, life and immortality are brought to light in the gospel. May we seek life and strength through him, live unto him -- ever ready for death. ever prepared for the life to come. We thank thee for this hope, for the home above, the glories that await us there. Help us, O Lord, to know more of thee, to understand thy word. to obey thy will. Revive thy work, O Lord, we beseech thee. Reveal, by thy Spirit, Christ Jest- unto us as the way, the truth, and the life. Draw now sensibly near unto us, that we may know that we are in the way of life; and minister unto us the consolations of the gospel, which the world knows not of, and can neither give nor take away, enabling us to cast our cares upon thee, who careth for us. We can not, would not, call our loved ones back again, but we thank thee we can go to them where all is peace, purity, and love, and no pain, no plague, no death. nor tears, nor partings. May we bear our eross patiently, humbly, faithfully, and, like good soldiers, stand firmly, bravely; following unflinchingly the Captain of our salvation, himself made perfect through sufferings. Bless ns, O Lord, in our hearts, in our homes, in our church ; bless our afflicted eity, bless all with the wisdom and the fear and the love of God. Bless the absentees. May they come back from their chastening willingly, hum- bly, obediently to serve thee, the only true and living God. Bless our scourged land. Bless all those who have so generously ministered to our necessities and solaced us with words of comfort and sympathy. Reward them, O Lord, with thy mercies, and enlarge our hearts with grateful love toward them. We need every blessing-indi- viduals, the family, the city, the nation-all need thy help. And may we honor these blessings by honoring thee. Hear us, O Lord, and thine shall be the praise. For Jesus' sake, amen.
Hymn No. 33, "Trusting Jesus every day," was then sung.
THE SERMON.
It is now ten weeks since we last assembled in this house. Within the past few days certain persons, and it is pleasure to say, mostly young men, have said to me, "Why not resume services? We are hungry for preaching." I therefore announced
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services this morning. The sudden change to inclement weather led me to expect only a few. I am gratified to see so many present. You have come to seck God and invoke the divine consolations. Great and sad changes have taken place since we last met, but it is better not to dwell on what is possibly uppermost in every mind -personal suffering- and bereavements. Let me rather try to learn a few lessons for future good. Text: "And he ( Aaron) stood between the dead and the living, and the plague was stayed." Num. 16: 48. You, perhaps, have not, lately at least, looked into those Scriptures which declare pestilence to be God's care upon the sin of disbelienes. Let us read you a few of these texts : "If ve walk contrary to me, I will send the pes ti- lence among you." Lev. 26: 21-26. Berater of rebellion, Moses was told to speak the to the children of Israel : "I will smite them with the pestilence, and disinherit them." Num. 11: 12. "Because of the wickedness of the doings, the Lord shall make the pesti- lence eleave unto thee, until he has consmined thee from off the face of the land." Dent. 38: 21. "When they fast I will not hear them ery, and when they offer burnt offering and oblation I will not accept them, but I will consume them by the sword, and by the famine, and by the pestilence." Jer. 14: 12. The result of disobedience in the last time : "Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom ; and there shall be famines and pestilences and earthquakes in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows." Matthew 24: 7. 8. If these he "the beginning," what must the continuance and the end of these sorrows be? Therefore, be ye also ready ; for in such an hour as ve think not, the Son of man cometh, rewarding those that diligently seek him, and punishing the disobedient. His ways are shown to be "equal." and he "justifies" himself before the good and the bad. Of the twelve spies sent by Moers to Canaan. the ten who made a cowardly report, producing a rebellion, died in the wildler- ness with the thousands which were corrupted with them. Two, Caleb and Joshua, who "followed" God " inlly," were brought into the land of promise. Num. 14. And so. in the cases of Nadab and Abihu, and of Korah and Dathan, you see the Lord em- phasizing by example this great precept of obedience. Law is every-where. It is too often thought that the ten commandments comprise all of God's laws. A mistaken, short-sighted idva. There are spiritual and physical laws, with rewards and pani-h- ments. These laws must be obeyed if you would be happy. To obey them, you must know them ; to know and understand thein, you must study God's word by the light of his Spirit. . "The plagne was stayed." How ? By Israel's priestly interce sor Aaron. Jesus is our High Priest and Intercessor. He is now standing between dead and peris !- ing sinners and an offended God. He put himself in our stead. He lived, and suf- fered, and died, and rose again for us. Let us look to him to bear away from us and our children the plagne of sin ; and stay the just wrath of God, that we and they may not suffer the rightful penalty of our many misdoings. God's children are all inter- cessors. Abraham interceded for Sodom, Moses repeatedly for Israel, and Pant for his brethren according to the flesh. So let us plead with God, one for the other, and for our own erring brethren, in Jesus' name. He is our refuge and our strength.
THE PESTILENCE.
A remarkable feature of this pestilence is its malignity; the mortality, at one time, being one death in every two cases. Of my flock, who remained in the city. more than half have died. How wonderful this mortality! Nearly thirty-three per cent. elsewhere, nearly fifty per cent. here. What a terrible strain upon the minds and spirits and bodies of the living witnesses ! Another remarkable feature: The wide extent of territory it has spread over. Norfolk, Savannah, New Orleans, and this city have repeatedly been scourged, and heretofore the plague has been confined to certain localities in these cities. Never before has it extended its banetal, blighting infinenice over so vast an area, and with a malignity as fatal in the country as in the city. How vast. how awful it- death-dealing touch! It is terrible to contemplate. Another sad feature: It carried of so many little children, and swept the young men by scores and hundreds. It was far more destructive among these than any former epidemic. Look around you and see how many parents have been left, with the children all, er nearly all, gone. Many Rachels are weeping because her children are not: many Davids, in agony, cry out, "O my son Absalom! my son, my son Absalom! Would to God I had died for thee, () Absalom, my son, my son !" A few godly men, adopting David's language, after the death of his little child, say, "Now he is dead: wherefore should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me."
A FEW PRACTICAL LESSONS.
First Lesion .- It has been suggested that physical laws can not be violated with im- punity; hence, the vital importance of due attention to the drainage and sewerage of
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the city. Cleanliness is a prerequisite of health, the best preventive of malarial epi- demies. If indifferent to this virtue, you may expect only pestilence. If you would have exemption, look well to the cleanliness of your city. This virtue is cla-syd in the inspired Word next to godlines -. It is wiser to pay taxes in money than in the lives of your citizens, and the tears and offerings of the widow and the orphan. There will not pave your street«, nor restore a dishonored credit, nor rebuild broken fortunes.
Second L+300 .- The moral developments under this trial have been alway into rei- ing. sometimes astounding. A. in war, so in times of pe tilencs, there are remarkable revealments of character. Where you have counted on firmness patience, all-service. you have been surprised with weakness, fear, and menu -. Where you have had little hope of noble deeds, you have found magnanimity, kindges, tenderness, Jose, You have seen the husband desert the wite. the mother her children, and children at andon parents. Then, you have seen the "stranger" come in, and, without fear of death or hope of reward, fill with touching tenderness these deserted places. This is really wonderful, in xplicable. The Lord alone can know the heart.
Third Lesson .- Religion is judged improperly, unju-tly. Only "the few," who know from revelation and experience somewhat of God - will and ways, are competent to judge. The " many" are not qualified to say what a Christian's duty is.
One word for all: Refrain from a censorious spirit -- judge not. To ni- Master the servant standeth or falleth. It is impossible for you to know the circumstances and the motives of your brother. Judge yourself, not another. Leave him to himself and to God.
One other remark: True religion, vital godliness, is a living. active, controlling power. It has been ofren manife-ted during this fry ordeal --- and sometimes when But expected, it has shown forth as a light in the darkness, a glorious reality. An illustra- tion: My family physician sent for me. He said: "Oh, my pastor, I wanted to are von and tell von of the perfect peace within. Precious thoughts of Jesus and niv sainted mother come to me. My longing desire i- to join her in that blissindl lume. I try to sing; but too feeble now: but then I'll sing. I'll sing." Death was robbed of his sting, the grave of its victory. The religion of the Lord Jesus Christ can alone do this. It is indeed a triumphant, glorious power. One now from a sister's letter: " I have often wanted to write you since the death of my beloved husband. When death was seen to be inevitable. he called me to his side to repeat a few of God's promises. I asked: Can you trust him? 'Oh. yes, yes, I long for the rest of heaven." I repeated these precious words of Jesus : . I am the resurrection and the life; he that believeth in me, though he were dead (and my husband finished the passage), vet shall he live, and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die." The Lord, the good Savior, never seemed so close to him. To him I commit myself and my children : and, from my heart, say: 'Thy will be done.'" I repeat, brethren, the religion of Jesus is a power -- a controlling, sustaining power. But that praver, brethren. Its wor l, are brief and simple-so easy to say. but how hard to pray it, to niter it from the heart, when that prayer alone is left to you. I have repeated it a thousand times without feeling it. When called to speak it from the heart, I found it no easy thing. This sister adds: "The everlasting arms are beneath me. It is sweet to lie pa-sive in his hands." Is not this "religion," or "power ?"
Another lesson. Let us prove ourselves an appreciative, grateful people. There could be no greater evidence of unworthiness than to forget our benefactors, our tried friends. All over the country. from the extreme cast to the far di-tant west. the warmest, most practical sympathy has been shown. The United States are a nation, a grand national brotherhood, with one heart. May all purposes be as noble as the good deeds to us, and our destiny one. Words fail to tell of the sympathy, the prayer, and the acts of loving kindness that have come from every point of the compass. Of the many wonderful developments of this marvelous scourge, the lavish generosity displayed i- one most worthy to be noted. one never to be forgotten. We are indeed one. It is more blessed to give than to receive. Especially is this time when the giving is -a freely. cheerfully done that the receiver is saved the humiliation. Let us, therefore, remember this lesson of love with gratitude.
ONE FEAR.
Do you remember the pestilence of 1573? Can you recall the frivolities and the godlessness of the winter and spring following? shall we, can we have a repetition? The masses, like the pendulum, go from one extreme to the other irom a -tate i afflie- tion and humility to frivolous exhilaration and rebellious, and often blasphenon -. wickedness. Hence, a great depay of worldmines is to be fearen. God froid is. Many have pledged great reformation. Will the, keep their vows? it is let's not to vow than to vow and not pay. How has not Gou's house been avoided, his will diere-
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