Chronicles of Notre Dame du Lac
Edward Sorin, CSC -- Translated by John M. Toohey, CSC, 1895

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1854

pg 206       their  mutual relations, gave this period such a crushing weight 
             that, in the eyes of the members of the chapter, the total ruin of 
             the Institution of the Lake must necessarily follow unless a very 
             special intervention of Providence made itself felt.
                  The immediate tangible effect of the death of Bro. John of 
             the Cross was to bring back vividly to all minds the memory of the 
             numerous losses of the previous summer and autumn; but instead of 
             attributing them as formerly to an epidemic that might visit even 
             the most healthy localities, people now decided that the cause was 
             the place itself.  The greater number and they were the people of 
             most sense, declared that the first cause of all those maladies 
             was the marsh the two lakes to the west of the college.  Others 
             attributed it to a certain weed; others to a fish of which the 
             Indians were always very much afraid, and of which there were a 
             great many in the lakes; still others maintained that it was the 
             water of our wells, although it was just as cool and agreeable to 
             drink as possible.  Opinions were divided every one having his 
             own, but there was unanimity in declaring that under actual 
             conditions the place unhealthy.  No one said positively:  this is 
             the cause, or that, but all kept repeating: there is a cause, and 
             the more's the pity.  Such was public opinion.