Cholera

From W. M. Paxton's Annals of Platte County, June 1850:

"The first visit of cholera to Platte City was this summer. A stranger got out of the stage, and commenced screaming and cramping, at the post-office. A hasty consultation was held, and Judge Norton, N. H. Hope and W. M. Paxton determined to lead him to a vacant house, standing on the lot occupied by the present jail. But the man fell on Main Street, with cramp, and screamed as to alarm the town. We gave him the best of care, but, in thirty-six hours, he died. The breath had hardly ceased before a trembling gang, who had given no help in the man's lifetime, hurried him off in a box, by night, to an improvised grave. His name was never learned. Fear settled on the whole county. The disease was fatal among emigrants on the plains. Several strangers and some citizens died at Weston."