Jefferson Davis Jr. Died in the Great Yellow Fever Outbreak of 1878

Here is a further account of the yellow fever epidemic of 1878 that burned while the intellectuals debated the fine points:  This is from Goodspeed's “History of Shelby County, Tennessee (1887)“ “But the most terrible experience from this dread scourge was Reserved for the city to undergo in 1878, when 17,600 persons suffered from the disease, of whom 5,150 died, the ratio of mortality to cases being one to three and three-tenths of those taken sick. The population of the city was believed then by those best informed to be 19,600. There were three patent causes for this great epidemic: First, the filthy condition of the city; second, the extreme heat of that summer; and third, the feverish excitement of the public mind which had existed through a period of twenty years because of the changing conditions of political life. Notwithstanding the previous epidemics the controlling authorities of the city either had not learned wisdom, or were not in a position to render practical the wisdom they had learned. The first case of yellow fever which occurred in 1878 was that of a colored man, on July 21. A young man, Willie Darby, was taken sick July 25, but neither of these cases proved fatal. The first case officially recognized was on August 2, and the first death appears to have been that of Mrs. Zack, on August 5. The following cases were reported on August 12: A son of G. B. Clarke, Mattie L. Isaacs, Roger Jones, J. W. Kearnes, George Mitchell (colored), Katie Neighbors, Mrs. Jennie White and Jung Yung Tah.

Twenty-two new cases were reported on the 15th, and the fear of the plague, already great, received a new impetus, and caused large numbers to seek relief in flight. Thirty-three new cases were reported on the 16th, and the entire population was precipitated into an indescribable panic. In numerous cases self preservation proved in reality to be the first law of nature. In the first forty-eight. hours fifty-five victims fell, and considering the experience of 1873, it is not to be wondered at that almost every one who could do so, by any and all means of conveyance, and even on foot, in all directions and to all conceivable points, sought safety in flight. By the 24th of August 25,000 people had left the city, and in two weeks more 5,000 additional ones were in camp in the vicinity. But the panic was over by the last week in August. All had gone who could get away, and there were in the city about 3,000 cases of fever. The temperature during August averaged 82.2° ; in September, 720; in October, 60.8° and in November 57.8°, being from 1° to 8° higher than during the same months in 1873. This long continued heat, combined with the fearful strain upon the nervous system, drained the vital energies of the citizens to such an extent that it was next to impossible for any human being to escape the dread disease.

Not more than 200 white people escaped the fever, and most of them had had it before. If there were, as there were, many cases of apparent and real selfishness, there were also many, and perhaps many more, cases of noble self-abnegation and devotion, in the face of almost certain death, every one of which is worthy of perpetual remembrance. Of the resident physicians who died at the post of duty and of honor were the following: V. W. Avent, A. J. Armstrong, P. D. Beecher, S.R. Clarke, S. R. Dawson, P. M. Dickerson, John H. Erskine, W. R. Hodges, H. R. Hopson, Dr. Ingalls, W. R. Lowry, Paul H. Otey, J. M. Rogers, W. H. Robins, John C. Rogers, P. K. Watson and J. W. Woodward. Volunteer physicians from abroad who died were the following: From Tennessee—T. W. Bond, Brownsville; O. D. Bartholomew and T. W. Menees, Nashville; John B. Hicks, Murfreesboro; T. H. McGregor, Tipton County; R. B. Montgomery, Chattanooga. From Alabama—J..
S. Stevenson, Bankson. From Ohio—R. Burcham, Hiram M. Pierce, P. Tuerk and R. H. Tate, Cincinnati. From Georgia—L. A. Chevis, Savannah. From Arkansas—E. T. Easley, Little Rock; F. H. Force, Hot Springs, and L. B. Harlan. From Texas—J. G. Forbes, Round Rock, and — Heady, Sherman. From Indiana—J. O. G. Gorrell, Ft. Wayne, and J. G. Renner, Indianapolis. From New York—M. T. Keating. From St. Louis—J. W. McKim, Dr. Nelson and P. G. Nugent. From Kentucky—W. C. Mead, Hopkinsville and R. B. Williams, Woodburn. From Louisiana—Dr. Smith, Shreveport and R. B. Fort.

The priesthood, both Catholic and Protestant, was characterized by most admirable earnestness and devotion, as were likewise the sisters of the various orders. The names of the Catholic clergy who died were the following: Revs. Martin Walsh, M. Meagher, Father Asinus, Father Maternus, J. R. McGarney from Harrodsburg, Ky.; J. A. Boekel, Baltimore; Rev. Vantroostenburg, Kentucky; J. P. Seawell, Louisville, Ky. ; Rev. M. Riordan and Father Marley. The nuns who died were Mother Alphonso; Sisters Rose, Josepha, Bernardine, Mary Dolora, Mary Veronica, Wilhelmina, Vincent, Stanislaus, Gertrude and Winkelman, the latter of St. Louis. The Protestant ministers who died were Revs. Mr. Parsons, Mr. Schuyler, Mr. Thomas, Mr. Moody, A. F. Bailey, E. C. Slater, David R. S. Rosebrough, P. T. Scruggs, Victor Bath and S. C. Arnold with his wife and child.

The Citizens' Relief Committee, the Howard Association and the police all labored heroically in the performance of the most unpleasant but the most sacred duty—the nursing of the sick and the preservation of order and of life. The Citizens' Relief Committee was burdened with the greatest responsibility, in caring for and distributing the supplies sent with such a prodigal hand from all parts of the world. As showing the magnitude of the work entrusted to their hands, which was performed with the most scrupulous honesty and fidelity, the following summary of donations to Memphis is introduced:

Arkansas contributed $6,690.37; Arizona, $5; Alabama, $6,281.45; California, $29,047.30; Colorado, $3,950.95; Connecticut, $5,070.28; Dakota, 663.50; Delaware, 41.02; Florida, $1,516.83; Georgia, $11,414.-34; Illinois, $52,307.60; Indiana, $13,787.69; Indian Territory, $5; Iowa, $6,407.58; Kansas, $6,559.67; Kentucky, $8,810.52; Louisiana, $1,427.15; Maine, $817; Maryland, $495.98; Massachusetts, $3,964.28; Minnesota, $2,651.77; Mississippi, $727.65; Missouri, $16,891.37; Michigan, $11,200.43; Montana, $987; miscellaneous sources, $9,607.18; Nebraska, $4,509.41; Nevada, $1,374.94; New Hampshire, $1,607.50; New Jersey, $3,983.67; New Mexico, $134.30; New York, 56,804.16; North Carolina, $7,190.76; Ohio, $26,020.72; Oregon, $2,514; Pennsylvania, $11,770.33; Rhode Island, $6,513; South Carolina, $6,039.66; Texas, $11,400.30; Tennessee, $23,847.97; Utah Territory, $2,774.70; Virginia, 9,524.55; Vermont, $829.31; Washington, D. C., $1,775.30; West Virginia, $2,990.55; Wisconsin, $10,592.57; Wyoming, $875.75; a grand total of $400,412.54. . The entire amount received by the South in 1878 from all parts of the world on account of the yellow fever was $4,548,703.“