In the autumn of 1918, World War I was nearing an end, and Cecil County was looking forward to the doughboys returning home from the trenches of Europe. But no one was prepared for the crisis that was about to strike the home front. Hitting suddenly, the Midland Journal reported on October 4, 1918, that the Spanish Flu or “some other creepy, shivery, feverish, disagreeable malady was fairly epidemic in Rising Sun, numerous person, some very serious, were on the sick list.”
Is This a New German Offensive
As this unprecedented epidemic swept across the nation and Maryland, the Rising Sun newspaper asked, “Is this new disease which has already killed hundreds and stricken thousands of our soldiers and civilians a new German war offensive 1? If not, how did it happen that this epidemic appeared so suddenly and extensively in such widely scattered cities and army camps throughout the country? Smitten as from a bolt from a clear sky, thousands of Americans have been suddenly prostrated in many widely separated parts of the country, during the past ten days, by a disease which is called, apparently for want of a better name, ‘Spanish Influenza.’”
“Naturally, under all the circumstances, there is much speculation regarding the maters,” the paper continued. “Perhaps because there seems to be a rather natural disposition to ascribe about everything that is perfidious in the world today to Germany, some have ventured the guess that the disease may have been introduced and spread by German agents. This theory is considered groundless and absurd, it seeming hardly conceivable that if Germany undertook an offensive of this kind, she would choose such a mild and humane sort of disease. Much more plausible explanation seems to be the fact that the recent cold snap caught the country entirely unprepared for such severe weather, and as a result of our unheated dwellings and the inadequate clothing, large numbers of people contracted cold. Regardless, there seems to be no occasion for special alarm or panic about the matter for the disease is evidently one which the American medical profession is perfectly able to handle and effective measures are being taken. 1.”
Despite the editor’s reasoning, the Spanish Flu invaded homes and businesses in every part of the county. In North East, the Cecil Star’s publisher, Mr. Garey, “fell under the influence of the flu, putting it [paper] completely out of business for eight days.” And since there was no help in the office, the North East publication missed an issue, the first time in 36 years 2
In Elkton, all the operators at the telephone exchange were seriously ill, so the phone company brought in operators from Salisbury 3. A similar situation existed in North East, the virus sweeping the office there, causing the exchange to shut down.
As September faded into October, the situation was “exceedingly grave,” with numerous deaths occurring. “One of the distressing features of the epidemic was that so many deaths occurred throughout the county that it had been impossible for undertakers to secure caskets from the supply houses on time,” so funerals were delayed. In other instances, undertakers called on local carpenters to make caskets 4. At the West Nottingham Cemetery, Eli Coulson, the superintendent, reported that he had opened three graves daily for the past two weeks.
Spanish Flu Shutdown Cecil County
As this was going on, the Cecil County Board of Health took action to quarantine the virus. Dr. H. Arthur Cantwell, the public health officer, ordered that all schools, churches, moving picture theatres, and places of public gathering be closed starting on October 2, 1918. He also banned public funerals. Emphasizing the importance of the action Hugh W. Caldwell, Superintendent of Schools added that it was the hope that this action would check the spread of the Spanish Influenza.
Toward the end of October, the suffering and deaths declined. And on October 27, the Cecil County Board of Health lifted the ban on public assembly, announcing that church services could resume for the first time in several weeks. With things returning to normal, Cecil County Schools Superintendent Caldwell added that schools would reopen on Monday, October. 28. He ordered the principals to secure formaldehyde for the schools, or if they couldn’t do that, they should open up the buildings to admit sunlight and air for several days.
Notes:
Over the next week, we will share a few more items on how Cecil County coped with the pandemic of 1918
We will also compile a tabulation of those killed in Cecil County to develop a better idea of the impact of the virus. This will include a list of those that died during the pandemic.
Continues on Part II — Cecil Grapples with the Spanish Influenza of 1918