Daniel, Charles. "Letter from Charles Daniel to Thomas Daniel on the death of Major Sanderson of yellow fever." (1853) Rice University: https://hdl.handle.net/1911/37311.

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Galveston Oct 19th 1853

Dear Son I recd your letter and glad to hear that
 you were well, as I have been although this very 
severe visitation of the yellow fever, it has been 
very bad some whole families has died, it has 
not taken many of our old citisens but almost 
all the new comers has taken it and most of 
them have died, but I am happy to say it is now 
almost over, I wrote you on the 10 of Sept and 
directed as you told me to congress street cincinatti. 
I did not know until I got your letter that Genl Sanderson 
came from Oiho, he did not say to any one here 
where he came from, he arrived here on the boat 
from New Orleans on the 14th day of Sep he was sick with 
the yellow fever when he came here, him and professor 
Ruter, they would not admit them at the Tremont house 
on that account but by the intercession of Major 
Simmons of this place Col Thayer of Palmetto House 
took them in. Dr Stanwood attended them, Genl 
Sanderson made himself known as a mason and 
and on the evening before he died two of our bretheren 
attended him with the intention of sitting up with him 
but he said he felt so much better that he did not need any 
watchers, and they placed everything convenent as 
he desired and left him. Sometime in the night 
he was taken worse and fell out of bed, Col Thayer and 
some of his folks got him into bed again and in 

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morning after he died the doctor made a great deal of 
noise about it and said that he had been poisoned, and 
they had a postmorton examination Mr Keetch examined 
the contents of the stomack but could not detect any 
sign of poison, and the water that was in the pitcher that he
had been drinking was also examined.  I tried all the tests I 
could think of myself but I could not find any trace of poison, 
I drank some of it but there was no tast or bad effect from it, and 
many others drank of it. He was decently buried and a 
number of his bretheren attended his funeral. There are nine 
large pacages of baggage and two swords at the Palmetto House
they keys are in Briggs & yards safe, he wore a good gold watch 
which Dr Stanwood got hold of and kept it for his bill, I 
think there is no doubt but he was robbed for there was no 
money found in his pocketbook, Col Thaywood and Mr Moore 
were taken up as you will see by his circular which I inclose, 
two or 3 days after one of the Irish girls belonging to the house 
went to bye something at a store and gave inpayment a $100 
bill the man gave her change for one dollar and she said that was 
right he then took the bill to the marchal and had her taken 
and she is now in jail; a few days after they found 3 one 
hundred dollar bills on the cook another Irish girl in the 
P House, they are both in jail to be tried next court, but if 
they cannot identify the bills they will be cleared, the bills 
are all of the bank of Alabama. I wish you would ask 
Mrs Sanderson if she knows any thing about what money 
he had with him, as it will be well to try all means 
to identify these bills if it is possible to do so. perhaps you may 
know this Col Isaac Thayer he used to have a fine place

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in Brooline on the Brighton road, a good looking man 
about 55 years also has several sons in Boston.  
I hope everything will be cleared up about the robery but by all 
that I can learn so far, I think it will allways remain a 
mistery if they cannot prove any thing by the bills but 
I hope they will: I do not think there was any thing 
misterous in [[large tear in paper]] for it has been [[tear]]
with a good many [[tear]] felt both [[tear]]
they die, I suppose [[tear]]
they then becomes [[tear]]
which was the case w [[tear]]
Sept, you will see by Thayers statement [[tear]]
(I believe) some particulars more [[tear]]
I do not think it will do Dr Stanwood [[tear]]
He has acted in the case, he is a [[tear]]
he had drank 2 quarts of brandy that day the Genl 
died, so I should rather lay blame on him for neglect 
then any one elce, (if there was any cause for blame) 
I have now stated all I know in relation to the case 
if I can be of any service to Mrs Sanderson I will 
with pleasure obey any commander.  Col Thayer told me 
he had rec’d a letter from Genl Twiggs in New Orleans to 
tell him that he had written to Washington for instructions 
and ordering him to take care of the Genl’s things 
and that he should hold him responsible for them. 
I have no news of any kind to tell remember me to all 
Squire Taylors folks all other friends, to Eli Jane 
and the little boy, adieu to Your father Charles Daniel

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Mr Sanderson

[[Galveston postal stamp]]

Mr Thos Dani [[tear]]
Worthington [[tear]]
Ohio 

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