Flu Quarantine in Lincoln County

 

 

The 1918 Flu Epidemic

6 Dec 1918-Citizen

"Whereas, the spread of Spanish influenza in Lincoln County has created an emergency, and it appears to the County Board of Health that it is necessary to establish a quarantine coextensive with the limits of the county, it is therefore ordered: 1. That all schools, churches and theatres shall be closed, and that no public meetings or gatherings of any nature shall be held. 2. That no private meetings, parties, dances or any other social gatherings shall be held in any private house or elsewhere; that there shall be no visiting between families. 3. That persons shall not loiter about any place of business, or in any post office or other public place. 4. That children of different families shall not play together or congregate, and children shall not be on the street except when upon some necessary errand. 5. That all pool and billiard rooms, both front and back rooms, shall be closed; Provided, that pool room proprietors may sell their merchandise from an open door to persons on the street who shall not be admitted to the inside. These regulations shall take effect immediately and shall remain in full force and effect until such time as they may be vacated or modified by order of this Board. Any person violating these regulations is guilty of a misdemeanor, and will be prosecuted therefore. Done in open session this 3^rd day of December, 1918. Board of Health of Lincoln County, Washington. By J. E. Furgeson, Geo N. Lowe, F. A. Hudkins, Dr C. S. Bumgarner." by Marge Womach

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Fighting The Flu

  The Sprague Advocate, Nov 15, 1918

"Sprague has left no stone unturned to prevent the spread of the epidemic which is so serious in other towns nor to care for it in case it gets started.  About the time of going to press last week the flue epidemic began to manifest itself in rather a marked fashion. A plan was worked out through the Red Cross, Mrs. Wellman and Miss Margaret Brislawn being in charge of this work, to make use of the school house in case of necessity for a hospital. Without nurses a hospital is of little use. To secured help from Sprague seemed impossible.  However Rev. O. E. Faulkner under the direction of the local Red Cross presented our community needs to Dr. Anderson, city health office of Spokane and also the Deaconess hospital.  Although in dire need of additional help themselves, Dr. Anderson temporarily loaned to us a nurse, Mrs. Noteware, who had charge of the relief work at Harrington to organize relief work here. She arrived Sat. morning and was met by the ladies of the Red Cross.  The Deaconess hospital responded by sending one graduate nurse, Mrs. Pearl Payne Brewer, a Sprague girl who arrived Sat. evening. It was deemed advisable  to secure outside help from nurses or others who had had the influenza rather than for local citizens to expose themselves and spread the disease.  In this way the different cases could be more efficiently cared for and the epidemic more quickly stamped out.  Prof. Lindley supervised placing in order rooms of the school house , single beds and bed linen being secured from St. Joseph's Academy.  Miss Stout, the domestic science teacher, was recalled to supervise that end of the work and the relief work in general was placed under direction of Mrs. Noteware. Sprague seems particularly fortunate in obtaining such competent help.  All citizens show a disposition to assist in every way possible to stamp out the contagion that the orderly pursuit of business, church and school may be resumed.  Taken at its inception, the hope is that the siege may be brief.  Early this week it was apparent that the epidemic was under control and Mrs. Noteware returned to Spokane with the provision that she would come at once should she be needed."  Submitted by Barbara Curtis. Added January 2010

Closing Ban Lifted

"Wednesday morning the quarantine of stores and business places was lifted until a new outbreak of the epidemic might appear.  Sprague has had 20 cases of the flue in 6 families.  There have been no death in town and every body who was ill is doing well. Hence the authorities did not think it necessary to keep business places closed."   

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