Even though I muttered, “I hate you” unaccountably in my mind, at last I couldn't stop worry about you. How about you, John. How are you doing in these days? I couldn't imagine how difficulty you are facing to survive. I swallow remorse that I couldn't stop you. In here, everything is calm and peaceful unlike Philadelphia. Smells of wheat and honey are overwhelming in days and nights. Summer birds are always flying in the blue sky, swimming fishes are seen in the shallow creeks through the rich farms. The carts of the local farming products toward everywhere except Philadelphia are leaving daily. Very few people boldly take the risk for their never-get-chance profits. I can get the news from them that all the price are high three times as normal, and death is increasing. In contrast, North Whales is a place like on earth paradise, but all the things make me hurt to miss you.
I refold the creased letter carried by a rare farmer imported his farming products to Philadelphia from the village Mary stays. I'm sighing loudly and shaking my head. Should I regret for my decision?
“How many times reading? John.” With a smile, Joe is teasing me when he passes me. His white teeth appear on the black face whenever he smiles. Beside him, with a calm face as usual, Old man Bernie is walking lamely. His nickname is King. Joe told me that he was a real crown prince in his own country. In their tradition, a grownup man needs to explore for their pride, that is, traveling far from home, taking the risks, finding the knowledge, coming back to home safely and sharing the experiences are the dignity for every adult man. As for Bernie, as for a crown prince, those are essential things to show his own people. But he never got that chance, after a few miles from his village in his journey; he was caught by the Dutch slave-merchants. They brought and sold him in America. At first, he thought that he could escape and return to his home, so he tried to escape, fled several times. Whenever he was rearrested, he was fiercely punished by the masters. At the last time, they cut off his toes from both. Since that time, he couldn't even walk fast. He never tried to flee anymore, he recognized his situation very well, and that is, he knew himself that he never get a chance to go back to his home, his family in this life. There is very rare to appear a smile on his face. After deciding not to flee, he saved his master life, injury by drunken falling down from the horse. He was respected by everyone since that event, but as usual his face is always losing smile. In the present, he is a freeman and a leader of the Free African Society. When I saw him at first in sight, I didn't like him because of his moody face. But, after listening his story from Joe, I can see the glorious dignity of mankind from him. Frankly, even though I am not a white-proud thinker, I avoided the black people to make friendship. I don't know myself what the reason is. Maybe lack of bravery to deal with the difference. Now, arranged by Dr. Rush, I am with them, to save the town. All the white people fled, abandoned their responsibility for their own people, men left wives, fathers left sons, and people left their own families. Philadelphia lost mankind. On the other hand, God gave a chance to show the people their mankind, so, the black people, actually The Free African Society took that chance, they said that it is our chance, our duty to show being a glorious mankind given by the God.
It is August 30th, it has been almost half month since I sent Samma to Fox. I’m worried, what happened? Has she arrived? Did she lose or…… Will she ever come back?
The food I bought last week is almost finished and I don’t have enough water left too. I need to go out and collect some. The problem is where I can get them? Those farmers who used to selling food in this city are refusing to bring food into here now. I guess they are scared of yellow fever too. The rest very few farmers who are selling little food in market are raising up the price. It’s like double or three times more than it used to be. This is crazy! What would those poor or sick people do? They absolutely cannot afford that. How could they ever survive? Well~In the other hand, I understand those farmers. They don’t want to get infected. Nobody does. Farmers are individuals, then how about government. I heard a dozens of governors are fleeing out of here. They moved to some places else, some place safe. Aren’t they supposed to protect this city, protect us? Is the Mayor Clarkson is the only governors has responsibility here? Without any helps and funds, I can’t imagine how he could deal with those mounting problems.
As for me, I still have some money I which I have saved early and some jewelry form my family. Tomorrow, I could use part of them to buy some food for next week. But, what if more and more people infected? What if those farmers got sick too? Whom else would able to help us???
Thomas Waters August 30, `1793 It was another day in this damn city. The fever is like a ghost that walks around the town. Even inside the buildings, where everybody thought they would be safe, the fever has begun to attack. Fear can be smelled in the air and many people are unwilling to go to work, even to go out their houses. Mayor Clarkson is the only person who remains at the head of the city, although his efforts are not working and our lives are falling into a dark abyss. We are also living a present invaded by hunger because most of the farmers refuse to bring food into the city, and food is costing three or four times more than normal prices. The country has turned its back on us, so we are completely alone. I only can see the handwriting on the wall. The situation is getting worse and Philadelphia is losing its hopes. I have been three days without eating anything, and I think today is not going to be different. I have no money, so I am not able to buy any food; rats have become a viable option for me. I am still healthy, but when all the people I knew are dead, the will to live is gone. I am not sure I want to live surrounded by this pestilence and death. I am sailing alone in this moment.
As you know my family and I were lucky to leave our town last week. Thank God, we are already reached my brother house. It took three days. WE spent three days on our road from Philadelphia to Maryland. One kind black man men, whom we met in second day of our trip, helped us. He was driving toward Maryland by his old horse and carriage and he led us dropped into his carriage, in the moment when we were almost exhausted. Moreover, he gave us small cask (barrel) of water and several apples. Now we feel more calm and safe. We have food and big light room in my brother house. I hope, we left behind us all this danger with plague, death, shortage of food and smell of grief, which was everywhere in Philadelphia.
Today's day is Friday, August 30. A new day and another history to relate.Philadelphia is still in a dark period.Here are not too many people, are not many that I could say that just ghosts are around looking for peace, trying to fled from those cannons and their blasts.
It does not look good for us. Here is not control. The people who should help us are in panic. They are doing things that just scared the crew. The actions that they have taken don't help us. That's why, important personalities have been called to meet and find a solution or possible options to solve all kind of problems that have, but not all of those who were called, showed up. Those personalities that came are now scared because someone died into the house that they are having the meeting. It makes the theme-"Problems'- even worse because they think first in themselves and in their people after.
I am worry about myself because I do'not have more food, and I don't know if I will have because is hard to get it. The farmers from outside the city do not want to bring food into this poisoned city. The little food that some braves bring is really expensive and not everybody get it. I already finished my savings. I can not even imagine how I will fed myself without money. To make my situation worse, I can't fled the city because I don't have where to go.
I have heard that a group of people called Guardians are helping people. Helping?- I guess just finding a isolate place where the sick people can die. I don't to die!!..., and I'm not sick yet, so I still have hope of life. I would like to work and earn some money, buy food and medicines, but here everything is stagnant like some water in the desert waiting to be evaporated. I am James Warren, a ship carpenter and today is probably the beginning of my death.
Aug 30/1793 I am still in my parents’ house in a farm .Lots of people came up with terrible news about Yellow fever ;some of them said that seeing sick folks was enough to get sick ,and others said that if entered to the city you would smell its smell and got sick too. Lots of rumors were around me, and I did not know which one was true and which one was falls. The thing that I was sure that farmers were refusing to bring their food into the city, so as a result, the city’s residents might starve. I was really confused since I had two different thoughts. In one hand I thought it is extremely important to help them by bringing food to the city market, but in another hand, I was entirely scared to be sick and to transfer that horrible sickness to my family. After few days I found my way, and I went to the city market to help them with some food.
The disease has been spreading and taking many lives away. I haven't gotten this disease yet. I am really scared because this morning, I wanted to buy some food at the market, but there was no enough food at all. Farmers haven't brought food because of fear, so since that happened prices of food, medicine and labor have raised.
When I was walking to the market, I saw some dead people in the streets, fatherless children crying and a repulsive stench everywhere. It was a sunny and humid day, I felt like it was the hell. T thought that it was a nightmare, but not, it wasn't. I really wanted to help some of these children who had no parents but I cannot afford it or even for fear they might have been infected from this disease.
There are some rumors that there is an association who has help sick people. This association was created by Africans, but now they help everyone who needs it. I heart that black people couldn't get this disease because they had special resistance for it. However, in reality, they can be infected.
Now we don't know how we will die. We don't know if the disease will kill us or we will die starving.
The yellow fever is wining in Philadelphia and the deaths are unavoidable. Im out of the city because of this terryble disease, i dont want to comeback because i don't want to be contagious for those sick people. However, im worry because many carpenters left the city, included me and there are no more carpenters in the city who can offer their service to make more coffis for death people. I feel bad for that because me as carpenter should be there performing my profession. Despite the shortages of coffins some people started to construct their own coffins.
Nobody really want to go there to help those who are sick from the terrible epidemic. So many people in the city see the sickness of those people disgusting, the vomiting of peolpe with blood, thongues full of blood, even some doctorts don't want to treat anymore their patients whith this sickness because the are scared to be contagious by the yellow fever too.
The only people who prefered to stay there too help the sick people are some black people especiaaly professionals nurses, even they won't get paid for their service, they prefer to do their job for love and help who need of them.
Some nurses got contagious at that time as result of provide their good service to the sick people. Although this nurses helped a lot of people they were forgotten by the society and they are not recognized at this time, they don't even know their names.
Friday, August 30th. It has been a week, since I left Philadelphia.I am living in New York now.New York city as big and busy as Philadelphia.I an trying to get used to the new Environments,transportation of New York city. Before I moved to New York i had thought, New York life and culture are the same like Philadelphia.But it doesn't, New York life more modern, fashionable and open mind.Also the rent in New York is much more expensive than Philadelphia. I still have no job,I have been looking for a job, but it seems not easy to get a job in New York.I have went to few banks to ask for job, but there aren't any bank need a clerk.I know i have to be patient and hope i can get a job soon.I have to cut off my spending so i can be able to survive till I get a job. Despite the worrying and fighting for my new life in New York,I don't forget my friends, those still live in Philadelphia. They still live there, because they don't have any place to go. The day before yesterday,I was able to contact to one of my friends to get information about the disease situation in Philadelphia. My friend told me, things in Philadelphia getting worse. She also told me the worse thing is some Gorvenors abandoned the city, and fled to the countryside. She also heard people tumor that the President Washington planning to flee the city to shun the disease.More and more sick paupers lay in the streets, poor people have no money to pay for food and medicine. However some Governors and doctors chose to stay to help sick and poor people. Especially Clarson ans doctor Rush. Clarson works very hard and orders Gardians, Oversees to cleaned up the streets. helping paupers,and helping people who contracted the disease. Despite all the helping and caring from the Gardians and Oversees, and Clarson trying his best. deaths in the city increase to a mounting numbers.Deaths body lying ever where in the streets. My fiends said to me I made the wise decision to flee the city. She also want to flee the city, but she has no where to go.As a friend of her, Im kind enough to told her that she can move to New York and live with me. she was very happy with my offer.
Friday, August 30 The mortality rate had increased. Many people had lost their life. I was one of the lucky people and I have left from the city before getting that disease. After I had gotten the new state, which was so quiet than Philadelphia, I have been hearing that disease had destroyed the city. There is a swarm of death everywhere. Nobody can’t really find the good medicine for that disease. The hospitals were shut down the doors. Nobody wanted to take care of people who get sick. Even the doctors try to find something against that disease, it persist. There was no food, no medicine for the people. Everybody was scared about that disease so, even the farmers had some food, they didn’t bring into the city. I was unhappy about that, but what can I do? I felt very bad because I have not any force and I couldn’t eradicate that disease. I would like to collect some kind of food and bring to them. I talked with anybody I met in my new state who didn’t hear yet about that disease and ask for help. I decided to stay in Philadelphia despite the lot of death. The governor of Philadelphia organized a campaign of food’s collection. There were other states which came in helpful by bringing some food, some clothes and some kind of medicine for Philadelphia’s people. So, people who were volunteers went house to house to share the food and I was a beneficiary of that food. I had gotten the disease yet because I was trying to keep away myself with people who already get that illness. So, I had a lot chance to survive and I was praying every day, the doctors had found the medicine of that disease.
Frisly Estime April 3, 2013 August 30, 1793 As we know yellow fever in Philadelphia in 1793, was the most terrible epidemic that we have never known though all the story of the humanity. This epidemic made many people deaths. It had grave consequences on all the people who lived that time, because people at that time didn’t have any other chance to survive. Almost all people were infected and died. That was why, they had to flee that city. During this epidemic of yellow fever, I have left the city and have been hearing a lot of rumors about this outbreak. For example, the young doorkeeper, Joseph Fry had died in his bed and also another rumor telling that epidemic seemed that was from country of West Indies because at that time, there were a group of refugees from Caribbean country li Dominican Republic. Otherwise, the citizens had so many difficulties because they were all starved. They couldn’t find food to eat. The farmers at that time, they were refusing to bring food into the diseased city. The little food they did, they made it to market and that was very expensive. They were not able to pay a lot of money. They were penniless and the food cost two or twee times as much it had before. Consequently, I felt very sad to hear these kind of things because it could happen to everybody, rich or poor. That made me imagine that if I were a farmer at that time, I would be willing to bring food into the city. According to me, the farmers supposed to do it. Sincerely, I didn’t ever get this disease, but that can’t prevent me to know how it was terrible, such as if we do research about that epidemic, we finally understand that was really a grave and unbelievable disease in all story of humanity. Thanks God, I didn’t get it!
I woke up today with the sound of cannon. Governor Mifflin and the state legislature had sent a note to Mayor Clarckson insisting that “gunpowder” need to be flashed through the streets to help clean the air. Most of the senators and representatives had fled the city. I had been told that the doorkeeper of the State house, Joseph Fry, had been found death at his bed. The Secretary of State, Thomas Jefferson, had submitted his resignation and went to his home in Virginia. The Secretary of the Treasury, Alexander Hamilton and his wife fell ill and left the city as well of six clerks of the Treasury Department. The post office ceased doing business after three of its clerks grew ill. Most of the senators and representatives had fled the city. What were left behind of the two houses rushed through a series of resolutions, consisting in improvements to the public health office, while another suggested that the fever had been imported from the Indies by French immigrants, they also recommend quarantine. The State legislature handed all this emergency resolutions to the governor and adjourned until December. They decline remaining in the city. The governor turned the problem to Clarckson and left the city too. Most of the business had close his doors, this left behind thousands of people without any income. The Pennsylvania Hospital had closed its doors to those with the fever. The nearby farmers were refusing to bring food to the city. Every morning I had new reports of death bodies in the streets. The “Oversees and Guardians of the Poor” has been call to deal with the indigents but is not many volunteers to clean the streets full of deaths and buried them. I recognize the danger federal employees faced and I urged all departments to move their offices to Germantown. I have planned to leave the city with my wife for two weeks or so to Virginia, hoping that, at my return, this epidemic is no longer a concern to our city.
Friday, August 30 The Philadelphia is developing to worst-case and the disease is spreading very fast. I have been stuck in this city with mounting problem. There are many rumors but one of them is The Free African Society is going to support the government and the poor people. In the good things always happen the bad things that famer are refusing to bring the food into the city. Many people are starving that including me. My felling is very so desolate, ruthlessly, and helpless. Almost Philadelphian has the disease and the hospitals do not accept the patients. There are not good medical, house, food even coffin. The several death people lay down on the street on one take their body to bury. I have been here alone and I decided to dedicate my life to help the infected people because the epidemic took away my family. I am willing to bring food into the city market but who will bring food to my city. Now I was writing my diary I have a headache and exhausted. What happened to me? I thing I am getting the terrible disease. I hope that a doctor will find the cure as soon as possible.
For the all week, I read journal every day and thought about decision .I did question me, the inquietude overrun everyone. I saw the city is colorful painting with pain and their face desesparete was blushing deeply. The number of death unrelenting crippled the city and the stench terrified everybody solemnly. Since these days, I looked around for hope. I didn’t want to go to the Bush Hill because I knew how life was hard over there. I didn’t affect yet. I wished every day it didn’t happen to me because my children could feel grimy. Some day, I went to some farm, had a little bit of but it wasn’t enough to survive. My heart agonized cut in several species among I heard for the volunteers. Philadelphia became a desert because everyone was afraid of the disease. Even the President pretended he needed vacation but he fled for a while. Every moment, I touched my kids and I to verify our body and temperature. During that time, everyone was almost equal even though you had money and power. There was no safety. When I heard for the doorman and some person in the government didn’t show up in some important meeting I began to ask nurses for advice, I was so scared. The greatest Mayor Clarkson encouraged me somewhere for his determination for the city. Even the hospital refused to accept illness people.
My only hope was, Dr Rush found the correct diagnostic and the treatment for this cruel disease. I didn’t want my life and my kids done like these citizens among I was poor.
Irina Godovikova 04.09.2013 Aug.30 1973 Margaret Watson – 24 y.o. – Miller
The disease is spreading around the city and it’s looking like a disgusting big octopus. I was walking through the dirty narrow streets and I couldn’t recognize my native Philadelphia. Dead bodies of indigents were lying outside and putrefying, a strong odor was hanging in the air and rust the nose. The city looked devastated. The atmosphere was gloomy and depressing, so it reflected on my mood too. While I was walking in the dirty street, I was thinking….. What do I have to do? How will I survive? If I could, I would like to follow all the people who leave the city, but unfortunately I can’t. The yellow monster took my sweet, adorable aunt last week, so now I have nobody to take care of me, nobody who will give me shelter during this hard time.
People started to be desperate about food in this time. Many nearby farmers were refusing to bring provision into the diseased city. All feral cats, dogs disappeared from the streets, even the amount of wild rats and pigeons decreased. I can guess, people tried to use all of the city’s resources for survive in this time. Luckily, I have some food and water supplies in my home, but I don’t know for how long I can stretch it. …. God help me…
Is already Friday, August 30th and the situation is very bad in the city. Governor Mifflin had send a cannon to the city to fumigate against the pestilence, but that echoing boom a cannon scare more the few people that we still in the city.
A lot of things are going around, and authorities don't know what else to do. all the businesses are shut down and there are no places where to go to shop food or others edibles things.
I heard that Mifflin issued to Mayor Clarkson to clean up streets and wharves. but there are not enough people to do it. Nobody show up when Clarkson required, because maybe the guardians are dying as well and others are fleeing the city.
But the few guardians that are working are carrying the sick people to Bush Hill where they can recover. I have a very big problem, because i don't have food. The a little bit of food that i had is already gone. There is another problem, the farmers do not want to come into the city, because they are afraid to get the disease. That let us in a very worse condition. So that, we are starving and we will die of hunger or the fever will caught us in any moment.
Thanks God I am not yet, but I am afraid to acquire it. If I get sick I am pretty sure that I will perish. I am in my house praying with my two kids an my wife, i spectate from behind my windows what happen outside, and i have to go out there to find some food, otherwise we will die very soon.
I heard that our president left the city for three weeks, him and his wife. I don't know what is going to happen, every moment, people die and the city seem very desolate more and more. I really have to go out there and look for help because we can't stay more in here.
August 30, 1793
ReplyDeleteA letter from Paradise. .
Dear John
Even though I muttered, “I hate you” unaccountably in my mind, at last I couldn't stop worry about you.
How about you, John. How are you doing in these days? I couldn't imagine how difficulty you are facing to survive. I swallow remorse that I couldn't stop you.
In here, everything is calm and peaceful unlike Philadelphia. Smells of wheat and honey are overwhelming in days and nights. Summer birds are always flying in the blue sky, swimming fishes are seen in the shallow creeks through the rich farms. The carts of the local farming products toward everywhere except Philadelphia are leaving daily. Very few people boldly take the risk for their never-get-chance profits. I can get the news from them that all the price are high three times as normal, and death is increasing.
In contrast, North Whales is a place like on earth paradise, but all the things make me hurt to miss you.
I refold the creased letter carried by a rare farmer imported his farming products to Philadelphia from the village Mary stays.
I'm sighing loudly and shaking my head. Should I regret for my decision?
“How many times reading? John.”
With a smile, Joe is teasing me when he passes me. His white teeth appear on the black face whenever he smiles. Beside him, with a calm face as usual, Old man Bernie is walking lamely. His nickname is King. Joe told me that he was a real crown prince in his own country.
In their tradition, a grownup man needs to explore for their pride, that is, traveling far from home, taking the risks, finding the knowledge, coming back to home safely and sharing the experiences are the dignity for every adult man.
As for Bernie, as for a crown prince, those are essential things to show his own people. But he never got that chance, after a few miles from his village in his journey; he was caught by the Dutch slave-merchants. They brought and sold him in America. At first, he thought that he could escape and return to his home, so he tried to escape, fled several times. Whenever he was rearrested, he was fiercely punished by the masters. At the last time, they cut off his toes from both. Since that time, he couldn't even walk fast. He never tried to flee anymore, he recognized his situation very well, and that is, he knew himself that he never get a chance to go back to his home, his family in this life. There is very rare to appear a smile on his face. After deciding not to flee, he saved his master life, injury by drunken falling down from the horse. He was respected by everyone since that event, but as usual his face is always losing smile. In the present, he is a freeman and a leader of the Free African Society.
When I saw him at first in sight, I didn't like him because of his moody face. But, after listening his story from Joe, I can see the glorious dignity of mankind from him.
Frankly, even though I am not a white-proud thinker, I avoided the black people to make friendship. I don't know myself what the reason is. Maybe lack of bravery to deal with the difference. Now, arranged by Dr. Rush, I am with them, to save the town. All the white people fled, abandoned their responsibility for their own people, men left wives, fathers left sons, and people left their own families.
Philadelphia lost mankind. On the other hand, God gave a chance to show the people their mankind, so, the black people, actually The Free African Society took that chance, they said that it is our chance, our duty to show being a glorious mankind given by the God.
John Warner
Aung
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteIt is August 30th, it has been almost half month since I sent Samma to Fox. I’m worried, what happened? Has she arrived? Did she lose or…… Will she ever come back?
DeleteThe food I bought last week is almost finished and I don’t have enough water left too. I need to go out and collect some. The problem is where I can get them? Those farmers who used to selling food in this city are refusing to bring food into here now. I guess they are scared of yellow fever too. The rest very few farmers who are selling little food in market are raising up the price. It’s like double or three times more than it used to be. This is crazy! What would those poor or sick people do? They absolutely cannot afford that. How could they ever survive? Well~In the other hand, I understand those farmers. They don’t want to get infected. Nobody does. Farmers are individuals, then how about government. I heard a dozens of governors are fleeing out of here. They moved to some places else, some place safe. Aren’t they supposed to protect this city, protect us? Is the Mayor Clarkson is the only governors has responsibility here? Without any helps and funds, I can’t imagine how he could deal with those mounting problems.
As for me, I still have some money I which I have saved early and some jewelry form my family. Tomorrow, I could use part of them to buy some food for next week. But, what if more and more people infected? What if those farmers got sick too? Whom else would able to help us???
Thomas Waters
ReplyDeleteAugust 30, `1793
It was another day in this damn city. The fever is like a ghost that walks around the town. Even inside the buildings, where everybody thought they would be safe, the fever has begun to attack. Fear can be smelled in the air and many people are unwilling to go to work, even to go out their houses. Mayor Clarkson is the only person who remains at the head of the city, although his efforts are not working and our lives are falling into a dark abyss. We are also living a present invaded by hunger because most of the farmers refuse to bring food into the city, and food is costing three or four times more than normal prices. The country has turned its back on us, so we are completely alone. I only can see the handwriting on the wall. The situation is getting worse and Philadelphia is losing its hopes.
I have been three days without eating anything, and I think today is not going to be different. I have no money, so I am not able to buy any food; rats have become a viable option for me. I am still healthy, but when all the people I knew are dead, the will to live is gone. I am not sure I want to live surrounded by this pestilence and death. I am sailing alone in this moment.
Lina Shkilko
ReplyDeleteAugust 30, Schoolmistress
As you know my family and I were lucky to leave our town last week. Thank God, we are already reached my brother house. It took three days. WE spent three days on our road from Philadelphia to Maryland.
One kind black man men, whom we met in second day of our trip, helped us. He was driving toward Maryland by his old horse and carriage and he led us dropped into his carriage, in the moment when we were almost exhausted. Moreover, he gave us small cask (barrel) of water and several apples.
Now we feel more calm and safe. We have food and big light room in my brother house. I hope, we left behind us all this danger with plague, death, shortage of food and smell of grief, which was everywhere in Philadelphia.
Hector Flores
ReplyDelete04-09-2013
Today's day is Friday, August
30. A new day and another history to relate.Philadelphia is still in a dark period.Here are not too many people, are not many that I could say that just ghosts are around looking for peace, trying to fled from those cannons and their blasts.
It does not look good for us. Here is not control. The people who should help us are in panic. They are doing things that just scared the crew. The actions that they have taken don't help us. That's why, important personalities have been called to meet and find a solution or possible options to solve all kind of problems that have, but not all of those who were called, showed up. Those personalities that came are now scared because someone died into the house that they are having the meeting. It makes the theme-"Problems'- even worse because they think first in themselves and in their people after.
I am worry about myself because I do'not have more food, and I don't know if I will have because is hard to get it. The farmers from outside the city do not want to bring food into this poisoned city. The little food that some braves bring is really expensive and not everybody get it. I already finished my savings. I can not even imagine how I will fed myself without money. To make my situation worse, I can't fled the city because I don't have where to go.
I have heard that a group of people called Guardians are helping people. Helping?- I guess just finding a isolate place where the sick people can die. I don't to die!!..., and I'm not sick yet, so I still have hope of life. I would like to work and earn some money, buy food and medicines, but here everything is stagnant like some water in the desert waiting to be evaporated.
I am James Warren, a ship carpenter and today is probably the beginning of my death.
Aug 30/1793
ReplyDeleteI am still in my parents’ house in a farm .Lots of people came up with terrible news about Yellow fever ;some of them said that seeing sick folks was enough to get sick ,and others said that if entered to the city you would smell its smell and got sick too. Lots of rumors were around me, and I did not know which one was true and which one was falls. The thing that I was sure that farmers were refusing to bring their food into the city, so as a result, the city’s residents might starve. I was really confused since I had two different thoughts. In one hand I thought it is extremely important to help them by bringing food to the city market, but in another hand, I was entirely scared to be sick and to transfer that horrible sickness to my family. After few days I found my way, and I went to the city market to help them with some food.
FRIDAY, AUGUST 30
ReplyDelete(John Watkins)
The disease has been spreading and taking many lives away. I haven't gotten this disease yet. I am really scared because this morning, I wanted to buy some food at the market, but there was no enough food at all. Farmers haven't brought food because of fear, so since that happened prices of food, medicine and labor have raised.
When I was walking to the market, I saw some dead people in the streets, fatherless children crying and a repulsive stench everywhere. It was a sunny and humid day, I felt like it was the hell. T thought that it was a nightmare, but not, it wasn't. I really wanted to help some of these children who had no parents but I cannot afford it or even for fear they might have been infected from this disease.
There are some rumors that there is an association who has help sick people. This association was created by Africans, but now they help everyone who needs it. I heart that black people couldn't get this disease because they had special resistance for it. However, in reality, they can be infected.
Now we don't know how we will die. We don't know if the disease will kill us or we will die starving.
August 30, 1793
ReplyDeleteThe yellow fever is wining in Philadelphia and the deaths are unavoidable. Im out of the city because of this terryble disease, i dont want to comeback because i don't want to be contagious for those sick people. However, im worry because many carpenters left the city, included me and there are no more carpenters in the city who can offer their service to make more coffis for death people. I feel bad for that because me as carpenter should be there performing my profession. Despite the shortages of coffins some people started to construct their own coffins.
Nobody really want to go there to help those who are sick from the terrible epidemic. So many people in the city see the sickness of those people disgusting, the vomiting of peolpe with blood, thongues full of blood, even some doctorts don't want to treat anymore their patients whith this sickness because the are scared to be contagious by the yellow fever too.
The only people who prefered to stay there too help the sick people are some black people especiaaly professionals nurses, even they won't get paid for their service, they prefer to do their job for love and help who need of them.
Some nurses got contagious at that time as result of provide their good service to the sick people. Although this nurses helped a lot of people they were forgotten by the society and they are not recognized at this time, they don't even know their names.
Friday, August 30th.
ReplyDeleteIt has been a week, since I left Philadelphia.I am living in New York now.New York city as big and busy as Philadelphia.I an trying to get used to the new Environments,transportation of New York city.
Before I moved to New York i had thought, New York life and culture are the same like Philadelphia.But it doesn't, New York life more modern, fashionable and open mind.Also the rent in New York is much more expensive than Philadelphia.
I still have no job,I have been looking for a job, but it seems not easy to get a job in New York.I have went to few banks to ask for job, but there aren't any bank need a clerk.I know i have
to be patient and hope i can get a job soon.I have to cut off my spending so i can be able to survive till I get a job.
Despite the worrying and fighting for my new life in New York,I don't forget my friends, those still live in Philadelphia. They still live there, because they don't have any place to go.
The day before yesterday,I was able to contact to one of my friends to get information about the disease situation in Philadelphia. My friend told me, things in Philadelphia getting worse. She also told me the worse thing is some Gorvenors abandoned the city, and fled to the countryside. She also heard people tumor that the President Washington planning to flee the city to shun the disease.More and more sick paupers lay in the streets, poor people have no money to pay for food and medicine.
However some Governors and doctors chose to stay to help sick and poor people. Especially Clarson ans doctor Rush. Clarson works very hard and orders Gardians, Oversees to cleaned up the streets. helping paupers,and helping people who contracted the disease.
Despite all the helping and caring from the Gardians and Oversees, and Clarson trying his best. deaths in the city increase to a mounting numbers.Deaths body lying ever where in the streets.
My fiends said to me I made the wise decision to flee the city. She also want to flee the city, but she has no where to go.As a friend of her, Im kind enough to told her that she can move to New York and live with me. she was very happy with my offer.
Friday, August 30
DeleteThe mortality rate had increased. Many people had lost their life. I was one of the lucky people and I have left from the city before getting that disease.
After I had gotten the new state, which was so quiet than Philadelphia, I have been hearing that disease had destroyed the city. There is a swarm of death everywhere. Nobody can’t really find the good medicine for that disease. The hospitals were shut down the doors. Nobody wanted to take care of people who get sick. Even the doctors try to find something against that disease, it persist.
There was no food, no medicine for the people. Everybody was scared about that disease so, even the farmers had some food, they didn’t bring into the city. I was unhappy about that, but what can I do? I felt very bad because I have not any force and I couldn’t eradicate that disease. I would like to collect some kind of food and bring to them.
I talked with anybody I met in my new state who didn’t hear yet about that disease and ask for help.
I decided to stay in Philadelphia despite the lot of death. The governor of Philadelphia organized a campaign of food’s collection. There were other states which came in helpful by bringing some food, some clothes and some kind of medicine for Philadelphia’s people. So, people who were volunteers went house to house to share the food and I was a beneficiary of that food.
I had gotten the disease yet because I was trying to keep away myself with people who already get that illness. So, I had a lot chance to survive and I was praying every day, the doctors had found the medicine of that disease.
Frisly Estime
ReplyDeleteApril 3, 2013
August 30, 1793
As we know yellow fever in Philadelphia in 1793, was the most terrible epidemic that we have never known though all the story of the humanity. This epidemic made many people deaths. It had grave consequences on all the people who lived that time, because people at that time didn’t have any other chance to survive. Almost all people were infected and died. That was why, they had to flee that city.
During this epidemic of yellow fever, I have left the city and have been hearing a lot of rumors about this outbreak. For example, the young doorkeeper, Joseph Fry had died in his bed and also another rumor telling that epidemic seemed that was from country of West Indies because at that time, there were a group of refugees from Caribbean country li Dominican Republic.
Otherwise, the citizens had so many difficulties because they were all starved. They couldn’t find food to eat. The farmers at that time, they were refusing to bring food into the diseased city. The little food they did, they made it to market and that was very expensive. They were not able to pay a lot of money. They were penniless and the food cost two or twee times as much it had before. Consequently, I felt very sad to hear these kind of things because it could happen to everybody, rich or poor. That made me imagine that if I were a farmer at that time, I would be willing to bring food into the city. According to me, the farmers supposed to do it.
Sincerely, I didn’t ever get this disease, but that can’t prevent me to know how it was terrible, such as if we do research about that epidemic, we finally understand that was really a grave and unbelievable disease in all story of humanity.
Thanks God, I didn’t get it!
Friday, August 30, 1793
ReplyDeleteI woke up today with the sound of cannon. Governor Mifflin and the state legislature had sent a note to Mayor Clarckson insisting that “gunpowder” need to be flashed through the streets to help clean the air. Most of the senators and representatives had fled the city. I had been told that the doorkeeper of the State house, Joseph Fry, had been found death at his bed.
The Secretary of State, Thomas Jefferson, had submitted his resignation and went to his home in Virginia. The Secretary of the Treasury, Alexander Hamilton and his wife fell ill and left the city as well of six clerks of the Treasury Department. The post office ceased doing business after three of its clerks grew ill. Most of the senators and representatives had fled the city. What were left behind of the two houses rushed through a series of resolutions, consisting in improvements to the public health office, while another suggested that the fever had been imported from the Indies by French immigrants, they also recommend quarantine. The State legislature handed all this emergency resolutions to the governor and adjourned until December. They decline remaining in the city. The governor turned the problem to Clarckson and left the city too.
Most of the business had close his doors, this left behind thousands of people without any income. The Pennsylvania Hospital had closed its doors to those with the fever. The nearby farmers were refusing to bring food to the city. Every morning I had new reports of death bodies in the streets. The “Oversees and Guardians of the Poor” has been call to deal with the indigents but is not many volunteers to clean the streets full of deaths and buried them.
I recognize the danger federal employees faced and I urged all departments to move their offices to Germantown. I have planned to leave the city with my wife for two weeks or so to Virginia, hoping that, at my return, this epidemic is no longer a concern to our city.
Friday, August 30
ReplyDeleteThe Philadelphia is developing to worst-case and the disease is spreading very fast. I have been stuck in this city with mounting problem. There are many rumors but one of them is The Free African Society is going to support the government and the poor people. In the good things always happen the bad things that famer are refusing to bring the food into the city. Many people are starving that including me. My felling is very so desolate, ruthlessly, and helpless. Almost Philadelphian has the disease and the hospitals do not accept the patients. There are not good medical, house, food even coffin. The several death people lay down on the street on one take their body to bury. I have been here alone and I decided to dedicate my life to help the infected people because the epidemic took away my family. I am willing to bring food into the city market but who will bring food to my city. Now I was writing my diary I have a headache and exhausted. What happened to me? I thing I am getting the terrible disease. I hope that a doctor will find the cure as soon as possible.
For the all week, I read journal every day and thought about decision .I did question me, the inquietude overrun everyone. I saw the city is colorful painting with pain and their face desesparete was blushing deeply. The number of death unrelenting crippled the city and the stench terrified everybody solemnly.
ReplyDeleteSince these days, I looked around for hope. I didn’t want to go to the Bush Hill because I knew how life was hard over there. I didn’t affect yet. I wished every day it didn’t happen to me because my children could feel grimy. Some day, I went to some farm, had a little bit of but it wasn’t enough to survive. My heart agonized cut in several species among I heard for the volunteers. Philadelphia became a desert because everyone was afraid of the disease. Even the President pretended he needed vacation but he fled for a while. Every moment, I touched my kids and I to verify our body and temperature. During that time, everyone was almost equal even though you had money and power. There was no safety. When I heard for the doorman and some person in the government didn’t show up in some important meeting I began to ask nurses for advice, I was so scared. The greatest Mayor Clarkson encouraged me somewhere for his determination for the city. Even the hospital refused to accept illness people.
My only hope was, Dr Rush found the correct diagnostic and the treatment for this cruel disease. I didn’t want my life and my kids done like these citizens among I was poor.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteIrina Godovikova
ReplyDelete04.09.2013
Aug.30 1973 Margaret Watson – 24 y.o. – Miller
The disease is spreading around the city and it’s looking like a disgusting big octopus. I was walking through the dirty narrow streets and I couldn’t recognize my native Philadelphia. Dead bodies of indigents were lying outside and putrefying, a strong odor was hanging in the air and rust the nose. The city looked devastated. The atmosphere was gloomy and depressing, so it reflected on my mood too. While I was walking in the dirty street, I was thinking….. What do I have to do? How will I survive?
If I could, I would like to follow all the people who leave the city, but unfortunately I can’t. The yellow monster took my sweet, adorable aunt last week, so now I have nobody to take care of me, nobody who will give me shelter during this hard time.
People started to be desperate about food in this time. Many nearby farmers were refusing to bring provision into the diseased city. All feral cats, dogs disappeared from the streets, even the amount of wild rats and pigeons decreased. I can guess, people tried to use all of the city’s resources for survive in this time. Luckily, I have some food and water supplies in my home, but I don’t know for how long I can stretch it. …. God help me…
Is already Friday, August 30th and the situation is very bad in the city. Governor Mifflin had send a cannon to the city to fumigate against the pestilence, but that echoing boom a cannon scare more the few people that we still in the city.
ReplyDeleteA lot of things are going around, and authorities don't know what else to do. all the businesses are shut down and there are no places where to go to shop food or others edibles things.
ReplyDeleteI heard that Mifflin issued to Mayor Clarkson to clean up streets and wharves. but there are not enough people to do it. Nobody show up when Clarkson required, because maybe the guardians are dying as well and others are fleeing the city.
But the few guardians that are working are carrying the sick people to Bush Hill where they can recover. I have a very big problem, because i don't have food. The a little bit of food that i had is already gone. There is another problem, the farmers do not want to come into the city, because they are afraid to get the disease. That let us in a very worse condition. So that, we are starving and we will die of hunger or the fever will caught us in any moment.
Thanks God I am not yet, but I am afraid to acquire it. If I get sick I am pretty sure that I will perish. I am in my house praying with my two kids an my wife, i spectate from behind my windows what happen outside, and i have to go out there to find some food, otherwise we will die very soon.
I heard that our president left the city for three weeks, him and his wife. I don't know what is going to happen, every moment, people die and the city seem very desolate more and more. I really have to go out there and look for help because we can't stay more in here.