Here in Peoria, Illinois the local newspapers reported the war news daily, listing casualties from the city and county of Peoria, Illinois. Just over 5,500 of our young men went off to ‘Fight the Hun,’ resulting in the death of 211 of them. However, on October 6, 1918 the headlines and stories reported a terrifying threat to the folks right here in Peoria, Illinois. They called it ‘La Grippe,’; the Spanish word for the flu which was at that time reaching epidemic status and apparently heading our way. Articles in the local newspapers spoke of things most of the people here never heard of, like pandemic and the closing down of cities all over the many parts of the World.
Peoria Health Commissioner, Dr. George Parker reported that Spanish influenza cases in Peoria were growing in leaps and bounds and he warned that the epidemic would only get worse. The news terrorized the area and folks who began to retreat inside their homes as much as they could. There were bulletins in our papers about prevention and radio stations that warned people not to gather in large groups. As for a cure the only thing that seemed to be available was for the ill person to stay home, stay warm and to use a substance the doctors recommended be rubbed on the stomach, chest and throat. The patients were then to put a light cover over their heads and bodies and breath in the ‘vapors,’ That magic elixir was none other than Vicks Vapor Rub. As expected, the Flu spread, folks quickly understood that there was no cure for this illness and only time would end the symptoms or kill the patient. Dr. Parker began a long series of closures in town from the theaters to public gatherings and even weddings and funerals. The city was ‘Locked Down” and life as our relatives knew it came to an abrupt halt.. To add to our local problem, thirty-seven of our physicians were in the United States Army as well as many of our female nurses. Parker asked that every nurse in the area report to his office so he could get help to the folks that were in dire straights. They responded along with retired nurses and women that had nursing experiences. ‘Hospitals’ were opened up in vacant buildings and masks were handed out by the hundreds to worried Peorians. Still the epidemic spread almost as fast as the panic it caused.
A CLOSED CITY
More orders were issued banning gatherings of any kind, including church services. All of the city hospitals were over crowded and more vacant buildings were used to open up temporary, make shift hospitals to care for the influenza victims. Peorians, as always, from service clubs to single volunteers banned together to help wherever they could. Most businesses were closed, and the city took on a vacant look as the disease spread along with the fear and isolation. I remind you again that the war was raging and that news alone was depressing enough, but now the population that worried about their loved ones in the Armed Forces, had to worry about themselves and their families dying from a dangerous threat of their own.
Physician’s offices were besieged with new patients even though there was little if anything the doctor’s had in the way of proper medicines. The patients were advised to “stay warm, try to remain isolated, and drink plenty of juices and water.”
One set back as far as the epidemic caregivers were concerned was a huge gathering of folks downtown when the false news of the war ending became a wild rumor. Thousands of Peorians broke the ban on assembling and hurried to Downtown Peoria. Parker was certain the epidemic would quickly destroy the city. The number of flu cases did indeed increase but not as badly as the doctor had predicted. Mayor Woodruff ordered the inhabitants of the city to clean up their area, including the alleys; declaring that filth was a way for the disease to spread. This order did not come from Dr. Parker who doubted that cleaning up around the house would help. But…it did keep the healthy folks outside and away from their sick relatives.
As the city darkened, the factories began to close, the libraries and many of the restaurants and downtown businesses turned off their lights as well. By now there were 510 confirmed cases of Spanish Influenza in one stage or the other. Parker stated that there were probably many, more unreported cases. Once people learned there was very little that could be done they simply stayed home. Meantime the bad news was mixed in with the terrible events of WW1, and this small town in the middle of America was in dire straights and it looked like there was no
end in sight. No one had any idea how many actives cases there wee and counting them seemed pointless.
Throughout the ordeal the local authorities, led by Dr. Parker reminded people to stay calm, warm and hydrated. They asked every citizen to wear the gauze masks and simply avoid human contact if possible. The real heroes were the nurses that worked above and beyond the call of duty to help where ever they could, comforting the sick, dealing with the dead, and of course contacting the Flu as well.
Within three additional weeks Parker… when asked, said he thought the number was well over 1,500 but it was a guess. As October ran out of days some good news came from Parker when he let the folks know that he thought the illness was abating. That was good news to the beleaguered medical workers, but the fight was far from over.
MORE GOOD NEWS
Local newspapers reported that the Germans had agreed to treaty terms and it looked like it “Was over over there.” Still there were reports of Americans being killed and our local casualty count went up. The final count was 400 communities in the State of Illinois had been affected by the epidemic, and reports of deaths were coming in from all over. The big weapon against the flu seemed to be Vicks Vapor Rub, which of course was not a cure by any means. The final count here in Peoria, Illinois was 40 dead, many by complications of pneumonia. My mother-in-law was born in 1917 and fell victim to the Flu in October of 1918, but survived.
By the end of October, 1918, ] the major storm appeared to have passed. It was remarkable how a few dedicated doctors and nurses managed to take care of so many sick people. The volunteers, the Red Cross, the churches and the missions worked hundreds of hours to stop the spread here in town. It was a prideful time for Peorians and officials praised the folks that fought in the front lines to save the citizens of their city. Our records clearly show that the spirit of this town was lifted far beyond what any miracle drug could have provided. Of course we could have used one during those scary days of October 1918, that is for sure.
Editor’s Note: Norm is a True Crime Writer fro Peoria Illinois [email protected]
