The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 69, July 1965 - April, 1966 Page: 497
591 p. : ill., maps, ports. ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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life, but what a coming back! Father, Calvin, and Alexander dead
and the house practically looted.
The fever broke up with a terrible hurricane, the gulf and the
bay met in the streets, the house rocked until it seemed a miracle
it did not tumble down. When the wind subsided they went about
certain parts of the city in boats. Then the Horror passed away,
but what a passingl leaving in its trail grief and empty homes.
The first thing the United States troops did after the fever was to
tear, or have torn down all old buildings, or buildings built on
low foundations, buildings under which water could stand, and
they found plenty of sour old foul stuff for fever or any contageous
disease to breed in. The city was cleaned thoroughly but it was a
case of locking the stable door after the horses were stolen, not
only for the citizens but for the United States troops for it was
commonly said there were hardly enough soldiers left alive or well
enough to bury the Colonel when he died of the fever. What a
toll that awful fever exacted of life of broken homes and hearts.
In December, Andrew was born, he was as yellow as gold, and
really died of the fever three months after the fever was past. Dr.
Randal said that the child really saved mother's life, but I believe
Amelia E. Barr, apart from the splendid nursing she got, thought
of her three helpless girls, and lived for us, and above all else
because God willed it so.
Andrew lived only a short time. One night, or rather between
one and two in the morning, Mother called me and told me I
must hurry and get the doctor that the baby was very sick. I slip-
ped on my clothes and hurried out. As I opened the gate a United
States soldier passed. He asked me where I was going, and I told
him. He took my hand and walked me to the doctor's house. Dr.
Randal brought me home, and he told mother the child could
not live. Who went for Parson Eaton, I do not know but he came
shortly before the child died and baptised him without haste or
showing more fear than he could help, even pausing long enough
to say a few words of comfort to Mrs. Barr.
This was an act of real heroism, for Parson Eaton was in mortal
terror of the fever, and he knew the child was really dying of it.
I never could hate him as whole heartedly after that as I wanted to.
No words, no praise can be too strong or too sincere however
for the Roman Catholic Priests. I do not like the use of the word
Roman there for Catholic Priests expresses the spirit of those noble
men, and Sisters of Charity so much better in that awful time. They
never counted their own lives or comforts or weariness for a moment.
They were to be seen at all hours of the day and night--grave,
earnest, sincere, ministering to the sick or to the dying with un-
flinching and unvarying christian grace. Neither did Parson Eaton497
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Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 69, July 1965 - April, 1966, periodical, 1966; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth117144/m1/575/: accessed April 24, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.