Rensselaer Republican, Volume 22, Number 52, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 August 1890 — HAS DONE ITS WORST. [ARTICLE]

HAS DONE ITS WORST.

ALL THE DIPHTHERIA VICTIMS AT THE ZERDAN PLACE, ARE NOW DEAD. No Farther Spread of the Disease. It is oiir sad and painful duty to announce the death of three more of the dread diphtheria’s victims, at the Zerdan household, west of the town. A little after midnight, last Thursday night, Teresa, Mr. Zerdan’s 12 year old daughter, breathed her last. About 10 o'clock Saturday night Maggie Zerdan asked to be laid on her side that slfe might go to sleep, and the request had scarcely been complied with, when the failing heart suddenly ceased to beat and her sleep was the sleep of death. Maggie was a bright, attractive girl, almost 20 years old, and a general favorite among the young people of her acquaintance. On Sunday afternoon, a little after three o’clock, occured the death of Tittle Mary Zimmer, the last, surviving one of her heart-broken mother’s five children. Her death removed the last case of sickness from the house, and the two kind Sisters of Mercy, from Lafayette, who had been with the stricken family since Thursday, returned Sunday night, to Lafayette. The death of little Mary was the eighth that has occured in swift succession, in the same house, from the same disease, and all members of the Zerdan household, except Mary Yeager. Probably never in the history of Jasper County has there been a parallel to the afflictions that have fallen upon this most unfortunate family. A yeai ago Mr. Zerdan’s only son was drowned in the river. About two months ago his daughter, Mrs. Zimmer, lost her husband, by sunstroke, in Chicago. The same daughter has now lost all five of her children, in quick succession, whiie two of Mr. Zimmer’s three unmarried daughters have gone with them to their graves. Words are powerless to express the magnitude of such afflictions.

Mrs. dimmer, who had a slight attack of the' disease, is now entirely well and the only case now existing is that of her sister, Mrs. John Healy, in town, and she is daily growing better. Since the last death at the Zerdan's Dr. V. E. Loughridge, the county health officer, has taken most thorough measures to prevent the possibility of further contagion. AH bedding and clothing which could not be washed has been burned. AH other has been soaked for hours in a solution of corrosive sublimate, and the building has been thoroughly fumigated with burning sulphur.

Iu this connection we wish to say that the charitable people of Rensselaer and vicinity ought to see that the sufferings of pennry and destitution do not lend added burdens to these afflicted people. They are poor at best, Mr. Zerdan is a weak and sickly man, the natural expenses of their sickness have been great for people who had so little, and added to this is the destruction of much of their already scanty stock of clothing and bedding. Something more should at once be done to relieve their necessities.