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184 HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY
Among the first and foremost to respond to the call was Dr. H. A.
Ackley, Cleveland, "who, Putnam like," left his plough in the midway
furrow of his OAvn lucrative field, and, regardless of danger or pecuniary
reward, started at the summons of his fellowmen, with his students and
what other assistance he could command, for the scene of death and disorder,
and, like the good Samaritan, poured oil into the wounds of the
Sick and brought hope to the hearts of the besieged. The other principal
professional coadjutors were as folloAVS: Dr. E. Lauerdale and Spencer,
of Cleveland, and Drs. E. P. Strader, A. F. Follen, C. A. Caroland
and Josiah York, of Cincinnati, and Doctor Vance, of Urbana.
But the remembrance of the invaluable and gratuitous services of
those skillful strangers are engraven upon the annals of Sandusky as
enduring as the rock upon Avhich she stands, and treasured in the hearts
of her people Avith the holiest affection.
The first case that was Avitnessed.in the place was a young gentleman
from New Orleans by the name of Shephard, Avho Avas attacked on the
cars between this city and Cincinnati, and arrived at the Mad River
depot on the 25th of June, suffering severely "from the disease, and was
kindly admitted to the residence of Doctor Cochran, after being denied
an entrance at all the public houses, and under his care and treatment
recovered. In the same week a German Avoman Avas attacked upon the
same road, and died soon after her arrival here, at the Exchange Hotel.
The first case originating in the place was that of a Mrs. Allen, residing
near the Mad River depot, on the 2d day of July, which terminated
fatally. The next day a Mr. Rosegrant died of the same disease. From
that time it rapidly increased, but no accurate account of its mortality
AA'as observed or registered before the 19th of July. Up to that date there
was knoAvn to be nineteen deaths, and from July 20th to 23d there were
tAventy-one deaths.
From this time no daily reports Avere registered, and for further facts
Ave refer to the following article published in the Sandusky Clarion of
November 22d, as containing the most reliable statement of all the
returns. It says:
"The first case of cholera occurred on or near Monday, the 2d day of
July, and the last in the city, of which Ave have any account, AVIIS on the
7th of September—thus lingering in our midst for sixty-eight days. On
the 10th of August Ave published the following table derived from F. M.
Follett, Esq., Avho was, during the greater part of cholera epidemic, 'the
Board of Health:'
"To August 8th, 320 deaths; to August 11th, 25 deaths; to September
7th, 12 deaths; making a total of 357 deaths.
"When the above table was made out it Avas knoAvn that many Avere
not included in it, and it Avas thought that the true number of deaths
of our citizens Avas 400, vide Sandusky Clarion. During the period of
its greatest devastation the population was computed to he not more than
from eight hundred to one thousand souls; and so inadequate were the
few laborers that could be obtained to supply the demand for graves