Flu Epidemic Of 1918

In point of persons affected and the number of deaths, the worst epidemic ever to hit Tell City was the influenza contagion in October and early November of 1918. Most of the young men were in army camps here in the United States,

It at the front, or in camps in France and Italy. Boys returning from overseas had brought the germ of Spanish Influenza to these shores and soon every city and hamlet had become infected.

From five to six hundred persons were stricken here before people became aware of the seriousness of the epidemic. All churches, schools, and picture show houses were closed by the city health officer, Dr. F. C. Glenn and an appeal was made by the   authorities to keep people from going out unless absolutely necessary. Whole families were stricken at one time.

 Red Cross Comes To Aid

The local Red Cross called for volunteer nurses to go into the homes where all were down and give aid wherever possible. Everybody tried to lend a hand and the fortunate few who seemed to have   warded off the contagion cooked  soup, ran errands, brought medicine and supplies for those who were ill.

18 Deaths In Two Weeks

On October 19 the Tell City News listed 13 deaths in her columns: six in Tell City and the remaining seven, local boys who had died in army camps, all of the flu. The next week five more people died   of the malady in Tell City. On Nov. 11 the Armistice was signed, the influenza bug had been licked or at least put under control, and this little town on the banks of the Ohio river really celebrated!