Bush Hill

The poor were the first victims of the fever. From the sudden interruption of business, they suffered for a while from poverty, as well as disease. A large and airy house at Bush-hill about a mile from the city, was opened for their reception. This house, after it became the charge of a committee appointed by the citizens on the 14th of September, was regulated and governed with the order and cleanliness of an old and established hospital. An American and French physician had the exclusive medical care of it after the 22d of September.

The poor were the first victims of the fever. From the sudden interruption of business, they suffered for a while from poverty, as well as disease. A large and airy house at Bush Hill, about a mile from the city, was opened for their reception. This house, after it became the charge of a committee appointed by the citizens on September 14, was regulated and governed with the order and cleanliness of an old and established hospital. An American and French physician had the exclusive medical care of it after September 22.

While affairs were in this deplorable state, and people at the lowest ebb of despair, we cannot be astonished at the frightful scenes that were acted, which seemed to indicate a total dissolution of the bonds of society in the nearest and dearest connexions. Who, without horror, can reflect on a husband, married perhaps for twenty years, deserting his wife in the last agony — a wife unfeelingly abandoning her husband on his death bed — parents forsaking their only children — children ungratefully flying from their parents, and resigning them to chance, often without an enquiry after their health or safety — masters hurrying off their faithful servants to Bushhill, even on suspicion of the fever, and that at a time, when, like Tartarus, it was open to every visitant, but never returned any — servants abandoning tender and humane masters, who only wanted a little care to restore them to health and usefulness — who, I say, can even now think of these things without horror? Yet they were daily exhibited in every quarter of our city; and such was the force of habit, that the parties who were guilty of this cruelty, felt no remorse themselves — nor met with the execration from their fellow-citizens, which such conduct would have excited at any other period. Indeed, at this awful crisis, so much did self appear to engross the whole attention of many, that less concern was felt for the loss of a parent, a husband, a wife, or an only child, than, on other occasions, would have been caused by the death of a servant, or even of a favourite lap dog.

While affairs were in this deplorable state, and people at the lowest ebb of despair, we cannot be astonished at the frightful scenes that were acted, which seemed to indicate a total dissolution of the bonds of society in the nearest and dearest connections. Who, without horror, can reflect on a husband, married perhaps for twenty years, deserting his wife in the last agony; a wife unfeelingly abandoning her husband on his deathbed; parents forsaking their only children; children ungratefully flying from their parents, and resigning them to chance, often without an inquiry after their health or safety; masters hurrying off their faithful servants to Bush Hill, even on suspicion of the fever, and that at a time when, like Tartarus, it was open to every visitant, but never returned any; servants abandoning tender and humane masters, who only wanted a little care to restore them to health and usefulness—who, I say, can even now think of these things without horror? Yet they were daily exhibited in every quarter of our city; and such was the force of habit that the parties who were guilty of this cruelty felt no remorse themselves, nor met with the execration from their fellow citizens which such conduct would have excited at any other period. Indeed, at this awful crisis, so much did self appear to engross the whole attention of many that less concern was felt for the loss of a parent, a husband, a wife, or an only child than, on other occasions, would have been caused by the death of a servant, or even of a favorite lapdog.

On examining the books of the hospital at Bushhill, it appears that there were above fifteen blacks received there, of whom three fourths died. There may have been more, as the examination was made very cursorily.

On examining the books of the hospital at Bush Hill, it appears that there were above fifteen blacks received there, of whom three-fourths died. There may have been more, as the examination was made very cursorily.