Soldiers Ordered to Quarantine Jacksonville

SCIENTISTS BAFFLED – CAUSE OF AIRBORNE EPIDEMIC UNKNOWN

In an effort to stop a further outbreak of what might amount to be an epidemic, Jacksonville, Florida, has been shut off from the entire world. Neighboring cities are checking to make sure Jacksonville evacuees don’t end up in their cities. Several passengers have been bodily removed from trains and actually thrown out on the train tracks. By order of the government of the United States, all trains passing through Jacksonville will not be allowed to stop and must increase their speed to the highest possible speed. In addition, train windows and other openings must be completely sealed. Until further notice, no products manufactured in Jacksonville will be permitted to be sold outside the city. One notable medical doctor was overhead stating, “This germ can’t be allowed to spread outside Jacksonville. All we can do is pray for cold weather.”

If you think that people get nervous discussing outbreaks of AIDS, Lyme Disease and now Swine Flu, it’s a good thing that you did not live in Jacksonville during its darkest days, beginning August 1888.

Thousands died in just a couple months and scientists and medical doctors alike were baffled by what was happening. Worse yet was the fact that they had no idea how to effectively treat the patients. Small puddles of standing water acted as the perfect breeding ground for the infected insects that with one bite carried the disease to the next victim.

They named the disease Yellow Fever after one of the noticeable symptoms. The Patient’s skin turns yellowish from jaundice (damaged red blood cells). The disease is carried by mosquitoes and if infected typically resulted in a very painful and probable death. In 1888, acts of extermination and prevention included firing Cannons 24 hours a day, spreading Lime powder throughout residences, burning large quantities of tar in the streets and finally burning everyone’s bedding. All of these remedies proved ineffective.

Progressive scientists did not realize the mosquito was responsible and instead characterized the culprit as an “airborne germ” and considered it a result of uncleanly conditions and dark, wet nights. One observation was that people that ventured outdoors in the direct sunlight were less likely to become infected. It was suggested that everyone should remain indoors at dusk and board up their houses completely in the evening. Heeding the warning, the frightened citizens complied even with 100 degree temperatures. By order of the U.S. Surgeon General John B. Hamilton, M.H.S., the health department took the extreme measure of inspecting every home and business for cleanliness, sprinkling lime powder on the floors and removing all carpets and bedding. All bedding and carpet were burned in the streets. A special document was prepared to value everything destroyed for possible future reimbursement.
Immediately $200,000 federal dollars were earmarked for preventing “Yellow Fever” from traveling between States. All mail leaving Jacksonville was stopped mid-shipment and fumigated. Customs officers were ordered to fumigate all exiting packages.

But in 1888, even with the death count doubling daily, the Mayor was shouting, “There is no epidemic!” I’m sure in his mind he knew the cold days of winter were among them and frost had always been a destructive force on this type of disease. Still, no one knew exactly why the chill was so effective. Local physicians were being ridiculed for alarming anyone of the disease. One report stated “they [the doctors] will be held strictly to account for this season’s excitement.” In the meantime, Mayors of other cities begged Jacksonville’s Mayor to accept their money and fresh supplies.

But, Jacksonville wanted to “tough it out” alone. How could one of the top cities of the nation lower itself to accept charity? One of Jacksonville’s largest companies started delivering cards which read:

“We challenge the world to exhibit another city measuring seven miles from east to west, three miles from north to south, having 35,000 inhabitants, that, after eight days thorough inspection by the Board of Health, can show up 18 cases of fever of every description. We repeat again – our health record during the past eight days beats the world, and this is in a city whose yellow fever has been for four or five days declared an epidemic. Think of this and give us the benefit [of the doubt].”

The nation’s health system was ill prepared for such an outbreak. The federal government was even less prepared. Although outbreaks had occurred in the past, there was no federal budget for serious epidemics such as Yellow Fever. Isolation was the only answer and this meant that Jacksonville was to be cut off from the rest of the world. Men with shotguns surrounded the city as well as the city of St. Augustine and several other cities. Even though medical professionals from other states begged to help, they were denied travel requests. The nation did not want to put anyone else at risk.

It was not until over 500 deaths had been reported that the Mayor finally succumbed to the pressure to accept outside help. In a move not seen until Hurricane destruction of the 1960’s, the nation’s public and other countries collected assistance (money and supplies) for ailing Jacksonville. Jacksonville dignitaries, led by Major Joseph H. Dupree (retired real estate broker), traveled to New York to appeal for additional funds. They returned with nearly $5 thousand dollars. Donations in the amount of $5, $10 and $25 dollars were made by major organizations. The size of these donations demonstrated the value of money at that time. Jacksonville had gripped the hearts and minds of citizens world-wide.

Even taking all the precautions available and trying new ideas to halt its progress, Yellow Fever raged on taking lives with it. Anyone diagnosed with the possible infection was moved along with their family to a tent city established well outside the city. Deaths tolls mounted until the total exceeded 1000. At that time, the Governor of Florida demanded that a special pass, stamped by medical professionals, must be carried on board any train. Those living in infected areas or who had traveled in infected areas within the past 30 days were refused a ride.

Health officials finally tracked the epidemic to patient number one “McCormick” who had traveled to Tampa with complete knowledge that “Yellow Fever” was raging there. Feeling sick, he secretly boarded a train to Jacksonville, threatening the entire population of Florida. On August 10, 1888, the cities of Montgomery, Alabama, Wilmington, North Carolina and Charleston, South Carolina, gave strict order to prevent anyone escaping from Jacksonville to enter their city. Officials in Charleston forced a full steamboat to leave its port and travel northward to New York. Only Atlanta would accept refugees. They had never had a fever epidemic and citizens remained unshaken.

The disease struck the rich and poor, the laborers and the families of stature. On September 20, 1888, the famed city editor of the Florida Times-Union, M.R. Bowden, died of the disease. Decatur, Alabama, reported two or more deaths on September 20th. This news frightened officials in Nashville which ordered all trains from Decatur stopped ten miles from town. One of Jacksonville’s leading physicians and a graduate of Harvard Medical School, Dr. F.A. Gould, was said to be ill. He died one day later, September 21, 1888.

The whole ordeal was a tragedy. But, what made matters worse was the President of the United States, Grover Cleveland and his wife had recently visited Jacksonville for the famed Sub-Tropical Exposition. Jacksonville residents were still in a state of euphoria and expected the city to be the nation’s top travel destination for years to come. Fifty thousand tourists per year made Jacksonville their winter nome.

In all, about 4,000 Jacksonville residents died in 1888 (11% of the city’s population). This total included the mayor.

Suddenly, Jacksonville was in the spotlight it so desired but for reasons which would cripple its tourism forever. It has taken over 100 years for Jacksonville to regain become a household name. Go Jaguars!

Though a vaccine was finally developed in 1937 which provides a successful 10-year or more immunity from the virus, there is still no cure for Yellow Fever. To reduce the mosquito population, be sure to empty containers of water outside your home.

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Joseph Miller is a life-long resident of Jacksonville, Florida, and an active member of the Rotary Club of South Jacksonville. As a historian, he recently completed his first book on the Founder of Rotary, Paul P. Harris, titled “That Paul Harris.”

Joseph can be reached at JaxHistory@gmail.com.