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 63
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John H. Brown, G. S., Wyandotte, Kan ....
17 70
J. W. Luke, St. Louis, Mo.
100 001 Total cash $21,196 30
DISBURSEMENTS.
Paid nurses.
$8,202 25
Paid burring the dead. 3,258 50
Paid physicians 2,197 50
Paid supplies ..
3,30$ 32
Paid relief of distressed Masons and their families
1,612 35
Paid postage, advertising, porterage, etc. 101 05
ȘI8,679 97
Total Receipts. S21,196 30
Total Disbursement- 18,679 97
Balance in Bank of Commerce
$2,516 33
REPORT OF THE SPECIAL RELIEF COMMITTEE, I. O. O. F.
To E. G. Budd, Grand, Master of the Right Worthy Grond Lodge, I. O. O. F .. of the State of Tennessee, and to our Brothers of the United States and Territories and British Possessions :
In view of your unbounded acts of benevolence and generosity, we desire to give vou a statement in regard to the action of your committee during the terrible scourge, which devastated by death our devoted city, this year of 1978.
During the latter part of the month of July, there were quite a number of un- donbied cases of yellow fever; and as early as the 5th of August a resolution was offered in Chickasaw Lodge. No. s, appointing a committee, consisting of the Noble Grand and Vice-tirand. to act with a similar committee from sister Lodges, to organize and be ready for efficient work. The resolution was adopted by all of the six Lodges in the city, and they each and all appointed their N. G. and V. G. as said committee, to organize a permanent one. This committee met in Odd-Fellows' Hall, August 13th. Every Lodge in the city was represented. Bro. J. W. X. Browne, N. G. of No. 6, was appointed chairman. and Bro. A. E. Kennedy, P. G. of No. 157, as secretary. A com- mittee was appointed consisting of P. G. Jos. E. Russell. P. G. John Linkhauer, and V. G. H. M. Gaze, to define the Aluties of the officers to be appointed.
On the following day the committee reported that a Board of Special Relief be ap- pointed, which was carried into effect, the said Board to consist of a president, vice- president, treasurer. secretary, superintendent, and an executive committee of three; and an election was hehl with the following result:
JJolin Linkh mmer. P. G., president : H. M. Gage, V. G., vice-president ; Wm. Henry, P. G., secretary ; J. P. Hoffman, P. G., treasurer; Jos. E. Russell, P. G., superintendent of nur-es.
Hill City Lodge, 176, Lynchburg, Va ....
Ma-one of Columbus, Ga., through J. W. King.
Masons of Helena, Montana .... ... Adairsville Lodge, Logan Co., Ky. Moron- of Grith., Ga ..
Caldwell Lodge, 273, Johnsonville, Tenu . 6 00
Attica Lodge, 15. Attica, Ind ..
Tuscan Lodge, 143, La Gro, Ind ... 10 00
Reed Commanders, 6, Dayton, O .. Masonic Relief Connuittee, Rus- sellville, Ky.
From other sources 802 05
411
APPENDIX.
The committee agreed to meet every morning. Also, that good and sufficient bonds be given by the treasurer, to the amount of $10,000, the secretary $2,500, and the super- intendent $1,000. The bonds were given and approved.
Bros. Marcus Jones, P. G., G. W. L. Crook, P. G., and T. N. Johnston, V. G., were appointel an executive committee. It was ordered that they should act in conjunction with the Masonic Relief Committee as far as advisable.
The duties of your committee were defined and agreed to, which was to provide for the sick, the dying, and the dead, employ nurses, buy and furnish supplies, receive and disburse any donations, and order all authenticated accounts to be paid.
At the commencement of the fever, the funds in the hands of the treasurer -- the balance of the epidemic fund of 1873-was 87,544 37. With the first acts of your committee, there was one donating the sum of $266 to our suffering brothers of Grenada. where the fever was raging with unheard-of malignity. On the 23d of Angust. the great increase of the fever over the city generally induced the Board of Health to pro- claim the fever had become epidemic, and urged and advised the citizens to leave the city. The daily press also urged every person to do so. Many new cases of sickness were reported this day among the members and families of our Order, and it was In- coming worse daily, but your committee, with sad hearts, continued to perform their duties with hope and courage. On motion, it was agreed that your committee be con- stituted a burial one, with authority to call upon any member of our Order to aecom- pany them to funerals, if possible; it was further agreed, that a competent physician should be employed, and Dr. John Gordon be employed to attend to all cases of sick- ness when ordered to do so by the Board.
On the 20th day of August Bro. Wm. Henry, secretary, tendered his resignation as sueh, which was accepted by the committee. Bro. L. S. Burr, P. G., was nominated and elected to fill the office of secretary in his place, and gave his bond for $2,500, which was accepted, and he assmined the duties of the office.
Bro. J. E. Russell, superintendent of nurses, was taken sick with the fever on the 25th day of Angust, and Bro. John Linkhauer, in addition to the duties of his office, assumed the duties of the superintendent.
From the first organization of your committee to this rime, August 30th, they have been in receipt of daily communications offering material aid and kind sympathy for our -nfierers, which were answered with thanks, declining the proffered aid ; but in view of the magnitude of the scourge, and the certain exhaustion of all means at their com- mand in a very short tinie. your committee decided to accept such offers of aid as might be tendered. Attor due notice had been given by the Grand Master of this State at this time, Bro. C. M. Carroll, your committee soon commenced to receive funds from most every section of the country.
From this time, September 1st. for many weeks, the fever raged with fearful mortality, and took all the energy and courage of those who escaped it to perform their duty.
On the 31st day of August Bro. Jos. Russell died, being the first one of your con ;- mittee that fell at the post of duty. He was a good man, and an efficient worker. Bro. E. F. Rick. Jr., was elected assistant secretary, and Bro. A. I. Leroy as assistant superin- tendent of nurses. This was necessitated by the daily increase of the fever. Bro. tien. W. L. Crook, of your committee, was reported sick with the scourge on the 1st day of September, also Bro. E. F. Risk. Jr., who in a few days followed Bro. Russell to his everlasting home. He was an efficient young man, and his death regretted by all who knew him.
On the 2d of September, at a meeting of your committee, Bro. John Linkhaner resigned his position as president of the Board, and was elected general superintendent of nurses. Bro. Marens Jones was then elected to the position of president of the Board. On motion it was ordered that a notice calling a meeting of brothers should be inserted in the morning papers, which was accordingly done, as follows:
"1.0.0. F .- All members of the different Lodges now in the city are most carnestly requested to meet at the Lodge room this (Tuesday) morning. ad inst .. at lo o'clock, on important business. Brothers, your services are needed in behalf of the sick and dying."
There was no response to this eall for help, and your committee considered it their duty to procure help, if possible, from persons not connected with our Order, when im- peratively needed.
Bro. HI. M. Gage tendered his resignation as vice-president of your committee. as his duties as president of the Knights of Honor required all his time. Bro. Geo. W. L. Crook, P. G., of your comminee, died on the 5th day of September. He, too, was an active, energetic worker. and fell doing his duty for the benefit of his fellow-man. Bro. John P. Hoffman having left the city, there was but four of your original committee now on inty. Bro. Rev. E. C. Slater was appointed one of the Executive Committee, vacated by the death of Bro. Crook.
412
APPENDIX.
The great increase of sickness and death among our Order, and heavy increase of expenses, indueed your committee to issue the following appeal to the Odd-Fellows, wheresoever dispersed :
" Brothers, - The Special Relief Committee of the six Lodges of the city of Mem- phis, Tenn., say to the members of our beloved Order in America, in answer to many inquiries, both by letter and telegram, that we are in the midst of a fearful epidemic. the end of which no one can foresee. More than one hundred of our brethren, inchading their families, have sickened and died. We need your sympathy, and God alone knows how soon your aid. In view of the heavy drain upon our resources, we have concluded to accept all donations that our brethren in their generosity may forward us."
This appeal was published, through the great kindness of the Associated Press. the 6th day of September, with good results, as it was soon responded to by our kind brothers throughout the land.
Bro. Rev. E. C. Slater met with your committee but once-on the 7th day of Sep- tember. On the 8th he was taken sick with the fever, and on the 9th he too was num- bered with our dead. No nobler soul ever went out through death to life than Bro. Dr. Slater. The soul of self-sacrifice and generosity, he died doing more than hi- duty for his fellow-man. His wife and two daughters soon followed him to that place of rest eternal, that land where all is love and truth, where there is no sickness or death.
The plague was at this time assuming frightful proportions, four to six hundred new cases and over one hundred deaths were reported in the city daily, and the proper- tion in the surrounding country was about the same. Bro. H. M. Gage was taken sick with the fever; his capacity and good work was sadly missed by the committee and the suffering brothers and their families he cared for. Bro. O. F. Prescott, P. G. M .. was appointed assistant secretary September 8th. Bro. L. S. Burr, secretary, was taken sick September 10th, which only leit three of your committee on duty. B. D. Castleman. P. G., and Irvine Root, assistants to your committee as clerks, were soon stricken with death.
At this time we found it almost impossible to care for the living and bury the dead within or near the city limits. In consequence, there was more suffering amons our brothers and their families in the country, as we could not pay proper attention to their needs. The scenes of agony, despair, and desolation may be imagined, butean not be described. Your committee have had relatives and nurses come and implore them to have the dead removed from their houses, as they had lain much too long unburied. We could not help them, as the undertakers had much more to do than they could p -- sibly attend to, and all had to be buried by turns, according to the time the application was made for that purpose. In many instances we were compelled to hire spring wagons, and carry the dead to the cemetery, as there were no hearses to be had. There were no funerals. The drivers of the hearses or wagons were the only ones, with the help of the grave-digger- at the cemetery, to assist at the burials. Your committee could scarcely attend to the sick, therefore the dead of our Order could not receive the attention we wished to give them.
One of the daily papers remarks: " There is now no part of the corporate limits of the city not thoroughly infected with the fever poison. One by one our remaining people fall, and since Saturday night's closing report, an appalling list of deaths have occurred. All of Sunday and yesterday, hearses followed each other at a trot, carrying a corpse to the grave unattended by any one but the hearse-driver. Even this was not fast enongh, and the dead accumulated in various parts of the city nutil they became very offensive. The way it now looks, there will shortly be not enough here to bury the dead. Much confusion and disorder follows this state of affairs, but at the present time there seems to be no help for it until the fever abates, which, at present, it seems not inclined to do. So long as there is food for it, no relief can be expected. Woe. pestilence, and death seems to be our portion."
How unfortunate it was that our brothers and families with friends did not leave the city when advised to do so by the Board of Health and daily press, How many valuable lives might have been saved if the advice had been taken in time. Many left after too long a delay, after their systems had been infected with the poison of the dread disease. Many died uncared for; away from home, with no friend or nurse to care for their wants.
Bro. Mareus Jones, president of your committee, was taken sick with a severe case of the fever on the 20th day of September, which reduced your working committee to two members. We missed the president very much indeed, as he was never absent from a meeting of the Board, although five of his family, out of six, were sick with the fever.
Bro. T. N. Johnston being so much engaged with the business affairs of his em- ployers that he could not attend to the meetings of the Board, Mr. Walter Jones, son of our president, was employed as an assistant to your committee, and with his marked capacity and energy, his services proved very valuable indeed.
413
APPENDIX.
Bro. A. H. Leroy, assistant superintendent of nurses, was reported sick on the 21-t day of September, and Mr. Frank Jones was employed for the position.
The painful intelligence was reported that the fever was spreading to a great extent in the surrounding country, among our brothers and families who sought safety by leaving the city. It appears there is no refuge of safety for many miles from our plague-stricken place. At this time, September 22d, we were receiving donations from our kind brothers from every section of our country We needed them, as our expenses were very heavy, and increasing.
Bro. T. N. Johnston, of your committee, was reported sick the 27th day of Septem- ber, and in a few days he too was numbered with those that had gone before. With his capacity and tact he had made his mark as one of the best business men in the city. This leaving only one of the committee ( who remained in the city), Bro. John Link- hauer, that escaped from having the scourge.
On or near the 211 day of October, the president being still sick, Bro. John Link- hauer ordered a telegram to be sent to the different Grand Lodges to forward more means, if possible, as our expenses and disbursements were largely on the increase. The appeal was answered with liberal donations. At this time there was some decrease of the sickness in the city generally, but among our Order it was on the increase.
On the 7th day of October, O. F. Prescott. P. G. M., assistant secretary, was taken sick with the fever, and in a few days he too passed away. How much his cheerful face and good work were missed The very committee-room seemed infected with the fever poison, cansing sickness and death. Out of eleven workers in it, seven have died. Perhaps the contact of so many nurses, just from the house of the sick and laying out the dead, mnade it worse off with us than it would have been otherwise.
Bro. L. S. Burr, secretary, reported for duty to-day, 5th of October. after four weeks' sickness. He was very welcome and added strength to our reduced committee.
On the 10th day of October we opened a commissary depot, which we filled with provisions and various other supplies, procured by donations and purchase, for the benefit of our brothers in distress, and their fataflies. Bro. A. II. Leroy was appointed superintendent.
Bro. Mareus Jones, president, reported this day, October 17th. after four weeks' sickness with a dangerous case of the fever. He was gladly welcomed, and a meeting of Gayoso Encampment, No. 3, on the same day, he was elected a representative to the Grand Encampment of the State of Tennessee, which met at Nashville, Tenn., the 21st day of October, when he was elected Grand Patriarch of the State of Tennessee. Ou his return he at onee assumed the duties of his office, where his assistance was greatly needed.
There appeared to be at that time a marked decrease of the fever generally; we had hop.'s the worst was passed; with us it must be so. as nearly all of our brothers and their families who remained in the city have been down with it. The great fear was that the absent ones would return too soon. The fearful number of death, among our Order and city, shows the awful fatality of the plague which has so decimated our city and caused agony and suffering unspeakable. There is no place, except Grenada, Miss., that has suffered as we have. How terrible to think of, that four persons were found dead in the streets in one day, and several in houses, and two merchants in their offices. all dying without help to minister to their last moment ..
Out of a population of about 20,000 remaining in the city and vicinity. over 4,250 died. Had the city of New Orleans been so afflicted, in proportion to her inhabitants, there would have been over 30,000 deaths in that city.
Your committee have employed 475 nurses, at an average cost of over $15 each. The number of brothers that have died is 95, and of their families 134, making the number of deaths 229. The convalescents amount to 214, making the number of cases of yellow fever 443. The number of widows is 54, and the orphans 150, that have been made so by the terrible scourge. The different Lodges of the city will now have to care for 100 widows and 196 orphans. This, indeed, tells a sad story of our calamities. Chickasaw Lodge, No. .. lost all of their elective officers. There were only four of our brothers that remained in the city escaped having the fever. The first death reported was that of Bro. J. B. Campb.H, Angust 24; the last deaths were those of Bro. S. J. Warl, who died November 17th. and Bro. W. C. Coate, who died on the 27th. Both of the brothers named had been absent from the city all summer, and took the fever after their return, although there had been several heavy frosts. The labors of your commit- tee are near ended ; we have done the best we could under the circumstances surround- ing us. More than one-half of the cases under our care died.
We find there are more worthy widows and orphans in distressed circumstances, whose husbands and fathers died owing to their Lodge small amounts on the first of the term. The laws of the Order being strict and imperative, no relici can be granted them,
27
414
APPENDIX.
unless we make some provision for them, which we have done by including in our dona- tion account, the sum of $2.323.36.
Our commissary department is still open, with supplies sufficient to last for some time, which we intend to distribute to the needy.
Your committee do not believe that the yellow fever is indigenous to this country, but that it is introduced from the West Indies or tropical ports through our southern ports, thence over the southern portion of our country. And we would most earnestly appeal to our brother- of the Order to recommend the establishment of a national quar- antine, at sucht times as we may be threatened with its introduction from infected for- eign poris, and that in no way but the interposition of our government in this woatter will save us from the infliction of many repetitions of this terrible >courge.
We would call attention to the subjoined report of the Special Trustees of the Yel- low Fever Fund of 1873.
REPORT OF RECEIPTS.
Arkansas
$341 00 Maine.
$408 89
Alabama
309 00
Nebraska ..
136 00
British Columbia, ( British Prov.)
50 00
New Hampshire. 52 00
California.
3,385 00 New Brunswick. ( British Prov.) ..
337 00
Colorado
135 00
New Jersey
200 00
Connecticut
200 00
New York
825 09
Delaware ..
166 75
Nova Scotia, (British Province ) ..
392 76
Dakota Territory.
62 00
North Carolina
96 25
Georgia
685 00
Ohio
850 00
Jowa ..
992 25
Pennsylvania
532 00
Indiana
910 00
South Carolina.
6 00
Kentneky.
200 00
Tennessee
2,161 40
Kansas
314 48
Texas
731 50
Montana Territory.
53 50
Utah Territory.
125 00
Michigan.
165 00
Virginia
130 00
Massachusetts
58 34
Wyoming Territory
290 60
Minnesota
25 00
Unknown friends in the U. S.
285 30
Maryland
619 00
Missouri
500 00 | Whole am't of cash rec'd to date .. $18,061 57
We have received from the General Relief Committee, I. O. O. F., of Cincinnati, a bounteous supply of provisions. Also from the Odd Fellows of Staunton, Va., Ruther- ford Station, Tenn., Knoxville, Tenn., the Citizens' Relief Committee, and Dr. D. F. Good- year, acting mayor of this city. We are under very many obligations to the Howard and other associations, they, with great courtesy, having honored our orders for sup- plies, etc. Friends and brothers, accept our grateful thanks. The provisions sent from Cincinnati cost, there, 8416.51.
REPORT OF DISBURSEMENTS.
For nurses.
$7,143 31
For burial expenses
6,749 10
For physicians
2,195 50
For supplies
2,511 20
For expense-
2,677 80
Donations to sick and destitute Odd-Fellows and their families ..
4,836 81
Total disbursements. 826,113 72
Cash disbursed in excess of the receipts of 1878. 8,052 15
The donation account includes money donated to Grenada, Miss., Chattanooga, Tenn., and Brownsville. Tenn. Supplies were also sent to our suffering brothers of Tus- cumbia, Ala. Your committee wrote to the atlieted cities and towns of Mississippi and Tennessee, offering aid to our suffering brothers if needed.
The expense account is composed of the amounts paid for horses and vehicles for the superintendent of nurses in visiting the sick and in burying the dead, printing, post- age hire of clerks, and secretary and superintendent of nurses, and incidental expenses.
The committee, excepting those mentioned above, received no compensation for their services.
A portion of the receipt. per State of Tennessee. that were sent by Grand Secretary J. R. Harwell, from Nashville, was from different States.
Illinois
1,570 00
Rhode Island
130 00
Mississippi
25 00 Wisconsin
345 00
415
APPENDIX.
Brothers, we say that you have done a brother's part ; you have indeed lightened our burden ; your letters of affection, with offers of assistance, were a tower of strength to your committee, and our hearts are overflowing with n full measure of gratitude and thanks for your kind sympathy, your brotherly love, and your noble generosity. We can trustingly say, and are certain, that such deeds as yours will meet their just reward, and will ever be cherished in the heart- of the widow and orphan, and your brothers. We hope you will receive our report with favor, and that you will never have occasion to exercise the great magnanimity and kindness you have in relieving your brothers and their families in another fatal epidemie, such as we have just passed through.
Respectfully submitted, in Friendship. Love, and Truth. MARCUS JONES, President, L. S. BURR, Secretary, J. P. HOFFMAN, Treasurer, JNO. LINKHAUER, Supt. Nurses.
I. O. O. F.
Special Relief Committee.
REPORT OF MEMPHIS TYPOGRAPHICAL UNION.
MEMPHIS, February 1, 1879.
To Memphis Union No. 11, and to the Typographical Unions of the United States and Canada :
The following is transmitted as the Report of Receipts and Disbursements by your Relief Committee, in behalf of the distressed members of Union No. 11, during the fearful plague of IS78. The report should have been furnished sister Unions at an earlier date, but the impracticability of closing up all accounts rendered it impossible, hence the circular of to-day. In answer to the appeal made by the Relici Committee, of date August 26, 1878, the following Receipts from sister Unions were entered :
New York Union $200 00 | People of Capleville, Tenn., through
Philadelphia Union 150 00
J. M. Keating. 822 65
Courier-Journal Office, Louisville .. 110 40' Denver (Col.) Union .. 22 00
Journal Office, Chicago 92 25
| New York Herald compositors. 20 00
Quincy ( Il.) Union 20 00
Employés Government Printing Of- fice, Washington.
80 00
Unknown friend in Illinois, through J. M. Keating 20 00
Salt Lake Tribune, through Galla- way & Keating.
71 50 | Norwich . Conn.) Union .. 17 00
61 00 Cambridge Station, Boston 15 00
50 00 : Trenton ( N. J.) Union 15 00
50 00: Pittsburgh ( Pa.) Union 15 00
Washoe Union
50 00| Fort Wayne Union
10 00
Detroit Union.
50 001 St. Joseph ( Mo .; Union, through Lou. 50 00 Hardman. 13 00
40 00 : Cil City ; Pa.) Union 10 00
W. II. Bates, through J. S. Toof .. 10 00
40 00 | Toronto Union. 10 00 40 00 ; New Haven (Conn ) Union 10 00
Chic igo Union.
38 00 ; Pressman's Union, Washington
10 00
· Buffalo (N. Y.) Union. 10 00
10 00
Courier Printers, East Saginaw
10 00
Rochester Union and Advertiser Office ...
36 00
Newark ( N. J.) Union ..
10 00
U'tica : N. Y.) Union.
35 25
Richmond (Va.) Union
35 00
Printers of Lafayette, Ind
35 00
Columbus (Ohio) Union.
34 00
Little Rock Union ..
33 30.
Cincinnati Enquirer Oflice
30 50
Macon (a. ) Union. 5 00
Nashville Union ..
30 00 Columbia (S. C. Union. 5 00
Printers of Erie, Pa.
Detroit Union .. 25 00
Austin (Tex.) U'nion 25 00
Galveston (Tex. ) Union. 25 00
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