Collection: Directories and Documents > Historical Clippings

About This Item:

Title: Historical Clippings Book (HC-12) Collection Type: Directories and Documents Collection Name: Historical Clippings Catalog #: HC-12 # of Pages: 520 Download PDF: User Login Required Download OCR Text: User Login Required

Printed or handwritten: All printed text Date Scanned: 2025-01-10 12:53:54 Scanned By: Jim Moore Scanning Equipment: CZUR Book Scanner OCR Software Version #: tesseract 5.5.0 Item Sourced From: JPGs First Created: 2025-03-17 03:18:43 Last Updated: 2025-04-22 07:39:11

Original Held At: Searls Historical Library Location: 161 Nevada City Hwy, Nevada City, CA 95959

Page: of 520  

PIATOINGS ss sess OMEGA July 1862 There was smallpox in the county. The disease was showing up in many of the settlements. Along the rivers men didn't pay much attention to their neighbors. They had no time for sickness in themselves and expected the next man to take care of himself. If aman were found dead, and this was an everyday occurrence, his remains were sometimes buried, sometimes carried toa public official and sometimes stepped over and ignored. The towns, with their more permanent residents and developing social responsibility, were very much aware of the forces that threatened their future and prosperity. Fire was the major threat but the fear of contageous disease could spread faster than the epidemic. Towns the size of Red Dog and You Bet with populations of about 200 built special houses outside of town for victims carrying the deadly disease. When smallpox appeared people were frightened, A town's first experience with it was often tragic. The citizens of Omega discovered avirulent case of smallNugget, Sept. 3, 19t¥ There Was Smallpox In The County . Omega Was Afraid pox andtheir only thought was to get rid of the carrier. Never were donations so generously given as when money had to be raised to transport the sick man out of the area. Getting him out was the main thing and this the good people accomplished with that sense of relief and virtue that hides responsibility so well. The sick man had no money. His body was fighting the most dangerous stage of the disease and he was carried the 20 miles to Nevada in an open wagon, exposed to several hours of July heat and dust on the rough, heavily traveled Washington Ridge road, He was not adm itted tothe County Hospital but cared for in acabin on the south side of Deer Creek downstream fromtown. He died two days later. Hewas buried and the cabin burned, The case was discussed by the Nevada newspaper, the editor bringing out the sad mistakes for which the nameless miner had paid so supremely, The county was preparedto pay for the care of those in need. The Cost of transporting the man would be borne by the county hadnot the cost of his care at Omega been equal to that of bringing him in fromthe remote area. Little need be said about the great number of people exposed by the dying man's long journey. Omega never knew the man's name nor didit inquire as to his progress or his end.