In the last 102 years, the world has seen two of the worst influenza pandemics, both in deaths and/or economic impact. By far the worst was certainly the Spanish Influenza that escalated in April 1918. Called the Spanish Flu, it actually originated in the United States and was considered a H1N1 virus. America's first cases appeared in the military and was spread worldwide by our troops entering WWI overseas. The impact of the Spanish Flu can never be accurately determined, but most experts place the global infections at over 500,000,000 and deaths at approximately 50,000,000. America itself, lost about 700,000 of that number. Another commonality of the two was that both were "brand new" viruses thus few people had any immunity to them. But one difference is that Covid-19 is not really considered an influenza and is said to be a chronic acute pneumonia. But in 1918, medical staff and facilities were stretched extremely thin because of the mass casualties from the war. Also treatment was primitive in 1918 as compared to today. For instance, the standard treatment in 1918 was thirty daily grams of aspirin, which today is considered toxic and may have caused many to die from the treatment rather than the virus. Of course, one of the problems was the diagnosis. Many of the deaths were listed by doctors as Spanish Influenza, influenza, or just plain pneumonia. But for many, all three led to the same outcome. And that outcome could be death within hours to several weeks.
But, on a local level, how did the Spanish Influenza effect Pensacola and the surrounding areas? And how similar was the government's reaction to this pandemic as compared to today? The first local cases did not arrive until well into 1918, but there were Pensacolians dying in other parts of the country. One of the first deaths was Dudley Carrington from Molino in January 1918 while serving overseas in WWI followed by Henry L. Peake aboard the USS Hancock that March.
As the deaths escalated, the government began mobilizing to prevent the widespread infection of the disease. An "Epidemic Headquarters" was opened on October 5th at 125 South Palafox Street and the public was asked for donations and volunteers. Even the Boy Scouts were asked for assistance. Churches and movie theaters were closed and overtime was authorized at the Pensacola Police Department because of the shortage of officers. The public was warned that even their postal service was being curtailed for the same reason. Doctors and nurses were even shipped to Pensacola by the Surgeon General of the US Public Health Service. A second call for volunteers with automobiles was made or at least allowing the use of their cars. Schools were closed until further notice, which placed a heavy burden on teachers and parents alike. Even the elevator service in the Brent Building (Garden and Palafox) was being discontinued because of operator illness. As to our transportation, over 67 employees of the Pensacola Electric Company (rail line) were incapacitated so you had to expect delays. Through it all, the populace was assured that the situation was well in hand.
Elsewhere across the country, Federal, state and local governments took control wherever they felt it was necessary. Soldiers were ordered to sleep outdoors at Camp Gordon, GA to prevent the spread of the virus as well as a mandatory usage of masks. Even the small town of Quincy, Florida was heavily stricken with over a 1,000 cases. Not far away, the community of Graceville was also heavily engaged in the virus battle. One confrontation over refusing to wear a mask resulted in a health officer shooting a citizen in San Francisco for "failure to comply!" There were even push backs from American citizens about using masks at all. So you could say that the "must wear facemasks" was not necessarily received with open arms much like today.
As for Pensacola, there were a multitude of deaths where the parents and their children paid the same price within a short interval. For instance, on October 9th Mrs. Annie Laurie Quick Touart succumbed from pneumonia complications at the Pensacola Hospital. She was a vibrant and musically talented young woman and sadly, an only child. However, both of her parents were also severely stricken with the same virus. Four days after Annie passed, her father joined her in the pale nations after a ten day struggle of his own. That same day, Mrs. Annie Gambuzza breathed her last as five of her seven children were stricken and hospitalized. In Quintette alone, four of the Harrison family, four of the Alexander family, three of the Webb family, and three of the Settle's family were all down with the virus at the same time. Mrs. Julia Klumker died on October 21st just one week to the day after her daughter Mrs. Katie Klumker Holland had passed from the same affliction. Another was Mrs. Frankie C. Briggs Donaldson, age 37 and her 11-year old daughter Catherine. Both were moved to Frankie's parents house at 1315 East LaRua Street for better care and isolation. This was because her husband, Officer William Donaldson with the PPD, was at their home stricken with the same aliment. William would survive, but Frankie and Catherine passed away only hours apart.
There were also those parents who lost multiple children as the virus spread throughout their family and Escambia County. Stephen Decatur and Sadie E. McCarthy Bennett lost their 12 year old son Walter Phillip on October 6th followed by their 15-year old daughter Sarah Elizabeth four days later. Sadly, this was not an uncommon occurrence in Pensacola!
Our military in Pensacola was hit hard as well, especially at NAS. As an example, there were over fourteen military personnel at the Navy Yard and Fort Barrancas alone that succumbed to influenza or complications of pneumonia within just a matter of days. Taps were blown, flags were lowered and the young men were sent back home in caskets on the L&N trains. One such sailor that had a short trip home was Ernest Ward of whom Ernest Ward High School of Walnut Hill was named. But far away, some were reported as victims of the virus such as Pensacola's Machinist William Miller aboard the USS Tallahassee at Gibraltar. However, his family was overjoyed to be notified that he was in reality very much alive.
Also one's station in life mattered not to the virus! Escambia's Judge Kirke Monroe held on for ten days before succumbing on October 13, 1918. Sadly, his wife Mary Beall Monroe died of the same affliction a week later on the 19th of October. Even the Chief of Police, A. Cary Ellis (also former Sheriff) was bedridden for three weeks before he could return to work, an issue affecting so many of our elected officials.
So as you look over these old articles just remember the old saying "those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." What have we learned over the past 102 years that better prepares us for what is to come? Other words, this current pandemic is not our first and sadly it will not be our last! Be safe!
A 1918 depiction of the Spanish Influenza
Barbers required to wear mask! Does this look familiar?
Theaters, churches, schools and all gatherings closed 1918
The Government began putting out public notices
to educate everyone, 9-2-1918 PNJ
Pensacola News Journal 10-12-1918
And local Pensacola drugstores stocked
up on Grove's Tonic PNJ 10-19-1918
Then the businesses began to close with other infrastructure
effects such as public transportation, 9-30-1918 PNJ
Pensacola News Journal 10-20-1918
Opening of the Epidemic Headquarters
Pensacola News Journal 10-20-1918
Pensacola News Journal 10-5-1918
Pensacola News Journal 10-5-1918
Pensacola News Journal 9-30-1918
Pensacola News Journal 10-6-1918
With theaters closed Hollywood quit making movies for awhile 10-12-1918
Epidemic impacts public transportation Pensacola News Journal 10-2-1918
Pensacola News Journal 10-14-1918
Pensacola News Journal 10-16-1918
Pensacola News Journal 10-7-1918
Pensacola News Journal 10-6-1918
Even the war effort had to be curtailed because of the virus!
Pensacola News Journal 10-9-1918
Pensacola News Journal 10-10-1918
Pensacola News Journal 10-7-1918
Pensacola News Journal 10-11-1918
Pensacola News Journal 10-12-1918
Pensacola News Journal 10-13-1918
Pensacola News Journal 10-17-1918
Pensacola News Journal 10-4-1918. Remember commercial elevators in those days had "operators" that controlled the instruments and the manual operated doors! Note also the impact on the City Attorney's Office and all public officials!
Pensacola News Journal 10-9-1918
Frankie Bonifay Donaldson and her daughter Catherine, victims of Influenza 1918
wife and daughter of Officer William Donaldson, Pensacola Police Department
Judge William Kirk, victim of influenza.
His wife expired from the virus as well
Push back against the mandatory use of masks, 10-26-1918 Calgary Herald
Comments