Missoula’s ‘1918 Spanish Flu’ Epidemic – ‘3 Waves’
Notes On Missoula’s Spanish Flu Epidemic in 1918 – 3 ‘Waves’
Below is a short synopsis of an article about the flu pandemic that appeared in Montana the Magazine of Western History in 1987:
From – “Montanans and “The Most Peculiar Disease”: The Influenza Epidemic and Public Health, 1918-1919” by Pierce C. Mullen and Michael L. Nelsen – Source: Montana The Magazine of Western History, Vol 37, No. 2 (Spring, 1987) pp. 50 – 61 – Published by: Montana Historical Society
Montana had high level of infection and ranked as one of the four hardest hit states.
Present-day medical scientists classify three strains of influenza: “A,” “B,” and “C.” The first two are most important for humans, and it was type “A” that caused the pandemic in 1918-1919.
During the spring of 1918, an early, mild form of the type “A” virus moved through Montana [ 1st wave] . . . A second wave, the real killer, arrived in late August and early September and passed about Thanksgiving time. A final, third wave, came about Christmas time and lingered until nearly spring [1919].
A half a million people in the United States died of influenza during those ten months, from August 1918 to June 1919. During this period, approximately five thousand Montanans succumbed, about 1 per cent of the state’s population. It was a severe loss to Montana, for the majority of those who died were between eighteen and forty years of age . . .
As recorded in the Board of Health’s annual report in 1918, the first cases of flu in Montana were in Scobey [September 1918 ]. . .
The infection spread rapidly to other areas of the state. . . By the third week of the month [October 1918], the height of the flu epidemic in Montana, authorities had tallied 860 cases and 38 deaths in Missoula.
The people of Butte suffered terribly during the epidemic. . . As the lethal second wave passed through the city, the grisly statistics mounted. Over a third of the influenza-related deaths in Montana during this period occurred in Butte-Silver Bow. Butte had been stricken on a par with San Francisco and Philadelphia, both of which were among the hardest hit cities in the nation. . .
During October and November [1918], the paper [Billings Gazette] reported that there were 12,000 cases in Billings and the surrounding area and 170 deaths . . .
Inability to prevent the spread of disease was interpreted by some highly placed health officials as evidence that restrictions might not be an effective deterrent. . . Dr. William F. Cogswell, a doughty Nova Scotian and driving force behind state health policy, returned from a meeting of the American Public Health Association and announced that because no one knew for certain what caused influenza it would be best to lift closing restrictions “so that business can go on.” In fairness, however, he made this statement after the worst of the second wave had passed.
During the epidemic, college administrators had a special burden to bear, because college-age students were particularly at risk. Concerned about economic uncertainties at the end of the Great War and reluctant to dismiss school lest they lose students permanently, university authorities in Missoula sent conflicting signals to the state. Even though Missoula County schools were closed, University President Edward O. Sisson resisted following suit: Our situation is vastly different from the public schools. . .
Nevertheless, five days later, as the second wave of flu began to reach into the community, Sisson, Dr. Cogswell, Chancellor Edward C. Elliott, Dr. Harry Farnsworth, and the physical director, W. E. Schreiber, agreed that the university would have to close. They also agreed to keep Craig Hall open to house women students but to maintain a quarantine. . .
Some on campus jeopardized their health to aid the sick. The Student Army Training Corps (forerunner of the Reserve Officer Training Corps [ROTC]) lived in pitched tents and worked as nurses in the gymnasium, which had been fumigated and fitted out to receive the sick. Ironically, university officials were more preoccupied with an outbreak of scarlet fever, which coincided with the second wave of influenza. The first death at the university took place shortly after the middle of October [1918] . . . The university reported 130 cases of influenza; a mood of crises gripped the campus.
President Sisson made special note of the performance of SATC student advisor, Lieutenant Harry Kirkham. Writing to the young officer’s superior, Sisson lauded Kirkham:
I feel I ought to report to you the courage and resolution with which Lt. Kirkham has stuck to his post in spite of the fact that at the first terrible onset of the disease he was practically broken down. He was concerned only for the welfare of his men. It is not my official duty to do this, but it is due him.
When all was said and done, deaths among male university students were fewer per capita than among a similar population at Fort Missoula. The university had pursued a risky course in order to prevent loss of revenue from student fees. Had things worked out otherwise, university administrators might have been called to account for their resistance to closure. . .
Perhaps the most severe tests of human endurance took place in remote areas, where medical aid was minimal and nurses were particularly scarce. A Miles City citizen, for example, found a neighbor family of five all dead. Having become ill they were so weak that they starved to death. . .
The measures taken during the epidemic were only palliatives. Flu cases swamped Montana’s health care facilities. The Board of Health report for 1919 surveyed the influenza-caused case load:
Now that the epidemic has apparently, to some extent, subsided, it might be well to look back and see what a swath it cut in the State of Montana. In October [1918] 19,980 cases were reported; in November 12,177 and in December 5,410 for a total of 37,567. But this does not represent the full number of cases as reports were incomplete.
The reports make a distinction between deaths due to influenza and deaths due to influenza with pneumonic complications. Because the most widely accepted etiological explanation of flu suggested that two organisms were present, morbidity and mortality statistics are confusing. After sifting them carefully it appears that 1,032 died in October, 1,471 in November, and 719 in December. In stark terms, 3,222 Montanans succumbed to flu and its complications in a period of six weeks. . .
Cogswell and his associates correlated epidemiological data and discovered that Montana had been hit hard indeed. On a per capita basis, Montana and Maryland suffered on the same level and ranked just behind Pennsylvania, the state with the highest mortality ratio in the nation. . . A decade later, when the final tally was made, it was discovered that Montana ranked among the four hardest hit states in the nation. . .
In early November 1918, the army released a preventive vaccine with the warning that it was “experimental” and may or may not produce immunity. The Montana State Board of Health took the warning at face value and decided not to use it. Instead, the state imported small dosages of a vaccine produced in Rochester, Minnesota, at what would later become the Mayo Clinic. Dr. Charles McRay of Cogswell’s staff spent a couple of weeks there working with Dr. E. C. Rosenow who was responsible for developing the vaccine. The Board of Health then made available ten quarts of the fluid with the qualification that – the attitude of the State Board is that this vaccine is in the experimental stage. It will do no harm and may do good. We do not urge you to take it, but we wish to be in a position to furnish it if wanted. . . vaccines were never available in quantity nor did they seem to be very useful.
By Christmas of 1918 larger communities in the state reported an abatement of the disease. The State Board of Health was determined not to be caught napping if another outbreak occurred, so it took a very cautious stance. All preventive measures short of restrictions on assembly remained in force. They allowed schools to open after Christmas; in some cases, they permitted other forms of assembly. But the Board of Health was determined to retain control. Businessmen chafed and complained about undue restraint of trade, but Cogswell was adamant. When the plague returned, as he was certain that it would, he wanted the state to be ready.
When the third wave returned in the winter and spring of 1919, it was not nearly so severe as the second wave had been, but it did claim a number of victims. . .
When state epidemiologist Dr. John J. Syppy tabulated the final count for the Tenth Biennial Report of the State Board of Health, he found that 1,266 more Montanans had died in this last wave. As he reviewed reports from physicians responding to his request for statistical data, he came to the conclusion that the hard-pressed doctors who were treating patients during the outbreak were so busy that they reported only about half of their cases. If Syppy’s estimates were correct, about one-third of the population of the state contracted the disease, many more than the death rate of 8.6 per thousand might suggest. . .
From today’s perspective it is difficult to evaluate the overall impact of the great influenza pandemic on Montana. At the time, Montana was intensely concerned with the Great War and its conclusion. Newspapers of the day did not dwell on flu. Rather, they devoted front pages to the war news, to Montana’s sons in France, and to efforts to negotiate a peace. It appears as if people saw influenza first as a nuisance, then as a local disaster, and finally as a nagging worry. But it is just possible that the influenza experience reinforced Montana’s desire after the war to isolate itself, to look inward, to find a sense of balance, to seek a place from which to survey a broken world.
The complete article is available online at JSTOR – https://www.jstor.org/stable/pdf/4519050.pdf?refreqid=excelsior%3A16e9a25bc4462e4135490c74cc7bb8d6
Interestingly, one influence that impacted the people of Montana at this time came about with Montana’s prohibition, beginning in 1919. Missoulian headlines and local articles dwelt heavily on this and continued to do so for a long time. The change in Montana’s culture as a result of this is a complex subject. For more information see the following:
Scholarworks at the University of Montana: The Campaign For Prohibition In Montana: Agrarian Idealism And Liquor Reform, 1883-1926 – by Louis J. Bahin, Master of Arts thesis, 1984
https://scholarworks.umt.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=9650&context=etd
Notes on Missoula’s Spanish Flu – 1918
Follow a daily account of activity as reported in the Daily Missoulian newspaper:
“Dread Influenza Invades State” – Headline of Missoulian – 10/1/1918
Helena, Sept 30 – Sheridan county reports 100 cases of Spanish influenza; Billings 3, Fergus county 10, Helena 1. – 400 men will train in Msla (Student Army Training Corps – S.T.A.C.)
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Vaccine Found for Influenza – Missoulian 10/02/1918
New Vaccine will prevent Spanish influenza – discovered by Dr. William Parks – health department bacteriologist – 95 percent of deaths are between 15 and 45 years old, men easier victims than women.
88,000 cases in army camps
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State to fight disease – cases so far in Libby, Choteau, Billings, Scobey, Whitehall, and Twin Bridges – 100,000 soldiers affected in camps – Missoulian 10/03/1918
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Influenza Wave Slowly Spreading Over Country – 112,737 cases in army camps – Scobey Mt has several hundred cases – Missoulian 10/04/1918
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Rumor of 2 cases of “flu” in Missoula – not confirmed by Dr. Richey City Health Officer – Missoulian 10/05/1918
city passes anti-spitting ordinance – 127,975 cases of “flu” in army camps – Scobey Mt reports 6 deaths
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Big Increase in “flu” cases in Army camps – 17,000 cases in 24 hours – Missoulian 10/6/1918
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Spanish Epidemic hits local post – 25 men quarantined after spending day in city – cases slight – 10/7/1918
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Put quarantine on Fort Missoula – 25 cases reported of Spanish Influenza – no one enters or leaves – Missoulian 10/8/1918
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City Council says schools, churches, theaters, and all places of public gathering will close from flu “should it strike Missoula.” – Missoulian 10/9/1918
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Missoula Clamps Lid Over Epidemic – 28 “flu” cases in Missoula – Missoulian 10/10/1918
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37 New Cases of “Flu” in Missoula – Missoulian 10/11/1918
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“Flu” Situation Not Dangerous – 53 new cases – chairs taken from saloons – Missoulian 10/12/1918
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“Flu” Epidemic Seems Lessened – about 50 new cases – only 1 death – Missoulian 10/13/1918
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“Flu” Epidemic Increases Here – 2nd death – 109 cases at Fort – isolating the sick in tents – Missoulian 10/14/1918
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Influenza Toll Raised to Five – MD’s swamped – 22 new patients but only 2 MD’s report – 49 students isolated at the University – Missoulian 10/15/1918
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Two More Deaths Occur From “flu” – 28 new cases – 330 cases so far – (115 at the Fort) – University closed – Missoulian 10/16/1918
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Four Die Here of Influenza – 7 MD’s report 60 new cases – 60 cases yesterday – 384 cases total (excluding Fort) – Missoulian 10/17/1918
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5 More Deaths – 69 New Cases – 453 Total cases – Missoulian 10/18/1918
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Epidemic Takes Three More Here – 62 New Cases – 515 Total – Theaters, Pool Halls, Dance Halls Schools & Churches closed – Missoulian 10/19/1918
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3 More Die In “Flu” Epidemic – 29 New Cases – 544 Total Cases – 24 Total Deaths – 35 People @ St Pats Hosp. – Missoulian 10/20/1918
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Scarlet Fever at U (8 cases) – 36 New Cases – 580 Total – 3 deaths – Quit remarking funerals to stop people attending – Missoulian 10/21/1918
Very sad case – traveler whose wife died has 2 kids sick on the island in city – help – 18 die in Butte
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“Flu” Epidemic Seems Subsiding – 42 New Cases – University Hospital to be built – Missoulian 10/22/1918
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4 Deaths and 70 New Cases – MD’s too busy to report – Nurses wanted – Missoulian 10/23/1918
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Missoula Closes Up for Epidemic – 3 Dead – 46 New Cases – Total 35 Dead – 738 Total Cases – Missoulian 10/24/1918
Numerous business close – New U hospital will take 50 patients
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One More Death – 42 New Cases – Total 780 – Missoulian 10/25/1918
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2 Deaths – 44 New Cases– Vincent/McClellan family loses 3 women – Red Cross seeks nurses – make your own flu masks – Missoulian 10/26/1918
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Only One Death As “Flu” Lessons – 36 New Cases – Missoulian 10/27/1918
4th Member of McClellan Family Dies – 860 total cases – 38 Deaths
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Epidemic Takes Four More Here – 36 New Cases – Missoulian 10/28/1918
Nurse Jesse White dies a Heroine
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Three Army Boys Are ‘Flu’ Victims – 28 New Cases – Missoulian 10/29/1918
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Epidemic Seems Decreased Here – 3 deaths – 20 New Cases (22 died in Butte today) – Missoulian 10/30/1918
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“Flu” Prevention Increased Again – No Deaths – 21 New Cases – Missoulian 10/31/1918
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Epidemic Conditions in Missoula Are Improved – 1 Death – 20 New Cases – Missoulian 11/1/1918
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“Flu” Epidemic Increases Here – 3 Die – 49 New Cases – Missoulian 11/2/1918
Mr. McClellan death makes 5 in one family
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Best Condition Since ‘Flu’ Came – 0 Deaths – 18 New Cases – Missoulian 11/3/1918
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Epidemic in City Takes 4 – 29 New Cases – Missoulian 11/4/1918
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6 Die In Day – Largest Number in Single Day – 20 New Cases – Missoulian 11/5/1918
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3 die – 40 New Cases On Election Day – Missoulian 11/6/1918
1,141 cases in October
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“Flu” Toll Here Reaches 70 – 5 Succumb in 1 Day – 14 New Cases – Missoulian 11/7/1918
70 Deaths – 1028 Cases Reported
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2 die – 29 New Cases – Missoulian 11/8/1918
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Flu Decrease Noted – 1 Death – 9 New Cases – Missoulian 11/9 1918
Schools Have Been Closed 4 Weeks
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No Deaths – 23 new cases – Missoulian 11/10/1918
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World WAR 1 ENDS – See Celebration article below
3 More Die – 9 new cases – Missoulian 11/11/1918
Some Quarantine restrictions lifted / Free Vaccines given
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3 dead – 17 new patients – Missoulian 11/12/1918
Free vaccine by city board of health – 3 treatments necessary – 50 Japanese at funeral – Draft suspended
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1 Dead – 45 new cases – Contact Health Officer Dr. Richey for vaccine – Missoulian 11/13/1918
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4 Dead – 23 new cases – City officials will continue restrictions – Missoulian 11/14/1918
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3 Dead – 16 new cases – 86 total deaths – 1,190 total cases – almost no Italians sick – garlic remedy – Missoulian 11/15/1918
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1 Dead – 16 new cases – 1,341 Total cases – 88 total deaths – Missoulian 11/16/1918
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Flu loses grip – 2 new cases – 2 deaths – many young people returning to city – early lifting of restrictions possible – Missoulian 11/18/1918
52 new cases in Butte
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Lid will come off in 2 days – motion pics in 3 days – schools open after Thanksgiving – 8 new cases – 0 deaths – Missoulian 11/19/1918
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Flu making last stand – 3 new cases – 0 deaths – Health officer predicts return to normal – Missoulian 11/20/1918
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Flu loss to Msla businesses is about $50,000 – 22 saloons lose $1,000 each avg. – 1 new case – 2 deaths – Missoulian 11/21/1918
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Movies, saloons, billiard halls open yesterday, dance halls still closed – no children in theaters – 10 new cases – 1 death – Missoulian 11/22/1918
Butte has 122 new cases – 15 deaths (ban was lifted)
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No reports in Missoulian until 11/28/1918 – 10 previous cases reported
Community sing at Liberty Theater called off – 24 new cases – 2 deaths – Missoulian 11/28/1918
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Theaters & Picture shows close again – MD’s too busy to report – Butte closing down again – Missoulian 11/29/1918
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36 New cases – 0 deaths – Schools to stay closed – skating rink closed – Missoulian 11/30/1918
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University to remain closed – 3 new scarlet fever cases – 35 new flu cases – 0 deaths – Missoulian 12/1/1918
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University closed until Jan 1 – 27 new cases – 0 deaths – free vaccine at Health Office – Missoulian 12/2/1918
Butte turmoil – 12 deaths – 25 new cases
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39 new cases – 3 dead – Missoulian 12/3/1918
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36 new cases – 4 dead – Mrs. George Dufresne of Huson dies mother of 7 small children – Missoulian 12/4/1918
Butte – 600 dead in 2 months
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37 new cases – 0 deaths – National toll over 300,000 – Msla schools closed until Dec 30 – Missoulian 12/5/1918
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36 new cases – Flu Steadily Decreases with 4 dead (???) – [Missoulian downplaying problem] – total reported cases 1,494 – 192 deaths – Missoulian 12/6/1918
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34 new cases – 3 deaths – citizens meet at city hall – Infected homes to be placarded – some say keep business open versus individual quarantine – Missoulian 12/7/1918
Dr. McCullough says isolate and placard infected homes. Missoulian editor urges placarding outside city also. Several opinions from citizens.
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29 new cases – 2 deaths – Dr. Spottswood, Dr. Mills, Dr. Ritchey, Dr. Jennings, Dr. Pease, Dr. Randall, Dr. Pixley meet – Missoulian 12/8/1918
– They agree to make a plan and submit it to the city board of health & other organizations
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1 new case [only 1 MD reported] – 1 death – Medical board will meet again – Butte 6 deaths and 8 new cases – Missoulian 12/9/1918
Quarantine on S.A.T.C. boys at the U lifted – they invade town.
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31 new cases (for previous 2 days) – 6 deaths – Medical board will bring findings to city meeting – Missoulian 12/10/1918
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25 new cases – 3 dead – Findings: Quarantine is the Answer – Isolate at home – Police will help enforce – several restrictions – no gathering, lounging or loafing – placard houses – Missoulian 12/11/1918
Children do not congregate – saloons remain open but limit customers (this is Missoula remember)
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6 new cases – 1 dead – local news now reporting on ‘recovery from flu’ – too much bad news – Missoulian 12/12/1918
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28 new cases – 1 death – “Spanish Influenza” placards will be distributed by physicians – Mayor requesting senators to make Fort Hospital available – 60 beds – Missoulian 12/13/1918
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22 new cases – 2 deaths – local man dies in Billings after first recovering – Missoulian 12/14/1918
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4 new cases – 0 deaths – only 4 MD’s report – Hospital at Fort Missoula will be available to city – family of 4 found dead of “flu” in Miles City – Missoulian 12/15/1918
6 dead in Stevensville in last 2 weeks
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8 new cases reported by 1 MD – 2 deaths – ban removed on religious meetings – Fort Hospital now available – Missoulian 12/16/1918
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24 new cases – 1 death – Meeting at Dr. J. N. Maclean’s church study – Sunday Services only – Missoulian 12/17/1918
sad story 4 children put in Children’s Home – mother died of ‘flu’– father in jail – Discharge of S.A.T.C. soldiers at U.
0 deaths in Butte – first time since Oct. 9
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7 new cases – 0 deaths – state deaths were 860 in October – 1000 in November – “flu” situation much better – Missoulian 12/18/1918
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18 new cases – 0 deaths – S.A.T.C. men discharged – 281 at U – 31 at Fort – They were quarantined most of time here – U hospital will stay open – Missoulian 12/19/1918
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no cases reported – 2 deaths (from obits) – Missoulian 12/20/1918
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10 new cases – 2 deaths – Restrictions lifting – theaters opening with alternate rows – public meetings – no dances – placarding to stay – SATC boys forgot Flag – Missoulian 12/21/1918
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“Since October 8, 465 cases of influenza have been handled by St. Patrick’s hospital alone. At present every available room in the hospital is occupied – even in the basement. Some rooms are fitted with two or three beds. Whole families are confined in the hospital. Since the epidemic 12 of the sisters and eight nurses have been victims of the influenza; but are now all well again.”
7 new cases – 0 deaths – theaters will open Monday – churches will have service – skating for Christmas – Missoulian 12/22/1918
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14 new cases – 1 death – Dr. Cogswell of State Board of Health says Rosenow vaccine is showing good results – other vaccines also – State Board will distribute the vaccine – Missoulian 12/23/1918
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4 new cases – 1 death – 2 MD’s report – Authorities report that “flu” costing more lives than the war – stay away from crowds – cover coughs & sneezes – avoid common cups – Missoulian 12/24/1918
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9 new cases – 2 deaths – epidemic “about run its course” – people shopping – stores crowded – Mitchell ”character of the underworld dies” [front street] – Missoulian 12/25/1918
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2 deaths (obit) – no report by Missoulian – people celebrate – prohibition coming – saloons busy – jail has 50 inmates – Missoulian 12/26/1918
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27 new cases – 0 deaths – (1 “flu” death – Obit) – public schools will open next Monday – closed since Oct. 6 – Missoulian 12/27/1918
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9 new cases – 0 deaths – restrictions lifted from all rural schools in Msla County – Missoulian 12/28/1918
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3 deaths (obits) – no flu report in Missoulian – jail full of drunks (breaking record) – State will go dry on Jan 1 – parties celebrating xmas – weddings – Missoulian 12/29/1918
No plans to hire school nurses yet
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1 death (obit) – no flu report in Missoulian – death of Mrs. Jennie (Parks) Kupsky of Evaro is last in family 4 dead – “flu” not mentioned in obit – schools open today – Missoulian 12/30/1918
Saloons close tonight – beginning of State prohibition- – dance halls want to open
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2 deaths (obit) – no flu report in Missoulian – big crowd at Elks Club dance – 250 saloons and 3 breweries close in Butte – liquor auctioned off at Grand Pacific Hotel in Msla – Missoulian 12/31/1918
Record breaking day at employment “job” office – 8 quarantined S.A.T.C. men at U released
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9 new cases and 14 the previous day – free vaccine still being given – Missoulian 1/1/1919
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Week of cases reported for state – Great Falls 28 – Glendive 10 – Kalispell 21 – Bozeman 26 – Libby 6 – Whitefish 17 – Missoula county 11 – Missoula city 64, Livingston 2 – Ravalli county 2 – Billings 68. – Missoulian 1/3/1919
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2 new cases – vaccines still being given – 111,688 deaths from ‘flu’ in 46 larger cities – Missoulian 1/6/1919
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Roosevelt dies – 134 people in jail week before prohibition – no ‘flu’ report – Missoulian 1/7/1919
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31 new cases – 0 deaths – several days all told – Health Officer Dr. Ritchey himself is ‘flu’ victim – Missoulian 1/11/1919
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32 new cases – 1 death – dance halls back open – Bonner school to stay closed – Principal there has ‘flu’ – vaccine still available – Missoulian 1/12/1919
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24 new cases – 1 death – Missoulian 1/13/1919
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16 new cases – 1 death at Milltown – 8 students have “flu” at Craig Hall – U students will be given vaccine – Missoulian 1/14/1919
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34 new cases – 27 cases yesterday – 2 deaths – Missoulian 1/18/1919
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31 new cases – 0 deaths – local authorities not alarmed – Missoulian 1/19/1919
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3 new cases – 0 deaths – 26 cases at U (25) women – U basketball games suspended by Prof Schreiber – Missoulian 1/21/1919
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16 new cases – 2 deaths – Missoulian 1/22/1919
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3 new cases – 1 death – MCHS Flu report by Principal Ketchum – since opening on Dec 30 – 22 cases – recovered & returned 9 – recovered but staying out 5 – still sick 8 – 1 dead – Missoulian 1/23/1919
double funeral – Lawrence & Helen Nelson – kids of Ole Nelson of N 2nd Street
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10 new cases – 1 death – no new cases a U but 26 are still ill – Missoulian 1/24/1919
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14 new cases – 2 deaths – games postponed at U – Missoulian 1/25/1919
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no missoulian report – 1/26/1919
2 new cases – 1 death – 16 cases day before – troop trains going east stop in Msla – Missoulian 1/27/1919
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22 new cases – 0 deaths – 1 new case at the U – ban of social functions will be likely be lifted next week – Missoulian 1/28/1919
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24 new cases – 0 deaths – ban on public gatherings will lift at the U – dance will be allowed – unoccupied barracks at the U will house returning soldiers until employed – Missoulian 1/29/1919
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2 new cases – flu not alarming at U anymore – Missoulian 2/2/1919
“State board of health resume of the influenza epidemic in Montana gives 2,486 deaths in October and November last and 37,567 cases of the malady in October, November and December. December deaths are not yet tabulated. The normal death rate in Montana is 500 persons a month from all sources. The health board predicts a recrudescence of influenza and advises the state to make preparations to combat it.”
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4 new cases – 0 deaths – Missoulian 2/4/1919
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3 deaths (obits) – Missoulian 2/8/1919
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1 death (obit) – Missoulian 2/9/1919
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3 new cases – 1 death (Dr. Anderson) – Missoulian 2/10/1919
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no new cases – 4 deaths (obits) – Missoulian 2/11/1919
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Below is a Daily Missoulian article that appeared the day after the end of WW1 – Nov. 12, 1918
“Flu” Dampens Festive Ardor.
Residents of City, After a Lively Afternoon, Quiet Down.
“You can’t legislate love,” – Federal Judge Landis.
“You can’t police patriotism,” – Police Chief Moore.
And there you have the whole thing in a nutshell. Yesterday at noon when word was officially received that Governor Steward had proclaimed the day to be a legal holiday, and all business houses were notified to close at 1 o’clock, regardless of orders issued by city officials, crowds began to congregate in the business portion of the city, the lid was torn off, and the big show was on.
It wasn’t spontaneous combustion such as occurred a few weeks ago when the forerunner of the now definite news was received here, but it was a slow fire that kindled in the breeze of patriotism until all of Higgins avenue was swept in a blaze of 100 per cent Americanism. Although by previous arrangements, the whistles sirens and auto horns that added vim on the top of the hearse. Amid cheers the spirit of the occasion was demonstrated just as forcefully.
The men who were scheduled to entrain for Camp Worden at 3:20 on the Milwaukee, upon receiving the notification that they would not entrain, left the depot and joined the crowd that had been gathering larger each moment and the demonstration then became a reality.
The Kaiser Gets His.
Flags were again unfurled, lines of march were formed. A drum corps quickly organized by rejoicing pallbearers, rounded the corner of Front street and Higgins avenue. In the hearse was an effigy of the Kaiser, a misshapen rag body, with a tin pail for a head. A large figure of Uncle Sam was soon produced and placed on top of the hearse. Amid cheers and laughter, the vehicle was dragged up and down the avenue headed by the drum corps and followed by a procession of hilarious victors that extended nearly two blocks in length. Finally the effigy was dumped into the Missoula river.
At 5 o’clock the Student Army Training corps, consisting of three companies and the band, fully equipped in military regalia, took formation at the Higgins avenue bridge to the strains of martial music, paraded up and down the avenue amid the cheers of the throngs that gathered on the sidewalks. A group of boys worked their way through the crowds, pinning small buttons on the coat lapels. The buttons bore the words, “To Hell With the Kaiser.”
Celebration Dies Down.
About 6 o’clock in the evening almost spontaneously, the crowds suddenly thinned and patriotism and glory were temporarily knocked out by ham and eggs, and the crowds scurried home to satisfy the inner man. In the evening the enthusiasm waned and the demonstration that was expected to take place, consisted of only scattered crowds who attempted to form parades, but were lacking in numbers sufficient to come up to the standard of the afternoon. There were plenty of red lights, but they were mostly carried by boys whose love of excitement prompted them more than the real spirit of the occasion.
From the second story window of one of the leading hotels, a shower of coins fell to the sidewalk and just naturally fell into the midst of a group of boys. There was a scramble, and one of the lads who emerged from the mixup with a handful showed his patriotism by giving his gains to the War Workers’ campaign fund. During the evening some one threw a flask from a window, not having a bomb handy at the time. It landed on the sidewalk a moment before two friends met at the spot. After the usual handshakes and as the fumes of the liquor arose, one of them suddenly remarked,
“Say, you owe me $3.”
“The blazes I do,” said his friend.
“Where do you get that noise?”
“You’ve been drinking,” retorted his friend. “I can smell it. You lose your bet.”
Glass Proves Alibi.
The broken glass on the sidewalk and the wet spot proved an alibi, however, for the accused and they went away arm in arm to celebrate the big noise with an ice cream sundae.
Scores of automobiles were driven about the streets with large tin cans and discarded boilers attached to the rear of the machines by ropes and their bouncing on the street pavement caused considerable noise and endless fun for the occupants of the cars. Not to be outdone, one man mounted upon a bronco, galloped up and down the avenue with a large can tied to the animal’s tail.
The only members of the S. A. T. C. that were in town yesterday were those who participated in the parade and they were immediately returned to their barracks after their demonstration. The guns with which they were equipped were received yesterday from the government and are high power rifles that were originally made in this country to fill an order from the Russian government.
The Coeur d’Alene train, which arrived here at 4:15 p. m. was draped with American flags in honor of the occasion.
At noon the mayor and a delegation of volunteer aids took it upon themselves to personally notify all employers of the city that the day has been proclaimed a legal holiday, which resulted in the closing down of all plants, and retail and wholesale places of business. Bonner was notified by wire as soon as the governor’s proclamation was received and the A. C. M. company gave their employes a day off.
It is more than probable that the churches will be permitted to hold services next Sunday to offer prayers of thanks for our great victory.
The above article appeared The Daily Missoulian of November 12, 1918.
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Mrs. S. A. Yoder
Having volunteered her services through the Montana State Nurses’ association in response to a call for help at the university and at Fort Missoula, Mrs. Solomon Yoder of Red Lodge became herself a victim of the influenza epidemic. Her death occurred at the Northern Pacific railway hospital yesterday afternoon at 3 o’clock.
Mrs. Yoder was before her marriage Miss Hazel Leonard, a trained nurse residing at Great Falls. Her mother, Mrs. Anna Leonard, and her sister, Miss Gertrude Leonard, had left Great Falls only a month ago to make a home in Seattle. They were summoned to Missoula to be with Mrs. Yoder during her illness. Mr. Yoder is an accountant located a Red Lodge and he was with his wife in Missoula until she became convalescent and he was called to look after business matters. An attack of heart trouble caused the relapse which proved fatal to Mrs. Yoder. The husband arrived in Missoula last night, but too late to hear his wife’s voice once more.
It was not decided last evening whether the remains would be taken to Great Falls or to Red Lodge for interment.
The above obituary appeared in The Daily Missoulian on November 9, 1918.
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This brief obituary, along with a short mention of Mrs. Yoder at a Memorial service held at the University of Montana the following year, was almost the only information available about Mrs. Yoder, until she was researched at length by Michael Webster and documented in his Master’s Thesis in 2010. More information about this courageous lady can be found at the following link:
https://www.umt.edu/memorialrow/honored/influenza/nurses/Yoder.php