I'm not sure how the subject came up. It may have started with a question about a website then the topic took a turn. Regardless of the how it came to mind, I decided I needed to know more about the Spanish Influenza epidemic from March 1918 to spring of 1919. Looking at my own tree, I found one ancestor died in September of 1919 after the epidemic of Typhoid Fever (another blog for another day). The other died the fall before the outbreak. Even a bout of the flu today can send you to your maker. I could have stopped there, but since I've had a career in the medical field for over 25 years, my interest had been piqued.
According to the Warsaw County Times, October 10, 1918, "If the people of this country do not take care the epidemic [Spanish Influenza] will become so widespread throughout the United States that soon we will hear the disease called 'American' influenza." Had the American public been more informed, they would have realized it really was the American Influenza. It was on this day, Buffalo Mayor Buck ordered all schools, churches, movie houses and theaters, stores and taverns, essentially any public meeting to close their doors to the public. But where did it begin? Some thought it started in China, others a small town in Kansas. The Spanish flu hit in three waves.
On March 11, 1918, Fort Riley's company cook, Private Albert Gitchell, came down with cold like symptoms. He was sent to the infirmary and was isolated. Private Gitchell was the first reported case of the flu. Within one hour, several more soldiers came down with the same symptoms. This was a military outpost which trained new recruits before sending them off to Europe during the Great War. Within five weeks 1,127 soldiers at Fort Riley had been stricken; 46 died.
As we all know, any flu virus can kill its victim and usually that victim is very young or elderly. In 1918, it mutated into something more deadly. Its target was the young and healthy between the ages of 20 and 35 years old, spread quickly and in the end killed 5% of the world population. It became known as influenza, grippe, Spanish Lady, three-day fever, purulent bronchitis, sandfly fever and Blitz Katarrh.
There were reports of the same flu symptoms being reported from other Military camps. Soon after, there were reports aboard ships headed for Europe. By mid-May, French soldiers were infected.
When the flu hit Spain, the government announced the epidemic. Spain was the first country struck not involved in the war. Since their health reports were not censored, this was the first people had heard of the flu during the first wave. It was then when the flu was dubbed "Spanish Influenza." After sweeping through Spain, it spread to Russia, India, China, and Africa. By the end of July 1918, after infecting people all around the world, the first wave seemed to be dying out.
It wasn't long before the second wave struck. By late August 1918, it was not only contagious but more deadly. It hit three port cities virtually at the same time, Boston, United States, Brest, France and Freetown, Sierra Leone. The new mutation was felt immediately.
Symptoms of the mutant strain were quite gruesome. During the first hour there would be fatigue, fever, headache and victims would start turning blue. At times, the victims were so blue, their original skin color was difficult to determine. Coughing was with such force, some tore abdominal muscles. Foaming blood ran from mouths and noses. Some also bled from their ears. The second wave struck so quickly many died within hours of their first symptoms.
At the time of the second wave, Buffalo was the tenth largest city in the United States. By 20 September of 1918, the epidemic raged the Niagara-on-the-Lake military facility. Health Commissioner Dr. Franklin C. Gram asked all city physicians to report all cases to the Health Department for accurate statistics. He also wanted to isolate and quarantine call cases and contacts. When the announcement was made, there were no known cases in Buffalo, but they were expected. He told the public to brace themselves. He compared it to the measles; he knew the community would understand the comparison. Only 10 days later, 50 cases were reported. Dr. Gram braces for the worst.
By 10 October, sub-committees were formed to educate the public. Twenty-one districts were formed in the city, each with its own health inspector. Mayor Buck ordered all schools, churches, movie houses and theaters, taverns, pool halls, ice cream parlors and soda shops closed. Because of the streetcar strike ventilation and passenger restrictions were not needed. Nearly 100 cases were reported the day he issued these orders. As in other cities, hospitals filled quickly. Central High School was converted to a hospital until the pandemic was over. Other cities erected tents as hospitals.
Those not stricken with the flu wore masks for protection.
As with any medical outbreak, there were home remedies people tried; eating raw onions, keeping a potato in your pocket (even now I can't fathom why), and wearing a bag of camphor around your neck. None held off the deadly second wave.
A children's rhyme began during the second wave.
I had a little bird,
Its name was Enza.
I opened the window
And In-flu-Enza.
The number of bodies soon out numbered the available resources to deal with them. Morgues were forced to stack bodies like cord wood in corridors of the morgues. There were not enough coffins or people to dig the graves. Many were buried in mass graves freeing towns and cities of rotting corpses.
Armistice, November 11, 1918, it was the end of the Great War. As people were coming out on the streets to welcome home the returning troops, soldiers were hugged and kissed thus beginning the third wave of the Spanish Influenza outbreak. The third wave was not as deadly as the second but still worse than the first.
No one knows why the flu mutated in 1918, nor how to prevent it from happening again.
Influenza Archive
According to the Warsaw County Times, October 10, 1918, "If the people of this country do not take care the epidemic [Spanish Influenza] will become so widespread throughout the United States that soon we will hear the disease called 'American' influenza." Had the American public been more informed, they would have realized it really was the American Influenza. It was on this day, Buffalo Mayor Buck ordered all schools, churches, movie houses and theaters, stores and taverns, essentially any public meeting to close their doors to the public. But where did it begin? Some thought it started in China, others a small town in Kansas. The Spanish flu hit in three waves.
On March 11, 1918, Fort Riley's company cook, Private Albert Gitchell, came down with cold like symptoms. He was sent to the infirmary and was isolated. Private Gitchell was the first reported case of the flu. Within one hour, several more soldiers came down with the same symptoms. This was a military outpost which trained new recruits before sending them off to Europe during the Great War. Within five weeks 1,127 soldiers at Fort Riley had been stricken; 46 died.
 |
| Familiar military telegram sent to loved ones |
As we all know, any flu virus can kill its victim and usually that victim is very young or elderly. In 1918, it mutated into something more deadly. Its target was the young and healthy between the ages of 20 and 35 years old, spread quickly and in the end killed 5% of the world population. It became known as influenza, grippe, Spanish Lady, three-day fever, purulent bronchitis, sandfly fever and Blitz Katarrh.
There were reports of the same flu symptoms being reported from other Military camps. Soon after, there were reports aboard ships headed for Europe. By mid-May, French soldiers were infected.
When the flu hit Spain, the government announced the epidemic. Spain was the first country struck not involved in the war. Since their health reports were not censored, this was the first people had heard of the flu during the first wave. It was then when the flu was dubbed "Spanish Influenza." After sweeping through Spain, it spread to Russia, India, China, and Africa. By the end of July 1918, after infecting people all around the world, the first wave seemed to be dying out.
 |
| Military staff report |
It wasn't long before the second wave struck. By late August 1918, it was not only contagious but more deadly. It hit three port cities virtually at the same time, Boston, United States, Brest, France and Freetown, Sierra Leone. The new mutation was felt immediately.
Symptoms of the mutant strain were quite gruesome. During the first hour there would be fatigue, fever, headache and victims would start turning blue. At times, the victims were so blue, their original skin color was difficult to determine. Coughing was with such force, some tore abdominal muscles. Foaming blood ran from mouths and noses. Some also bled from their ears. The second wave struck so quickly many died within hours of their first symptoms.
At the time of the second wave, Buffalo was the tenth largest city in the United States. By 20 September of 1918, the epidemic raged the Niagara-on-the-Lake military facility. Health Commissioner Dr. Franklin C. Gram asked all city physicians to report all cases to the Health Department for accurate statistics. He also wanted to isolate and quarantine call cases and contacts. When the announcement was made, there were no known cases in Buffalo, but they were expected. He told the public to brace themselves. He compared it to the measles; he knew the community would understand the comparison. Only 10 days later, 50 cases were reported. Dr. Gram braces for the worst.
By 10 October, sub-committees were formed to educate the public. Twenty-one districts were formed in the city, each with its own health inspector. Mayor Buck ordered all schools, churches, movie houses and theaters, taverns, pool halls, ice cream parlors and soda shops closed. Because of the streetcar strike ventilation and passenger restrictions were not needed. Nearly 100 cases were reported the day he issued these orders. As in other cities, hospitals filled quickly. Central High School was converted to a hospital until the pandemic was over. Other cities erected tents as hospitals.
Those not stricken with the flu wore masks for protection.
 |
| Trolley Driver denying a passenger a ride because he isn't wearing a mask |
 |
| Mailman protecting himself |
 |
| Typist at Work |
A children's rhyme began during the second wave.
I had a little bird,
Its name was Enza.
I opened the window
And In-flu-Enza.
The number of bodies soon out numbered the available resources to deal with them. Morgues were forced to stack bodies like cord wood in corridors of the morgues. There were not enough coffins or people to dig the graves. Many were buried in mass graves freeing towns and cities of rotting corpses.
Armistice, November 11, 1918, it was the end of the Great War. As people were coming out on the streets to welcome home the returning troops, soldiers were hugged and kissed thus beginning the third wave of the Spanish Influenza outbreak. The third wave was not as deadly as the second but still worse than the first.
No one knows why the flu mutated in 1918, nor how to prevent it from happening again.
 |
| Superintendent's condolence letter to a child's parents |
