| Title: | Extracts of letters from New York [U.S.A?] |
|---|---|
| ID | 3926 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | 1821-30/35 |
| Year | 1822 |
| Sender | unknown |
| Sender Gender | unknown |
| Sender Occupation | unknown |
| Sender Religion | unknown |
| Origin | New York, USA |
| Destination | unknown |
| Recipient | unknown |
| Recipient Gender | unknown |
| Relationship | re yellow fever |
| Source | The Strabane Morning Post, no.569, 22 October 1822 |
| Archive | The Linenhall Library, N. Ireland. |
| Doc. No. | 9407007 |
| Date | 08/09/1822 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | EMG |
| Log | Document added by LT, 01:07:1994. |
| Word Count | 416 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | YELLOW FEVER AT NEW YORK Extract of a private letter from New York, dated September 8th. "The yellow fever, which broke out some time ago, has continued increasing in that quarter of the city which always hitherto had been considered the most healthy. The pestilential district is inclosed with a high fence, and now completely desolated. "A few days ago, on the approach of an individual, he was assailed by a number of half-famished cats; which would have devoured him had he not fled for security. Carts [are?] employed day and night, Sundays not accepted, in removing furniture and goods of every description, so that the city appeared as if in a state of actual siege. I live one mile from the infected, or what is deemed the infected spot, and have narrowly marked the progress of the contagion from its commencement. It began near the dock in the beginning of July, in two children, who sickened of this maligant disease, and died with the black vomit in the very spot where a vessel from Havanah had discharged her cargo. "From this source, as a common centre, the pestilence spread, every few days presenting new cases. The infected limits are nearly in the form of a square. I calculate, and, from practical experience, can say, that the march of this malignant enemy, in every direction it takes, is at the rate of about 30 feet, and that nothing but the approach of frost will effectually check it. The physicians differ as to the cause of the disease; one half assert that it is imported; the other, that it is of local origin. Certain it is, that the season has been exceedingly hot, the thermometer having been frequently from 90 to 94 degrees in the shade. Heat and moisture are always found to favour the spread of the epidemic." Extract of another letter from New York, dated 15th September. "The fever still keeps insiduously crawling along, and has now extended itself considerably beyond the original boundaries. Upon a moderate calculation it is supposed that upwards of fifty thousand people have been thrown out of the city; so that the immediate neighbourhood, from the bustle and confusion, and the temporary buildings which have been erected, has assumed all the appearance of a wake or fair. The alarm in the country is so great that I don't expect any of the country dealers will venture in until frost makes its appearance, which will not only throw the Fall Trade late, but will cause it to be of very short durarion." |
