There are few today who recall that within living memory the
worst epidemic in U. S. history occurred. As World War I raged
across Europe, the autumn of 1918 saw the world swept by what
became known as the Spanish Influenza. Estimates of how many
people died from the disease world-wide range from 20 to 40 million,
and in the United States alone over 25 million were infected,
with over 670,000 dying.
From the end of September 1918 through the end of the year, Beloit
had over 5,000 cases of the “grip” as it was called,
and over 100 deaths. The first fatality in Beloit attributed
to the flu was Kenneth Dales, 19, of South Bluff, on September
27, 1918. Typical of the Spanish Flu and unlike what was usual
with other fatal influenza, most deaths occurred to those between
the ages of 20 and 45, the very young and very old usually being
spared. The flu struck rapidly and without warning. Symptoms
of pain, fever, and general malaise would come on suddenly, and
in a quarter of all cases pneumonia would develop. As temperatures
soared to 105 degrees, lungs would start bleeding, a horrific,
blood-filled cough would ensue, and patients would literally
drown in there own body fluids. It was a gruesome death.
As September turned into October, more and more cases were being
reported in Beloit; by October 2nd there were 200 cases in the
city. On the 3rd Beloit College quarantined its quarters, and
the football schedule was canceled until further notice. On the
4th it was reported that Gaston School had over 100 flu-related
absences.
With the epidemic escalating, and the need to prevent the
further spread of the disease, the Beloit Board of Health took
a remarkable step: On October 5th it was resolved “that
all moving picture shows, theaters, dance halls, public schools
and churches and all places of public assemblage be closed to
the public beginning Monday, October 7th, until further notice.”
Dr. W. L. Holt, Beloit’s Health Officer, in issuing this
resolution, estimated that there may have been 1,000 cases of
influenza in the city at that time. The Board of Health even
deputized all Beloit’s citizens to enlist them in the fight
against the epidemic, and doctors were to report new cases to
the Board daily. It was requested that there be no “indiscriminate
sneezing, spitting or coughing,” and the “thorough
airing of every room in the city [was] urged at least once a
day.” Professor T. L. Wright, secretary of the Beloit College
faculty, announced that the entire college was being isolated.
In 1918 Beloit had three hospitals - General Hospital at Broad
& Park, Beloit Hospital at Broad & Pleasant, and Strong
Emergency Hospital on the third floor at Grand & State. They
filled up as the epidemic exploded, even having to turn patients
away. A partial solution was devised October 15th by turning
the Red Cross House on West Grand (just west of the old high
school) into a temporary hospital. In less than a day it was
converted, and it was a great help in relieving the strain on
the other hospitals.
Scattered throughout the pages of the newspaper at this time
were the death notices of those overcome by the influenza:
“William Gundlack, 1202 Elm St., died this morning
[Oct. 7] from pneumonia following influenza . . . He was 23 years
old . . . and . . . is survived by his wife [and] a child, two
weeks old . . .”
“Mrs. Ida Klingberg, 745 11th St., died yesterday afternoon
[Oct. 8], after a short illness with influenza. . . She was the
wife of Frank Klingberg, who, together with five children, survive.
She was 37 years old. . .”
“Mrs. John Hoard died yesterday [Oct. 13] at her home, 611
E. Grand Ave., after an illness of about a week, with Spanish
influenza and pneumonia. Her sister, Mrs. K. E. Ringberg, who
suffered from the same disease, preceded her in death by only
a few days. . . A double funeral service was held . . .”
“E. J. Cork, colored, an employee of the Fairbanks-Morse
plant living in one of the company’s camps on the River
Road, died yesterday [Oct. 24] of pneumonia following an attack
of influenza . . . A brother of the man, living at Grand Rivers,
Kentucky, has been notified . . .”
Spanish Flu fatalities in Beloit peaked over the weekend of Oct.
19-20 when 12 died from the flu. The undertakers were so busy
that one unnamed establishment reported that it had 5 bodies
waiting to be embalmed. The hospitals were handicapped from sick
nurses and other staff, including Beloit General’s janitor
Mr. Markley dying due to the flu.
By November 4th it was felt safe to send kids back to school,
in light of declines in new cases and the fact that the Spanish
Flu wasn’t nearly as dangerous to those under 20 years old.
But the students had to bring a note stating that they did not
have the flu now nor had it in the last 10 days; more than 700
pupils did not report the first day, and over a hundred High
School students were sent home because they had forgotten a note.
New cases had declined to the point that it was felt that the
danger of greatest infection had passed, so on November 8th the
ban on public assembly was lifted. Finally after 6 weeks churches
could again hold services, theaters could resume there schedules,
and “the social whirl [would] begin with a dance at Cosmo
hall. . .” But the Board of Health also required that “the
managers of the theaters and moving-picture houses . . . exclude
any one who sneezed or coughed . . . If anyone does have to sneeze
or cough in a public place they are urged to catch the germs
in their handkerchief . . .” The Wilson, Rex and Strand
Theaters took out a full-page ad announcing their re-opening
on Saturday the 9th.
As November and December wore on the epidemic stabilized and
then started to decline. There were still new cases as winter
changed to spring, but the disease lost its virulence, and fatalities
from it greatly declined. Overall the heaviest toll from the
disease had been in the minority and immigrant communities concentrated
on Race St. and along Pleasant and Eclipse; the main causes cited
were overcrowding and poor living conditions.
The Spanish Influenza Epidemic of 1918 seemed to be all but forgotten
for years, due in part to its occurring during the “war
to end all wars.” Even at the time it was usually pushed
from the front pages of the newspaper by news of the war in Europe.
Also, it was a very unpleasant memory, and many chose to forget.
In any case, it was a remarkable time in Beloit history, and
no family was left untouched.
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