Lincoln County leader., January 07, 1898, Image 2

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MIDNIGHT. Tho time the sum
mer of 1S79. I'nnic rci(Tiiotl in
the lit tie city on tlie gulf const.
Euti;ii-tllc r.inrc v!M '"M terrible than
Hint of frightened cattle possessed the
people. A stnniec!e more desernte thnn
Unit of some thirteen years before when
the citizens fled mndly away to the for
ests anil cities of the East to escape the
rush of the conquering Yankees. From
down the coast had conic the dread tid
ings of the invasion of "Yellow Jack."
Here was an enemy which they knew
from horrid experience snared not. Neith
er man, woman nor child could hope to
escape from his Iron grasp if once he se
cured a firm hold on the town.
For several days there hud been sub
dued terror pervading the community.
Away at Mobile, Seranton, Pensacoht and
other const towns they knew the Hag of
pestilence was hanging ngainst the llag
stnff. They knew that it win hut n ques
tion of a few short hours when the yel
low death would he among them. I'n
tiently, with the fatalism of the nntives
of that clime, the Creoles had awaited its
coming. They had Buffered before and
would suffer again, if It pleased the Di
vine Master to visit them with his wroth.
But they were but a small portion of the
populace. Even before the coming of the
plague the people had been hastily prepar
ing for that fearful exodus from home
and kindred even, if by leaving relatives
behind personal safety could be won.
It had come at last. The day before a
schooner put into the little hiub:r. A
sick seaman wns taken ashore. lie was
Infected as the doctors believed. All that
day and until late at night men walked
uhout the streets furtively watching each
other, fearful of being stricken with the
scourge by mere contact. The next morn
ing men abandoned their usual occupa
tions and mnrchctl in broken and irreso
lute columns toward the city hull. Would
the fateful bulletin announce their doom?
They ga.cd at each other In the same fur
tive, uneasy way which had marked tho
Intercourse of neighbors and friends for
more than n week. They feared to look
und were yet drawn by the irresistible
fascination of him who must learn tnc
worst if death itself be the result. At
last one man lifted hollow and fear-worn
eyes to the bulletin board. With a wild
shriek he turned and fled toward his
home. It had come. Over on the little
blackboard was a signal all knew. It
was la the terse and significant language
familiar to all who had faced the yellow
death. It said: 1
'Seaman landed yesterday died of yel
low fever at midnight. Two more deaths
from the same cause have occurred since.
Quarantine will be established at mid-;
night. All who wish to leave will take
uutice. (iOODlUCIi, M. I).
YVKHillT, M. 1)."
Thnt wns all. V.nt what a pregnant all
to that people. Eighteen hours remained
to leave or remain. Who should get away
tit st V Certainty lung expected gave wings
to tear. Stampede, panic more terrible
than that of minimis walled in by lire
succeeded to the silence and Inaction of
more foreboding. Vehicles of all kinds
rushed (nun the most unexpected places.
Household goods hastily caught up borne
along in the arms of family and servant
ndilcd to the crowding of the already con
gests! streets. Men fought and snarled
like angry dogs to win a few feet farther
from the infected city. Women dragging
toddling babies unwillingly by the anus
rushed frantically along In the vain en
deavor to keep pace with the rapid strides
of husband and father.
In the group of men who first stood
about that bulletin board was George
Kendrick, lumberman. Kendriek had
faced death on ninny a stricken Held and
was a stranger to fear. He was a Yankee
who had followed in the wake of the men
who settled in the South after the wnr.
Rtlll a young man, he had brought his
push and energy into the stronghold of
the rebel and won fame, fortune nud re
spect, If not genuine love. Tall, athletl
and accomplished, he made his way with
the tact of his shrewd, canny Scottish an
cestry. He had been in Magnolia for sev
eral years, and, while he had never faced
an epidemic, ho had heard strange stories
of the doings of the people when the jel
low Hag was hoisted on the city hall.
As he stood there in wonder aud amaze
ment at that fearful rush he was accost
ed by old Jim llutler, one of the leaders
of the native clement. llutler wns
(taunt, sinewy . Johnnie who had seen
hot times in the war. He led his nrettv
. daughter Mamie as he straggled with that
crowd In the effort to rvach the city hall
for a temporary refuge. t.eorgc loved
Mamie with all the force of his strong,
taciturn nature, lie wns loved In return
but the fateful words had not been imok
en. The old man saw the mutual love
ml, while lie did uot relish a "Yank'
for a son-in-law, was too good a father
to bring sorrow to his only child.
"What arc yon doing there?" he culled
to the younger man. "Yellow Jack ha
com. Get away, man. Off to the woods
or the North you came from. Y'on won't
last a day in this plague-ridden spot."
"Is it so b:id as that?" wns the care
less reply. "Where do you go and why?
I shall not leave until I know I must."
"Had?" snorted Hutler, in vast disgust.
"Y'ou never fought a battle with Yellow
Jack, I can readily see that. Y'ou see that
sun up there? Well, it will blaze that
way until November. No hope enn come.
The dreadful scourge will rule this town
until all are dead or Jack Frost seizes
him in his frozen grip and strangles him
to innocence. This is what yon stay to
meet. Come away, for (Sod's sake, and
don't trifle with death, Y'ou are not ac
climated yet and will fall as certainly as
the sun will rise to Mister aud wither the
fever-stricken people."
"Oh, do come with n.' n'pi'H
whoso frightened eyes grew blacker with
the greater fear aroused by her father's
stern words. "Come to the pineries out of
the city and away from this fearful heat.
I implore you to come."
"Mebhe I might be of use here," wns
the Yankee's reply. "If It is as bad as
you say, then help will be needed. Do
yon go, sir? Well, if you stay, I will
also. I may be needed. Who can tell?"
"I have nothing to fear. You all," was
Butler's answer. "Come and guard my
child until this is over. I must stay to
help maintain the quarantine which will
he in force in a tew hours. Itemnin until
midnight and if you were the deity him
self, slay you must."
Reluctantly the young man joined the
stampede. He took the maiden's other
arm and with her father made rapid
strides to the hall. There they stood on
the doorstep and watched the hurrying
front around the city to the other bench
from each to west. On-the docks and in
the raili'ond yards the guards stalked.
Their tense faces and steely eyes were set
with a determination which nothing hu
man would shake.
As the time drew ni'-'h when escape
would lie barred George Kendrick plung
ed into that seething, boiling mass of bat
tling humanity. He held his sweetheart s
nnn closely and fought with the skill and
desperation learned on many a hotly con
tested field. He needed all his great
strength for ties made by him were riule
Iv broken ill that fierce scramble' for ad
vantage. He rushed into the ytrds still
holding the panting and almost exhausted
girl in a firm grasp. He fought his way
blindly to the platform of the last car of
the last train and by main strength land
ed his love thereon. As he was about to
follow he wns attacked from the flank and
pushed momentarily from his position by
a wild, desperate fellow, who sprang to
the tar, leaving n wailing and deserted
wife behind.
Kendrick saw the woman's peril. He
lifted her in his branny arms, swung her
around and made her the means of clear
ing a space. Then he sprang forward and
deposited her on the platform just as the
bell tolled and the train slowly started to
move. He rushed forward and was halt
ed by a stalwart guard, who ordered him
back. He remonstrated and struggled,
telling the mnn that an unprotected girl
was iu that train and he must go to her
aid.
"Can't help that. Y'ou don't go. No
body leaves this place until the quaran
tine is lifted. Damn you, Y'nnk, I'll break
your head if you don't let up."
"Try it on, Johnnie," yelled Kendrick,
infuriated by the resistance. He rushed
on his foe and gamely struggled with him
while the train was still in the yards., He
tossed the big mail to one side and top
pled him over with a hard punch as he
was falling. Then he rushed like n star
tled deer along that platform to rejoin
the girl, whose white face appealed to him
from the platform. As he made that des
perate rush another guard sprang forward
in the mass and struck him with clubbed
rifle. He fell like a log as the train with
Increasing speed pulled out of the yards.
On the rear platform lay the white, rigid
FAT II Kill"
SHE CHIED, FALLING TO ItICK
KNEES.
mob of battling, terrorized human beings,
almost devoid now of all semblance to hu
manity. Butler's intluence made it possi
ble for them to hope to wait until the lust
rain should leave. then he determined
that hiB child and her lover should race
with death to a more northern city, where
relatives would receive the girl and she
and Kendriek might be safe from the epi
demic.
All dny long and until nearly the hour
for the establishment of the quarantine
tho people rushed madly to the depot or
out into the gulf. Every' conveyance wns
impressed into service to remove loved
ones from under the dreadful shadow.
Calmly the nntives waited the Inevitable.
iheirs was n nature to wait and pray and
keep strict watch and ward that the hov
ering pestilence might lie limited to their
own town and not rush unchallenged into
the interior or even invade the States
north of Dixie. Up to this time yellow
Jack had been nn atllictiou of Dixieland.
It was soon to show its horrid front north
of the Ohio and in cities where Its pres
ence wns never thought possible.
As the mob grew in numbers with ev
ery train, men, long, lnnk but sinewy,
typos or tne const Southron, dropped
from tho Incoming train. Uilles and shot
guns were in their hands. Silently and
steadily they strode over to the city hall,
where they conferred with the Mayor.
They were joined by others of the city
Itself. They would keep all within who
remained and 'bar all out who were out
after the big bell in the clock chimed the
midnight hour.
At midnight now not far off the shot
gun would rule. That was the law made
by these stern men. It would place the
little city under a martini law more terri
ble than any framed or enforced by the
Yankee conqueror. Death might be the
portion of all who were left behind. The
gaunt ghost of pestilence stalked about
the streets sparing none. Hut the death
Inside wns not so swift nor so sure as
that which awaited him who essayed to
breuk that rigid line extending In a wide
, semi-circular sweep back from the water
form of the girl in n deadly swoon ns she
saw her lover struck down.
Out Into the night rushed the train.
Headed for the North, the people on board
glanced fearfully behind them and hope
fully to the front Miles were eaten up
before another town was neiired. As the
engine was rushing and shrieking along
there was a sudden grinding of the
wheels, a few pauting snorts and the long
train came to a standstill. All along the
sides were armed men peering fearfully
at the frightened people iu the cars.
"You can't stop hero," said their lead
er. "Just you run through ns fast as
steam will let you. Nobody gets off."
"Is that you. Hank?" said n man, joy
fully, as he stepped to the platform uiid
was about to descend to the ground.
"Ulnd it's you. I want to come to your
house. The wife and children are with
me."
"Get back there. Didn't you hear me
sny nobody alights. Don't care If you are
my brother. Stay on that train or I'll
fill you with buckshot," was the grim
reply, as the man covered his shrinking
brother with his rendy rifle.
Then on again rushed the train, the oc
cupants filled with nn even greater ter
ror. Where could they go? M'ho would
receive them? All the country was
aroused. On all sides gleamed the guns
which held them at bay. Death might be
on the train. It was certainly out of it.
On the rear platform a distracted girl
struggieo to a sitting posture as the train
resumed its rapid flight. Two men stand
ing huddled with the crowd near by saw
her. She wns ill. She might be suffering
with the dread scourge. Must others
suffer? No!
With a common Impulse they rushed to
w-here Mamie Butler lay half-extended on
the platform, lifted her suddenly In their
arms and shot the fragile form out into
the wilderness, recking little of the almost
certain death their cowardly and brutal
art would entail.
Fortunately another swoon followed the
first wlhl cry as the girl felt herself lifted
in the arms of those brutes. She fell
limp and helpless into a friendly cluuiD
of wayside bushes.. Her fail was broken
so that little Injury resulted. But she
was left iu the swmp regions, miles from
any human hnbltation, the prey of the
elements, barred from Intercourse with
her kind by the rigid law of the "shotgun
patrol," r,w fnll, organised all over the
state. Slowly her senses returned. Slow
ly her desperate aituation dawned upon
her. Out in the wilderness without food,
poorly clad in the hurry of the flight from
Magnolia, and reared in a home of luxury,
she was little fitted for any kind of fight.
Her situation was such as to nppall the
most determined and stoicnl num. What
could a frail girl do?
Slowly and painfully with badly bruis
ed ankle she took .up her way on the
tracks. Where should she go? Home,
of course. Her father was of the lines.
He would admit his child, even if to the
dangers of infection and death. Death
from the plague at home with her loved
ones was preferable and not more certain
than out in that swamp. Home she would
go. Bravely for the girl had her fn titer's
rugged, forceful nature she started to
walk back to home and safety.
How that frightful journey wns accom
plished the half-delirious girl never knew.
Three days and nights she wandered.
driven away from every camp she ap
proached by the same iron rule. Food she
had none but wild berries and nencin
buds. But on she struggled under the
blistering heat or the cooler shades of
night until at last she saw tho tall tower
of the city hall in the distnnce. Gratefully
she sank in the sand and thanked heaveu
for her deliverance. Home wns near and
n loving father and sweetheart if, in
deed, he hnd not been stricken down to
his death were there to welcome and
comfort her.
The thoncht of George's peril nerved
her to greater exertion. She rose to her
feet and once more bent her weary way
toward home. As she reached the clump
of pines which marks the outer boundnry
of the town a man suddenly stalked from
their shade and ordered her back.
"Father," she cried, falling to her knees
and then stumbling: on again. "Don't
you know me, father. I'm Mamie. I
have come back to stay with you and
George. Take me home," and tho wasted
anus were stretched imploringly toward
her parent.
"Mamie," gasped Butler, hoarsely,
"how did yon come here? I thought you
were in Memphis by this time."
"I wns thrown from the train he'ennse
n pair of brutes feared I had the fever.
I have wandered in the woods for three
days and am dying for lack of food..Take
me home."
"Stand back, girl," was the stern reply.
"Y'ou know the law. My God, why did
you come here to tempt me. No, I can
not let you in. Y'on know the law. Get
back. Go over to the camp yonder and
they will take you in."
The girl pleaded in vain. The inexora
ble law of Y'ellow Jack held her father
powerless. With a shriek of despair she
turned and ran away into the swamp to
die.
.
Kendrick lingered unconscious for four
or five days before his physique and. fine
condition won the battle of life. Then he
slowly regained health under the careful
ministrations of Dr. Wright, a young
friend who took ns much time ns his man
ifold duties would permit in winning
health again for the "Yank." Then with
strength restored George sought work
among the ailing. He feared no conta
gion and was soon looked up to and loved
by the people of the stricken city. Death
carts wore the only conveyances seen in
the deserted streets as the long, terrible
summer passed slowly nway; corteges
with the bodies of victims in plum boxes
followed by the men who were to lay them
in the earth the only assemblies seen.
Hot, fetid nir, never cooled by the breezes
of the gulf, added to the horrors of the
lazaretto.
One night ns Kendrick, worn out with
his labors, sat in what had been his office,
Dr. Wright entered, tossed his hat aside
and began smoking in silence. Kendrick
knew from his friend's manner thnt some
thing of more thnn passing interest has
marked the day. He wnltcd for a time
and then said: "Well, Doc?"
"George," slowly replic-d tho physician,
"I have a very peculiar case. It is a
young nnn who came in when old Dr.
Stefano reached here from New Orleans.
You remember my speaking of Sister
Ysnbel? Well, it is she. You know how
she has slaved among the poor devils in
this horrible hole. You can never know
the devotion of this gentle mniden to her
self-sacrificial duties. Evidently a woman
of culture and refinement, she has slaved
for the poor blacks ns earnestly ns for
those of higher caste. Now she is ill
sick unto death. I have tried to learn
who and what she is, but without success.
To-night ns she fell Into delirium she
muttered the word 'George' a couple of
times. My God, mnn, what is the mut
ter with you? I have feared It, you
have the fever."
"No, doctor. No fever but thnt of ter
ror. Feel my pulse, take my temiiernture
and you will see the plague has exempted
me so far. But you sny she muttered
my name?"
"Certainly, your name. But God in
heaven, can It be possible? Quick, man,
come with me."
Out Into the night rushed the two men,
one torn by a thousand conflicting emo
tions. He knew the resolute temper of
his sweetheart and fearing she had seen
his downfall and had returned in spite of
all, he felt a fear tugging at his heart
which Btlfled him. Yet he rnn blindly af
ter the doctor until they reached a small
house where a dim light could be seen
near the open window. Hero Dr. Wright
halted and cnutioned the excited man to
exercise care.
"Care! Who should be more tender
than I? If it Is my love I will nurse her
back Into life," hoarsely said the young
Northerner. "Let me in. Don't you see
this suspense Is killing me? God, It is
she!" and he fell on his knees beside the
pallet on which the form of a young wom
an In the gray garb of the sisters lay ex
tended. His voice roused the sick girl
from her stupor. She glanced around the
room with frightened eyes and then sud
denly started up.
"George," she said feebly, "yon here?
Oh, go away. You will take tho fever
and die. Don't tay. Take him away,
doctor, for my snkc."
"No. Here I stay. Tell me how yon
came here and w hat does this dress
mean? '
"This dress?" replied Mamie. "Oh, th"-
belonged to n yminTrnmrTT
out m the camp. I was thrown fi
train, dear, and when I ,.. . ? f'0D the
my father " i. " nn
no
elated form writhed in nKonv 1 0r' en
"Y'es, yes."
"It was the law, Georiro n
help it. But he turned ,,," ,
fnll. I went tr. ,i,i ' "' 1
. Ii
fearful WolZ lM
supped in during the nit-l.t , ' 11
guard did notiSee,,,Vaf7
.e, nVa '11"l di'"' dunned I
iMc.uweti on nr. Stefano, wlm h,7
oome. to permit me to ,
I thought you were dead. I ,ia !,gJrb'
what became of me. Thev tl '
never regained consciousness I 'W
driven from home by the plague and W
ed to wander an outcast hv uw onl,
ent. I wore the gari, out" "hero Th "
the good doctor came here. Again T .
ceeded in prevailing on l,im to take '
with him. He said I had helpVhi'
there why should I not doTiS
Besides, it was home, and I longed foH
I came and worked until this m,Z,
Then I fell i. Now rmZ
dearest, I m dying. N0 Rkii cnn
I have worn the infected clothing
long and was too much broken don
when I put them on for any hope (
to remain. W e must part now. Oh 2
pain of the parting! ut .hcn ,'
gone, tell my father I for(;ive him
it is rest now. Meet me nhove the'.t.r,.
w, .? ;L."U , .the 8t"'liS
V '' AS tJ1 ay dawn-
ed. another dnv of lmrn -.,.w
ciless sun to bake and scorch the doonnd
populace, the gentle spirit took flight.
Conscious to the last, In the nrmn of h
uespainiig lover slie Bank to her etemil
rest with a peaceful smile on her watted
leisures. nicngo Chronicle.
FEET AND CHARACTER,
What the Pedal Extremities Hevealte
unc Who Knows.'
The person who had his character
rend by the palmist must now so to
first cousin of the chiropodist In order
to learn whether the markings on tho
foot agree with, the prognostications o!
the hand.
According to- the adopts, a small
stop denotes religious temperament,
while. If It la high, it suggests self-consciousness.
If arched, It indicates!
love of luxury, while, If It is thin Id
addition, It not only demonstrates Hi
desire for approbation and applause,
hut the possesion of honor and loftv
ideals. A thick, heavy instep, whleii
the bootmaker would describe ns rath
er high, Is the mark of the ludividual
who Is capable of great exertion contln-
ued over a long time, the Instep, to
fact, of the worker.
The heel is another of the great dlsj-
nostlc points. If it is smooth ud
round, and without any prominent mi
lines. It declares the individual to be-I
long to that common-place order, whlchj
never achieves any distinction,
who. though nlcnsnnt enough In his ori
her way to live with, is yet devoid oi
any special talent. If it Is small ii
shows thnt the owner Is capable of si
ing heart and soul Into any work wik
he undertakes.
Long toes suggest artistic capacity
Just as do long lingers of a certan
shape, while short toes indicate
ness. If they ore crooked as wellaj
long, they demonstrate the posses
of good common sense and no Hull
business ennncitv. while toes scpanw
by a distinct Interval, In spite of tt
compression to which fashlonar
of great exertion continued overate
boots compel them, are indicative o
emotion. I f they eurvedowmvanls, tl
indicate an amiable turn of mind, 1
different portions of them denote o;
f erent characteristics, as do the
colled "mountains" and "valleys
the nnlm.
In nddition to all these character;
tics, the markings on the sole mW
carefully considered, for they a
moiHfv oectnln other
peculiar! tte.
In honnsulhlo however. tO lay '
any laws for self-guhlnnce in tte
mlnutine, but tho broad facts
doubt furnish n sufficient stimulus
,.!,, - invoutlimtlnii at the ban"-'
the wise women of the world; forth
iimot 1u Irwltxwl wise WllO CaS W'
la on open book, character which v
P9 formed by tho cousmcuui" ,
fiiflhfmifihlo boot.
Whatever else may be done, bo1
it la ,pfo in anr that great toes W1
are pressed out of the straight Unf. J
wnicn are, xnereioie, - - ,
t .m. Kam.tifiil feet of i"
bespeak an egregrlous vanity m i
-j .,.,i, n helief 1" I
possessor, uuu inui-m" - ,
.,-..k n,i,ih otntes that "to M
tifnl n must suffer." This, bowl
i.i f..,.i,i,nMi idea which
. ... . t tr nn Maurf
nopea we vogue ui
heroine will have done a good
counteract.
fwei
vers!
ity o
that
the T
lean
Chin
Hid,
torj
lion
HOD
lions
it be,
uise
!Wei
sub
Jaii
frece
II Wa
State
IDOIt
Bore
(lain
teres!
In
lions
Average of Hn..
The average of human lire,
i t u,f Wnrren. Is about U
three years. One quarter die pi1,
to the age of seven years, one-
. v.i 17 ond those w
lure reauuiws - . ,
this age enjoy a felicity refused 'f
rest of the human spec-"- --
i m reach"
1.UUU persons, ouV - nlT
iifo to every 1W ""
reach the age of 63, and no lJ
one n 500 lives to y1;
mere are on ,dlf(,
Hants, and of these 33,33 jWOW
year, 01,824 every day.
and sixty every minute, or one
A ygotoapri;a1
has great contempt i -jjoes
to "the public."
tag in
receij
Hatei
ty
1:35,
inos
Sever
000,,
lth(
Will
lite I
tk.il r,
tetnb
thiol
laontj
lai ,
OoTe
hsai,
rtrtn,
At
go
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Wa
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