USA > Tennessee > Shelby County > Memphis > A history of the yellow fever : the yellow fever epidemic of 1878, in Memphis, Tenn., embracing a complete list of the dead, the names of the doctors and nurses employed, names of all who contributed money or means, and the names and history of the Howards, together with other data, and lists of the dead elsewhere > Part 18
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A HISTORY OF THE YELLOW FEVER.
bereaved people, but until the relief trains were organized, it was found impossible to do all that was necessary. For two weeks this most practical of the benevolences of the time continued, the trains being every-where hailed with gladness by the prostrate people, to whom they brought what money with them could not then purchase. Almost simultaneously from all the strieken towns, toward the close of October, the glad news went out to an im- patient world that the fever was near its close. Its days were numbered. On the 29th the Memphis Board of Health declared the epidemie over. Many cases of fever existed, and some few occurred after that, but in epidemic form it had expended itself. The work of the Association was brought to a close. The relief trains ceased to run; the last of the nurses were called in and paid off; other help was discharged; the suburban agencies for the distribution of medicines and supplies were closed ; the medical department was also closed, and the physicians were dismissed. This was gracefully accomplished at a banquet at the Peabody Hotel, whereat speeches were made and resolutions passed, expressive of the weight of obligation resting upon every citizen of Memphis, for services that were beyond any computation or value. Thus was brought to a close the third and hardest fought campaign of the Mem- phis Howard Association. The personal trials of its members had been severe. They had lost heavily, not only of their own members, but of phy- sicians and nurses whom they had come to regard as of their number. Death dealt so severely with them that they were obliged to organize a burial corps, under a young Hebrew named Louis Daltroof, who deserves " special mention " for the courage and discretion with which, at such a time, he performed the last sad offices, generally alone and unaided. Some of the oldest and noblest of the original members had passed from human sight, and many who, though young in the cause, had brought to it the enthusiasm of natures ardent and eager to learn the sublime lesson of humanity. But as these fell the ranks were closed up, the step became firmer, the move- ment steadier, resolution stronger. So long as there was one case of disease and one Howard, so long there was need for the exhibition of all those qualities which, invaluable in the sick-room, were precious incentives to duty ou future and similar occasions. Three times the Alabama Street depot was closed by the death of the agent. Whole families had perished in its vicinity. It was the hot-bed of the pestilence, yet every dead Howard was succeeded by a living one -- the bridge of Lodi was held to the last. A painful inci- dent of the epidemic, this illustrates the courage which braved all things to succor and save poor, helpless fellow-beings. Die they might, but die in the good cause to which they had devoted themselves the Howards would. The annals of war afford no higher evidence of courage, of unselfish devotion to duty, of a pure and lofty heroism; and it is doubtful if any other people than ours, trained to self-control in the school of personal liberty, could equal it. Theirs is a glorious record-of which their fellow-citizens are proud. It is a spotless record, free from all taint -- a record that embraces all that is worthy of imitation in human goodness; it is a record that recalls the early ages of the Christian Church, when the zeal of the martyrs, inspired by a
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sublime hope, carried them through the fires of persecution, and enabled them to be an everlasting testimony to the faith, some of whose sublimest assurances are expressed in the texts: "Inasmuch as ye did it unto the least of these, my brethren, ye did it unto me." And, "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friend."
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A HISTORY OF THE YELLOW FEVER.
INCIDENTS OF THE EPIDEMIC.
The incidents of the epidemic in Memphis, 1878, which are here given, are, as nearly as possible, arranged in the order, according to dates, in which they were found in the daily papers, from which they are, for the most part, taken. They are given in the language of the time, and are believed to be faithful reports of facts as they occurred. As notes made and printed during the prog- ress of the scourge, they serve the purpose here of proof, that what is stated in the preceding pages is not, in any sense, an exaggeration of the truth, but that the writer has kept quite within the limit of facts, verified by eye- witnesses of the scenes and participants in the labors incident to the dreadful visitation.
The mayor, by a proclamation. July 27th, declared a quarantine established, a competent physician, with medical stores, provisions, bedding, and all things needful, taking possession of the quarantine buildings, and preparing for a rigid enforcement of the laws. The Board of Health held two meetings on the 29th.
If there is any virtue in quarantine, Memphis ought to have felt secure against yellow fever this season, as Franklin, Louisiana, Natehez, Port Gibson, and other villages, in Mississippi, established quarantine against New Orleans as early as the 20th of July.
The so-called plague-stricken steam tow-boat, John Porter, passed up the river with her tow, at seven o'clock, on the evening of July 30th. Quite a crowd of citizens were on the bluff watching the boat. Dr. Erskine, health officer, boarded the Porter from a tug, and found but one man sick on board. The officers denied that any yellow fever had been or was on board. They stated that they lost four men from over-heating, or sunstroke. The men had been working around the furnaces and been drinking ice-water. The Porter was ordered not to stop or land, but to move on up the river.
In spite of the safeguards, with which the health board had surrounded the city, a few persons from New Orleans found their way here by railroad. One of these, who, for two weeks after his departure from New Orleans, had been up White River, arrived in the city on the night of the 1st of August, and, becoming sick, and being poor, was sent to the city hospital, where, after a few hours, the disease developed into a clear case of yellow fever. The health offi- cer was at once notified, and had the sick man promptly removed to the quar- antine hospital. When the unfortunate man was removed, the bed and bed- clothes on which he slept, and the clothes he wore were burned, and the hospital was thoroughly disinfected. It was a clear case of development of disease contracted in New Orleans.
The man, William Warren, who slipped into the city from the yellow fever infected steamer Golden Crown, and who was sent to the quarantine hospital for yellow fever treatment, died, at quarantine. on Monday, August 5th.
The city was startled on Sunday, the 11th of August, by a series of telegrams
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from Grenada, Mississippi, confirming the suspicion that yellow fever, of a malignant type, had broken out in that city. The telegrams from official, and private citizens of Grenada created a sensation and somewhat of a panic among our citizens, which did not wear away before late last night. The Board of Health, Howard Association, Masons, Odd-Fellows, and Knights of Pythia-, of the city, received telegrams of a most startling character, and up to the follow- ing day the telegraph office, on Jiadison Street, was crowded by visitors, all anxious to hear from Grenada.
The Howards assembled, on hearing the news, on Sunday, August 11th, and de- termined to aid the people of Grenada, in response to a telegram received by Mr. J. H. Smith, Secretary of the Association, asking for nurses. At half past seven o'clock, Sunday evening, a special train left for Grenada, carrying Colonel But- ler P. Anderson and General W. J. Smith, of the Howard Association, seven experienced nurses, and Dr. R. F. Brown, secretary of the Board of Health. who concluded to go to the ground and inspect the sick, with a view to learn the character of the disease.
On Monday, August 12th, the Howard Association met at No. 16 Madison Street, and preparel to respond to the call for aid from Grenada. On the afternoon train, twenty-one experienced vellow-fever nurses were sent by the Howards, four by the Masons, and two by the Odd-Fellows, making thirty-four in all sent since the previous day.
A policeman, nanted McConnell, who had been sick for several days, died on the night of the 12th of August, his physician declaring his to have been a case of yellow fever. But other doctors disagreeing, it did not create much of a flurry.
On August 13th a clearly defined case of yellow fever appeared in this city, and was duly announced, according to promise, by the Board of Health .* The case was as follows : Mr. B. Bionda, wife and two children, lived at No. 212 Front Street, a few doors north of Adams Street. Mr. Bionda and wife kept an eating, or snack-house, principally frequented and patronized by river men, or people from the landing. They cleansed and cooked fish, meats, etc., in a room back of the snack-shop, where they fed their guests. They slept in a room over the snack-house and kitchen. Mr. and Mrs. Bionda were indus- trious, hard-working people. Their slops and refuse matter, from their snack- house, were thrown out into the street, or further out toward the river. Mrs. Kate Bionda was taken sick on August 9th, and was attended by Dr. Willett. Symptoms of yellow fever began to develop slowly but surely, and Dr. Willett became satisfied. He notified Dr. Saunders and Dr. Erskine, of the Board of Health, and Dr. Heber Jones, who visited the case. They at once pronounced it a well-marked case of yellow fever. Immediately Health Officer Erskine took charge of the building and vicinity. The rooms, house, and premi-es were thoroughly fumigated and disinfected with carbolic acid, copperas, etc. The sidewalk and street for half a square on Front Street, and the same distance back on Adams, were also disinfected. An obstruction or railing was placed across Adams Street at Center Alley, and the locality, No. 212, was fenced in around Front Street to the intersecting alley running east and west. Mrs. Kate Bionda died at eleven o'clock in the morning, and was buried at four o'clock on the afternoon of the 13th. The officers of the Board of Health are of the opinion that Mrs. Bionda contracted the disease from some guest who had come up the river from the intected district south. Not only was the building in which Mrs Bionda died disinfected and isolated, but all adjacent buildings in the block were likewise disinfected, and policemen were stationed to prevent people from visiting the particular locality.
# This was not, as was supposed at the time, the first case. See preceding pages of " Epidemic in Memphis in ISTS" for the facts.
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When it was officially announced that there was an undoubted case of yellow fever in the city (Mrs. Bionda) considerable alarm was created. Mauy at once proposed to send their families away. and quite a number left the city before night. There was a feeling of alarm and uneasiness, but no panic or stampede.
The yellow fever developed, August 14th, to the extent of twenty-two new cases, but only two deaths were reported. The news found early and ready dissemination, and a panic was the result. The trains on the Charleston and Louisville Railroads, as a consequence, went out crowded, and every seat and berth was taken for the trains on both roads for the next two days. Business was in great part suspended, and every body that could left before the week ended. The Board of Health isolated the infected district, and literally satu- rated the buildings, streets, and alleys with disinfectant .. Though the type of the disease was virulent, and did not readily yield to treatment, the sanitary officials were not without hope of mitigating its severity, if they did not over- come it.
The hegira from Memphis cia the Louisville and Charleston Railroads, August 15th, was greater than ever. It was a regular panie and stampede.
By this time, many of the scenes and incidents in the infected district were of a sad and heart-rending character. Strong men and women and helpless little children lav sick and dying. The dead, the dying, and the sick in the same house-often in the same room, sometimes in the same bed-presenting a pitiful sight, one well calculated to affect the heart and soul of the most callous. Many of the poorer people who were sick were suffering for supplies and necessary attention. These were dreadful sights, not soon to be effaced from inemory.
At the suggestion of Dr. Paul H. Otey, which was at once indorsed by Health Officer Erskine and others, a telegram was sent by the United States collector of internal revenue, and the postmaster of the city to Hon. G. W. McCreary, Secretary of War, to which an answer was received from the Secre- tary, ordering one thousand tents to be sent from Evansville, Indiana. Another telegram was sent by the same gentleman asking for rations. The idea is to send the poor people out of the city and form encampments at such eligible places as can be seenred. The Bluff City Grays, a white militia company, vol- unteered to aet as a guard for one of the camps (Joe Williams, so named after a physician who died during the epidemic of 1873). The MeClellan Guards (colored ) also volunteered. The services of both companie- were accepted.
On August 16th quarantine was raised. people and freight being enabled to get to Memphis by rail or river, all restrictions having been removed. Those who were found sick on arrival were removed to the hospital.
A joke is told on Brownsville, which town had quarantined Memphis. The citizens refused to permit a barrel of gin and several barrels of carbolic acid, shipped from Memphis, to be delivered in town before they were thoroughly disinfected.
Hundreds of people now adopted the plan of leaving the city at sun-down, going out into the suburbs to sleep, and returning to business in the morning.
The outgoing railway trains continued to be crowded, and vehicles were in demand to carry people out the dirt roads to the country.
It is estimated that from 15.000 to 20,000 white people fled from this city by the 18th of August.
Mary sloan. a white woman who had been nursing yellow fever patients, was arrested, and locked up at the station-house, on the charge of drunkenness. Soon after, she developed symptoms of fever, and was sent to the hospital. The mattresses in the cell were burned and the cell and surroundings disinfected.
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When it was officially announced that there was an undoubted case of yellow fever in the city (Mrs. Bionda) considerable alarm was created. Many at once proposed to send their families away. and quite a number left the city before night. There was a feeling of alarm and uneasiness, but no panic or stampede.
The yellow fever developed, August 14th, to the extent of twenty-two new vases, but only two deaths were reported. The news found early and ready dissemination, and a panic was the re-ult. The trains on the Charleston and Louisville Railroads, as a consequence, went out crowded, and every seat and berth was taken for the trains on both roads for the next two days. Business was in great part suspended, and every body that could left before the week ended. The Board of Health isolated the infected district, and literally satu- rated the buildings, streets, and alleys with disinfectant -. Though the type of the disease was virulent, and did not readily yield to treatment, the sanitary officials were not without hope of mitigating its severity. if they did not over- come it.
The hegira from Memphis via the Louisville and Charleston Railroads, August 15th, was greater than ever. It was a regular panie and stampede.
By this time, many of the scenes and incidents in the infected district were of a sad and heart-rending character. Strong men and women and helpless little children lav sick and dying. The dead, the dying, and the sick in the same house-often in the sune room, sometimes in the same bed-presenting a pitiful sight, one well calculated to affect the heart and soul of the most callous. Many of the poorer people who were sick were suffering for supplies and necessary attention. These were dreadful sights, not soon to be effaced from memory.
At the suggestion of Dr. Paul H. Otey, which was at once indorsed by Health Officer Er-kine and others, a telegram was sent by the United States collector of internal revenue, and the postmaster of the city to Hon. G. W. McCreary, Secretary of War, to which an answer was received from the Secre- tary, ordering one thousand tents to be sent from Evansville, Indiana. Another telegram was sent by the same gentleman asking for rations. The idea is to send the poor people out of the city and form encampments at such eligible places as can be seenred. The Bluff City Grays, a white militia company, vol- unteered to act as a guard for one of the camps (Joe Williams, so named after a physician who died during the epidemic of 1873). The MeClellan Guards (colored ; also volunteered. The services of both companies were accepted.
On August 16th quarantine was raised. people and freight being enabled to get to Memphis by rail or river, all restrictions having been removed. Those who were found sick on arrival were removed to the hospital.
A joke is told on Brownsville, which town had quarantined Memphis. The citizens refused to permit a barrel of gin and several barrels of carbolic acid, shipped from Memphis, to be delivered in town before they were thoroughly disinfected.
Hundreds of people now adopted the plan of leaving the city at sun-down, going out into the suburbs to sleep, and returning to business in the morning.
The outgoing railway trains continued to be crowded, and vehicles were in demand to carry people out the dirt roads to the country.
It is estimated that from 15,000 to 20.000 white people fled from this city by the 18th of August.
Mary Sloan. a white woman who had been nursing yellow fever patients, was arrested, and locked up at the station-house, on the charge of drunkenness. Soon after, she developed symptoms of fever, and was sent to the hospital. The mattresses in the cell were burned and the cell and surroundings disinfected.
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In response to a telegram sent on Monday, August 20th, by Mayor Flippin and others, asking for rations for the poor, a response was received the following day from Geo. W. MeCreary, Secretary of War, at Washington, stating that orders had been issued to send rations for 2,000 people for twenty days. upon the ground that the city was unable to secure relief for the sufferers from publie charity.
Three persons were reported who had brought yellow fever upon themselves by indulging in drunkenness. After a drunk the stomach and entire system is out of order, which places the unfortunate inebriate in a too favorable condition to take the fever. Above all acts of imprudence, drunkenness should be avoided.
Cases of fever appeared in the southern portion of the city, on August 214, at different places. The physicians believe that in these cases the disease was contracted in the infected districts.
President Langstaff, of the Howard Association, received the following ou August 21st :-
" Husband is dead. Please send or come down, as I am in need. I don't know how to get him buried. If you would help me, I could work for you all. Please don't say you can't, if possible. Mns.
The Howards immediately made arrangements to have the dead husband buried, and responded with aid to the above appeal.
Captain Jno. C. Forbes died at the city hospital on the evening of August 22d, whither he had been taken a victim of the fever, with which during three visitations he had battled as a member of the St. Andrew's Society. and, lastly, of the Howard AAssociation. While nursing Mr. Campbell and his wife. on Alabama Street, he also visited all the fever-stricken patients in that worst part of the infected district, and finally accepted the dangerous post of' superintend- ent of the distribution depot of the Howard Association, the duties of which he had been discharging but a few days when the scourge seized him, and he died after three days' illness. All that was possible, and the care of one of our best physicians, was done for him, but to no purpose. Though a man of vig. orous frame, he succumbed. To the last the work he had nearest to heart asserted itself in speech. A little girl of seven years of age -a fever patient -on being taken into the same ward, he gave minute directions as to her treatment, and when she died and was carried forth for burial, he said, "I have lost my life." This expression he repeated many times to those who visited him, and to whom he had endeared himself by many noble exhibi- tions of that quality of heart which Christ promised reward for in the words: " Forasmuch as ve have done it unto the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." In view of his good Samaritan work and the hope of this text, we lose sight of the short-comings, the frailties, and infirmities of the man, and sorrow for one who bravely and unselfishly went about the Master's work, succoring the sick. and bringing aid and comfort to those who were in sick- ness and distress.
The Sisters of Charity could be found daily and nightly visiting the sick and afflicted.
But few magistrates could be found in the city by August 22d. They bad taken a change of venue to other localities.
The telegraph operators were about worked down, so great was the additional amount of work which they already had to do.
On August 22d, the Board of Health passed a resolution urging all who could to leave the city, as the only hope of checking the spread of the fever was by depopulation.
Camp Joe Williams assumed the air and proportions of a military encamp- ment. Men, women, and children enjoyed themselves, and were pleased with the prospect of being safe from yellow fever.
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Avalanche, August 23d .- " The smile of nature beamed mockingly in the bright sunshine, and the gently-blowing winds breathed softly over this plague - stricken city. Despite the dazzling light, the darkest of shadows en- wrapped street and alley, highway and byway- the unsten shadow of disease and death .. The roll of stricken ran up alarmingly, and stout hearts began to shiver. Brave men are fighting the plague with a heroism that can not be surpassed."
The colored citizens became alarmed over the fact that many of their race were down sick with the fever, they not being exempt from the ravage- of the. -courge. The colored people were cautioned that their houses and premises be kept clean and properly disinfected daily with earbolic acid ; that they should also be more prudent in their diet; in fact. that they should observe all the rules of health which were observed be large numbers of white people.
John Roush, one of our leading mechanics, a man of great chergy and skill in his business, succumbed to the fever, and died, August 234. Mr. Roush served one term in the legislature, and had been for some years a very active politician, especially among his fellow-Germans. He came to Memphis inime- diately after the war. through which he served in the Federal army, and by industry and perseverance made himself an enviable place in the public esteem as an example of what integrity, united to industry, can accomplish.
The Board of Health August 23d, declared the yellow fever epidemic in the city. The fever broke over the line on that day, and appeared at many points south of Madison Street. The circle of the infected district was thus extended.
The heavy medical report of August 24th, 106 new cases, caused hundreds of citizens to fly to the country. This was the last great panie and hegira.
The Appeal, of the morning of the 24th .- " Up to six o'clock yesterday evening, three hundred and six cases of yellow fever had been reported, and ninety-three deaths. We all know the cHect of fear upon those who, yielding to it, fled the city at the first announcement of yellow fever; how much more severe must be its effect upon those taken with the disease. They give up all heart and hope. and yielding to the fear inspired by the oft-re- peated assertion that 'they all die,' make no effort to rally from the disease, and die as much from fright as from the plague. To what an alarming ex- tent the fears of the people of Memphis have been excited it would be impos- sible to tell, and it would be equally impossible to say how much it has had to do in making the death-list and working the sorrow, the penury, want, and destitution which the Howard and other benevolent associations and the Citi- zen,' Relief Committee have been and are trying to mitigate. . Instead of denying hope to ourselves, we should do every thing to inspire it, and, in- stead of asserting that all who take the fever have no chance of recovery, we should labor for it as if we had the assurance that in some remedies, in attent- ive and judicious nursing and skillful medical attendance, it can be found."
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