Virginia; Cholera Along the Canal

THE CHOLERA

A deep feeling of melancholy came over us, a few days ago, as we passed along the turnpike between this place and Harper’s Ferry. In one part of the road, where, six weeks since, about thirty hands were at work, we saw a solitary workman, seated upon a stone pile, thumping away, without a neighbouring hammer to echo the sound of his. In another place, where forty-five hands had been busily employed, we saw four poor fellows, who seemed left merely as mementoes of the clemency of the Destroying Angel.

But cheerfulness again pervades the countenances of the contractors; and in a few days more the “busy hum of industry” will be once more heard on the highway. Travelling is now brisk; and “Indian Summer,” with its bland through smoky atmosphere, will give time to complete the unfinished labors of the victims to Cholera.

We believe the Halltown neighborhood has become perfectly healthy. No cholera exists in Charlestown, or any other village in the county — Charlestown Free Press.

Information was received here on Thursday that the cholera had broken out in Wheeling, and that there had been several deaths. The whole length of the great western navigation seems inevitably doomed to feel the severity of the scourge.

We give the following extract from a letter dated Point Pleasant, Oct. 22., to a gentleman in this place.

“I hasten to give you some idea of our situation on the river as it regards the Cholera. People are all in confusion and uproar, flying in every direction. Every steam boat that passes has some cases on board. One died eight miles above, and was buried on the island. Another died at Letart Falls, and another at Marietta. The Steam Boat Gallipolis came down from Wheeling yesterday. She landed at the Marietta bar, in consequence of the darkness of the night. In the meantime, another boat came along side and requested the hands to take their lines and lash them together. After having been asked whether there was one sick on board, they answered no; and the boats were fastened together. Shortly after, some of the passengers of the Gallipolis, in passing the windows of the other boat, saw a corpse, and on making inquiry, were told that the person had just died, and on examination, three more were found about to die. They immediately unfastened the boats, and with the utmost difficulty the hands on board the Gallipolis were induced to raise the steam and to start.– They are dying on board the boats every day. Maj. Waggoner has refused to take any steam-boat passengers at his house.– A man laid at the landing here yesterday on a boat one hour under a severe attack of Cholera; and one landed here who is supposed to have it.– I shall leave here in a day or two. I assure you we are in danger every hour on the river.”

Intelligence from Cincinnati to the 19th instant, states, that up to that date, there had been 195 deaths by Cholera. There were 19 deaths on that day.

Several deaths by Cholera, occurred at Chambersburg, Pa.– Clarksburg Enq., Oct. 27.

About 250 U. S. troops passed through Charlottesville this morning, on their return from the Illinois frontier, whither they were despatched by the General Government from Fortress Monroe, to fight the Indians. We learn that their number was originally 400 : 150 of whom, perhaps more, have fallen victims to the cholera, and the numerous hardships and dangers incident to the service in which they have been engaged. Those that remain, though a band of brave and hardy looking men, exhibit the appearance of having suffered much from their brief campaign.” Charlottesville Advocate, Nov. 2.

A Boston paper mentions that on the 23d a report was made to the Commissioners of Health of five cases of malignant cholera which had occurred in that city within the preceding twenty-four hours. Two of them proved fatal. A letter written on the evening of the 23d says, “the cholera is gaining ground here. There have been eight deaths to-day. Six reported to the Board of Health, and two since the Board adjourned. All in Broad street, I believe.”