Hargers, Obituary/Death NoticePorter County obituaries and death notices . . . .
Hargers
DARK DAYS.
A Hot September Means a Fat Graveyard.
The Epidemic at Porter Still Raging, and the Disease Spreading.
Physicians Fear the Ravages of the Coming Month will Far exceeded that of the past.
Fourteen Deaths to Date.
At this writing the now famous epidemic at Hageman, (sometimes called Porter) is still raging, and if anything the number of sick have increased, but withal is not so bad as reports sent out claim. The weather is hot, and the air filled with dust. Going through the place one can almost see the pall of death settling over the town. Funeral trains are now a common and almost daily sight, and remind one as they slowly wend their way to the cemetery, how near is death. The disease is so relentless, that when once it grasps it victim, there is little hope. Strong men are attacked, and, if they recover, lose from ten to twenty pounds in half as many days; children, lacking the strength and courage of their elders, are the first to succumb, and in many cases die. At present there are several cases where the attending physicians see marked signs of improvement one day, and by the next, by some indiscretion of the patient, the case is again critical. In others where care and common sense are used, the patient is put on his feet. To give a list of the sick would be an impossibility, for though it may be ever so correct at the time obtained, it would be incorrect on the day following. Some dead, others better and others worse, some entirely well. Little Paul Beam, the fourteen year old son of Wm. Beam, has been lying at death's door for days. Dr. Rose, of Laporte, was called to hold a consultation with Dr. Green, last Monday, over the case. Dr. Rose, like Dr. Green, has passed through other epidemics of even fiercer nature, and can, from their experience, view with cooler judgement the existing state of affairs. Paul Beam may recover. Indeed there is hope for him, and these physicians, taking that hope, are doing their utmost for their patient. Dr. Rose visited several patients at Hageman, and took in at a glance the true state of affairs. He called it dyssentery, and of endemic nature. It was the result of the peculiar surroundings which were especially adapted to the disease. Chesterton, speaking of its sanitary condition, was almost as bad as Hageman, but owing to the rolling, sandy nature of the soil, did not encourage the disease as readily as the low, clayey soil of Hageman. As regard the meat-poisoning theory, Dr. Rose laughed at the idea, as do all well-versed physicians, and we find it that it is only those who like the newly-enlisted soldier who never saw battle, get frightened when war begins. Talk to the old veterans who have been through epidemics so terrible that there was not well enough in the community to take care of the sick and ask them about this epidemic. Many of our people can remember when such was the case in Chesterton, but it was before Dr. Marr's time.
The deaths since our last report are: a two year old child of Mr. Hydens; two children of Fred Hargers, brother and sister, aged 7 and 6 years respectively; and the 2 year old child of Joseph Holms.
Newspaper: The Tribune
Date of Publication: August 20, 1885
Volume Number: 2
Issue Number: 21
Page: 1
Column(s): 4
Key to Newspaper Publication Locations:
Newspapers Published in Chesterton, Porter County, Indiana
Chesterton Tribune
The Tribune
Westchester Tribune
Newspapers Published in Valparaiso, Porter County, Indiana
Porter County Vidette
Practical Observer
Valparaiso Practical Observer
Vidette and Republic
Western Ranger
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Obituary/death notice transcribed by Steven R. Shook