Article Text
THE SPREAD OF THE PLAGUE
YESTERDAY'S NEW CASES IN MEMPHIS-INTIMA TIONS THAT THERE IS MORE FEVER THAN IS REPORTED-THE DEPARTURES FROM THE TOWN. MEMPHIS, July 18.-Five new cases of yellow fever were reported to the Board of Health this morning: Frederick Eckers, a barber, residing at No. 101 Reade-st., and J. M. Williamson, at the corner of Jefferson and Front-sts. Mrs. B. Adams, of No. 73 Clay-st.; Miss Mollie Hamerle, of No. 261 South-st. ; and Miss Kate Watson, of No. 281 Southst. All reside in the immediate vicinity of the Hester families. These make the total number of cases reported since the 9th inst. sixteen. Frederick Eckers died at 1 o'clock, and was buried immediately afterward. The total number of deaths from fever to date, is seven, which includes the death this afternoon. Business is almost entirely suspended here, especially among wholesale merchants, and large crowds of citizens depart by every train that leaves the city. The Manhattan and Emmet banks closed their doors to-day, leaving their collections and deposits to the care of other banks. A detachment of the Chickasaw Guards and Bluff City Guards will leave to-night for Clarkson, Tenn., where both companies will go into camp. Mrs. Robert Hester and one of her children are reported to be in a critical condition. The other members of the family are doing well. While a majority of the physicians do not apprehend a fever epidemic. they all advise those who can leave the city to do so, The weather 18 warm and sultry to-day following the thunderstorm of last night. CINCINNATI, July 18.-A special to The Come mercial this morning from Memphis says that a dozen or more of the neighbors of the Hesters have been taken sick since Wednesday morning, but the physicians do not term it the yellow fever. In the family of Philip Wehrun, four are down, and Mrs. Damon, near the corner of Clay and De Soto-sts., was taken sick yesterday. People say they do not know what to call the disorder, but it is very certain that the sufferers are very ill. It is not believed that the malady will spread rapidly, or that it will become epidemic for weeks, but it seems to be gradually gaining from house to house. The present sufferers are more than three miles from any Northward bound railroads, and over a mile from any depot, the Mississippi and Tennessee railroad running South, being the nearest. The doctors continue at sea on the subject, and some declare that others have yellow fever on the brain, and that there is no yellow fever in Memphis, and that the medical men in official places have to do something to keep up a stir and hold their places. The new fever has killed trade for the Summer.