Democratic Sentinel, Volume 22, Number 4, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 January 1898 — A YELLOW FEVER HERO. [ARTICLE]

A YELLOW FEVER HERO.

A Brave JonrnatUt Who Remained at Hie Poet Until Death Claimed Him. Yellow fever has develojied some of I the world's greatest heroes and heroines. Out of the horror, misery and terror of an epidemic of the dread disease, therejiave eome characters whose 1 sublime acts of courage and heroism * will ever be rememlwed. During the I epidemic In thou-ands of pisvple I died, entire cities were depojiuhttetl, . some of the fairest of Southern cities almost blotted from the map, and the whole South was demoralized. The epidemic raged flerceiy at Memphis, and one of tilt' heroes who gave ids life for others was Herbert lamoruui. At that time Landrum was city editor ot the Memphis Avahmelie. When the epidemic broke out at Mem piiis he was at Nashville. He left at once for home, and during the rest of life never left the city of death and ili'solat.ion. Though bitt 20 years of

age, lie was among the brightest newspaper men of the country. He.had displayed rare ability anil talent In his work and had won a fine repuiatlon as ti writer. Memphis at that time had a population of 45.0G0. This was reduced by flight to 15,(K)ti, and strict quarantine stopped the exodus or the city wolihl have been dA-erted. Of the 15.V..0 left In tlie city 5,0u0 had tho yellow fever. Of tlie patients, I,sihi died. For weeks tho city waft shut off I'mii the world. Sickness and death were in every house. Tlie police force was dis organtzi'd. . Riot aud outlawry prevailed, ami added to tlie already overwhelming terror of the situation.

in the midst of tills horror Landrum was brave and aoUvc. He would lalior all day at ills newspnper duties anti would sit by tlie side of some suffering pntlent all night, ministering to wants that were soon to end with death. Every day hundreds would die. Thomp son, the editor-ln-ehii'f of the Avalanche, fell a victim to tlie dread destroyer. Other meuiliers of the staff died or left tlie city. In a few weeks tiftor the iM'glnntng of tlie epidemic the young city editor was the only member of tlie staff left. 'Die prlntei's had diet! or refugeed and only one composltor was left. He mid Landrum swore to stick to their posts until death tore them away, On a bright. .September day Jefferson Davis, Jr., wan touched by the breath of tlie disease. True to his friend, Herbert Landrum went to the bedside of the son of tlie greet man whom till the South still loves. For days Lnndnun was by the side «of his friend. Then death came mid relieved the devotisl watcher. 'Die fever, of course, claimed Landrum. He knew that he would have it when ho went to watch by Davis, but he was not afraid. He was sick but one day before he begun to recover. In a few days lie was able to go to work. He went buck to ids duties and, with tlie aid of the printer, published Hie Avalanche. He worked but oue day. Then lie relapsed. In a few hours he was <lcad.