CHOLERA
EPIDEMICS
IN GIBSON COUNTY.
By Roy P. King.
Of
the thousands of
victims of Asiatic cholera, which was intermittently prevalent in the
United States from 1832, when it first appeared in New York City, until
the last epidemic, which occurred in 1873. Gibson county perhaps paid
as large a toll of lives as any county in Indiana, with the possible
exception of a few more thickly populated districts along the Ohio
river. Twice in the history of the county has this dreaded scourge
prevailed with fatal results. First in the summer of 1852. when a total
of more than eighty deaths occurred, and again in 1873. when twenty or
more victims were claimed by this disease. In each of these epidemics
the death rate was extremely high and but a small number of the
stricken recovered. In some instances almost entire families were wiped
out of existence.
The
awful carnage of war.
the frightful harvest of death, due to disturbances of the elements,
appalling industrial disasters, all bring sadness and gloom to a
community so affected and leave deep and lasting impressions, but no
message so terrorizes the heart of man as the whispered word that a
certain and almost surely fatal plague is stalking over the land,
dealing death, surely and quickly, on every side. The cry of fear dies
on the lips, faces are blanched by the agony of the hideous thought and
eyes look into eyes with indescribable horror at the mere mention that
the dreaded contagion has manifested itself. Fear and suspicion enter
the heart and mind and each one looks with fear and dread upon every
other person, any one of whom may be infected with the pestilence. The
conduct of business and the pursuit of pleasure cease and everywhere
throughout the horror-stricken community there is that manifestation of
gloom and sadness which an inevitable calamity alone can produce. In
some homes already blighted by the contagion, often the living members
of the family must bury their dead unassisted, and the only hands
outstretched to them in aid and sympathy are from those men and women
endowed with the heroic virtue to rise above the common level in times
of greatest need. The pages of history are embellished with
the noble deeds of such men and women, but other unknown thousands reap
no such reward of fame. Of this great army of heroes and
heroines. Gibson county, in its times of greatest stress, furnished an
ample number. They entered the cholera stricken homes, cared for the
living, gave burial to the dead and asked nor received reward, except
that which comes from the consciousness of a noble deed well done.
In
these latter days.
when medical science and research and the modern methods of quarantine
and disinfection have made possible the complete eradication of Asiatic
cholera and many other contagious and infectious diseases, there is
less to fear, though cholera is still numbered among the plagues for
which there is no known specific remedy. However, it has lost its
former horribleness to humanity by the certain knowledge that it is an
infectious and not a contagious disease. This was discovered as late as
1884. In 1873. when the second epidemic occurred in Gibson county,
cholera was still believed by physicians to be contagious.
First
mention of Asiatic
cholera is found in the early Sanscrit and Chinese writings, but the
first notation in history was made in the sixteenth century, when it
raged in India, where it has since been endemic. In 1817 it was
contracted by the English soldiers in India and spread to China,
Prussia, Germany and Russia. It reached England in the spring of 1832,
appearing in London.
In
June, 1832. cases were
reported in Montreal, Canada, and in July of the same year the first
deaths occurred at New York. In the following few months the epidemic
spread to other Eastern cities, including Philadelphia, Baltimore and
Charleston.
From
Montreal the
epidemic traveled westward along the great lakes and down the
Mississippi valley. There is no record of it having claimed any victims
at that time in Gibson county.
The
second epidemic
followed in 1845, emanating from the Tartary coast, reaching die United
States in 1S4S and followed the same course through the country, along
the principal high and water ways. Strict quarantine enforcement in New
York City stopped its spread at that point, but New Orleans. Louisiana,
where it was also prevalent, had no such quarantine facilities and the
scourge crept slowly up the Mississippi and Ohio river valleys. In 1849
Louisville, Kentucky, and Cincinnati, Ohio, were visited. At the latter
place the death rate was extremely high, one hundred and sixty being
recorded in one day.
Cholera
lingered
throughout Ohio, Indiana and Illinois during the next four or five
years and made its first appearance in Gibson county in the summer of
1852. At that time the Wabash and Erie canal was in
progress of construction about seven miles southeast of Princeton. In
this work two or three hundred Irish immigrant workmen were employed.
The workmen were housed in temporary camps and little thought was given
to cleanliness and sanitation, a condition most favorable for cholera
and other diseases. Within a few days after the cholera made its
appearance a number of deaths resulted and when it had run its course,
in less than three weeks, an estimated total of eighty had succumbed.
Following
the first
outbreak a majority of the men fled from the vicinity and excitement in
the community was at fever heat. Victims of the disease were left lying
for days before being given burial and it was almost impossible to
secure men to do this work. A few of the Irish workmen stayed with
their stricken friends and these few braved danger by burying the
bodies in long trenches near the reservoir. All trace of their last
resting place has now disappeared. Some few bodies were taken to
Vincennes by friends, for burial in consecrated ground. A number of
those who remained behind to care for the sick and dying gave up their
lives.
Besides
the foreign
workmen there were also a few deaths among residents of the community,
including one man and his wife who voluntarily ministered to the
stricken canal workmen.
Meager
accounts are given
in the newspapers of that day of attacks of cholera in Princeton and
one death, that of a man named Woods, is believed to have resulted from
its effects. Little details of the tense excitement which must have
prevailed were recorded by the press, but it is known that the people
in general kept away from the infected district for weeks. The epidemic
was of short duration and the excitement must have subsided in a short
time.
The
second visitation of
cholera in Gibson county occurred in the summer of 1873. vivid
recollections of which still remain in the minds of many older people.
A small epidemic had occurred in the Eastern states in 1865, but in
1873 cholera again got a firm foothold in the South and traveled up the
Mississippi valley. It became epidemic in Evansville and Mt. Vernon.
Indiana. Cairo and Carmi, Illinois. Paducah. Kentucky, and many deaths
occurred and it is from one of these infected places that it is
believed to have spread Princeton.
Residing
at the corner of
Spruce and Ford streets in Princeton was Mrs. John Seabrooks. an aged
lady, who for a living did washing. It is supposed she became infected
with the disease from the clothing of some person for whom she washed,
and who had been in some infected territory. Mrs. Seabrooks lived alone
and one morning was found by her daughter lying on the floor of her
room, in the last stages of what physicians pronounced to be
cholera. She died a few hours later.
The
news of Mrs.
Seabrooks' death spread rapidly and excitement ran high in Princeton.
For weeks residents lived in dread, but no other cases developed in the
town.
Lack
of proper sanitary
measures, however, did not prevent infection from this one case.
Instead of burning the clothing and bed clothing of Mrs. Seabrooks.
they were taken to Indian creek, about three miles northeast of
Princeton, where they were washed in the waters of the creek, thus
infecting the water.
Near
this creek lived the
family of Henry Weatherly. consisting of husband and wife and five
children, and Indian creek was the source of their water
supply. How thoroughly the water was infected is shown by
the fact that but one child. Margaret, then about two years old.
survives. The other members of the family succumbed in the
space of a few days.
Though
Margaret Weatherly
was the sole survivor of the family, yet she was the first to be
attacked by the disease and it is the belief that her life was saved by
a mistake on the part of her mother. For several weeks the father had
been suffering from stomach trouble and had been taking morphine to
ease the pain. A few days following the pollution of the stream
Margaret was suddenly taken ill one morning and the mother, not
realizing the deadly effects of morphine, gave the child the same sized
dose the father had been accustomed to taking. The child grew worse and
a physician was summoned from Princeton. By the time he arrived the
mother had also been stricken with cholera and was writhing in its
agonies. Margaret was in a stupor from the effects of the morphine, but
by persistent efforts on the part of the physician, was kept from
passing into the sleep of death, until the cholera attack, which was
probably light, passed away and she gradually recovered. The mother,
however, continued to grow worse and died early in the evening. Her
death was followed the same night by the death of two other children
and before morning Henry Weatherly, the husband, was stricken.
Nearby
lived the families
of John McDaniel, Robert Boswell. Mrs. Elias Pearson, a sister of Henry
Weatherly. and James Carithers, a brother of Mrs. Weatherly. All these
relatives and neighbors put aside their fears and gave aid to the
ill-fated family. Henry Weatherly, soon after he was taken sick,
together with the now remaining three children, was removed to the home
of James Carithers. where Mr. Weatherly died a few hours later.
No
other deaths occurred
for three days and in the meantime the victims had been buried. The
bodies were cared for by Mrs. John McDaniel. Mrs. Pearson and her
daughter, Emma. All these soon sickened and died. Robert Boswell. who
buried the bodies of Mrs. Weatherly and her children, also became a
victim.
The
next deaths to be
recorded were those of two of the three remaining Weatherly children
and four deaths in the family of Jesse Weatherly, a brother of Henry,
who lived farther down Indian creek, the wife and three children being
taken. All of these deaths occurred in less than ten days following the
death of Mrs. Seabrooks in Princeton.
Excitement
in the
Weatherly neighborhood was at fever heat. Farmers stopped work in their
fields and stock was allowed to suffer for lack of attention, livery
one felt that the dreadful plague would not be checked until all were
taken and families dumbly waited, watching and dreading to see who
would be the first of their loved ones to be stricken. The infected
neighborhood was shunned by those living outside and farmers drove for
miles out of their way to and from Princeton, traveling by other roads
than those which passed through the neighborhood. In the prevailing
belief that the disease came out of the ground, vegetables and fruits
were not eaten and gardens were allowed to go unattended throughout the
summer. Not until cool weather arrived did the fear which possessed the
people subside to such an extent that they resumed their natural
vocations and mode of living.
Physicians
took what
steps they could to keep the disease from spreading and. though they
believed at that time that cholera was contagious and not merely
infectious, they adopted the right means to stamp out the epidemic.
Quantities of lime were sprinkled in all cellars, outhouses and damp
places. Drinking water was boiled before being used and people were
instructed to keep their doors and windows open and get as much fresh
air as possible. More recent knowledge of cholera discloses the fact
that the physicians could not have done better service had they known
as much concerning cholera as is now known. Their service deserves high
commendation, because they were then fighting against greater odds than
would obtain at this time.
Fourteen
deaths are known
to have occurred in the Weatherly neighborhood in less than two weeks,
and many older people declare that, including the death of Mrs.
Seabrooks in Princeton, there were sixteen victims. Another small
epidemic occurred in the vicinity of Wheeling, on the Patoka river,
about eight miles northeast of Princeton. Five deaths are known to have
resulted in a family named Hartwell and one or two more persons, names
unknown at this time, are said to have died. The Hartwell home was
burned, together with its contents, to check the spread of the disease.
These deaths occurred at about the same time that cholera was raging
along Indian creek.
The
known total of deaths
in Gibson county during the cholera epidemic of 1873 is twenty, but it
is very probable that there were a few more. It was by far the worst
epidemic of any disease which ever visited the county. Smallpox and
other contagious and infectious diseases have claimed many more victims
in the course of years, but these epidemics were not considered in such
a serious manner.
Great
credit reflects
upon the physicians of Princeton and other towns in the county, for
their brave service during the two cholera attacks. Though they had
every reason to believe the infested homes were veritable death traps,
they did not flinch in their devotion to duty, and fearlessly visited
the stricken and did all in their power to ease their sufferings. In
the present day a physician would go into a cholera-infected home with
the positive assurance that he was running no risk, if proper measures
were taken to ward off infection, but that knowledge has come since the
last visitation of the disease in Gibson county.
In
1852 the practicing
physicians of Princeton included Drs. W. W. Blair. J. J. Pennington. V.
T. West. Andrew Lewis. Willoughby Walling. Hugh Patten, George B. Graff
and W. G. Kidd. It is probable that all of these physicians were active
in treating the cases.
The
physicians of 1873
included Drs. W. W. Blair. S. E. Munford. John Malone. V. T. West.
James C. Patten. Richard Smith and others.
Of
all the physicians
named in the foregoing lists. Dr. W. W. Blair is the only one surviving
at this time (1914). Having passed through both epidemics. Doctor Blair
is thoroughly familiar with the conditions which prevailed and recalls
many startling, as well as some amusing incidents which
occurred. In each epidemic he treated a number of cases of
cholera.
One
of the most tragic
incidents of the epidemic of 1852 occurred in a family by the name of
Ritzie. When the epidemic was at its height. Mrs. Ritzie
was suddenly stricken and other members of the family were also showing
indications of having contracted the disease. Mrs. Ritzie died before a
physician could be summoned, but a man on horseback was sent for Doctor
Blair, and it was after nightfall when the physician arrived at the
Ritzie home. The messenger would not go near the plague-stricken house
and Doctor Blair approached it alone. There were no lights
in the house and a knock at the door brought no response. Doctor Blair
entered the house and in the light from the dying embers in the
fire-place a gruesome sight met his gaze. Upon one bed in the room lay
the body of the wife and mother. Upon another, laying crosswise, with
the head almost touching the floor, was the body of Mr. Ritzie. death
having come but a short lime before the arrival of Doctor Blair, and
upon the same bed. totally unconscious of the terrible tragedy which
had been enacted about her. lay sleeping the little daughter. Margaret
Ritzie, about six years old. Rousing the child from her slumber. Doctor
Blair carried her from the house, mounted his horse and with the child
in his arms rode to a neighboring house where he sought entrance. When
the circumstances were learned, admittance was refused and the Doctor
was almost forced to fight his way into the home so great was the fear
of contagion. After much persuasion the family was prevailed upon to
care for the little girl until she could be placed under the care of
relatives. Margaret passed through the terrible experience without
contracting the cholera, and later in life became the wife of Peter
Hoffman, of Ft. Branch, where she is living at the present time.
In
the epidemic of 1852
much trouble was experienced in procuring burial for the bodies of the
unknown victims and in a number of cases bodies were found in isolated
"shanties" along the canal, several days after death. In one instance
the body of a man was found, so badly decomposed that no attempt at
burial was made. The torch was applied to the building and the remains
incinerated.
Persons
who were known to
have been in the infected district were shunned by their friends and
neighbors for weeks following, and such fear of them was manifested
that in some cases suffering resulted. This was especially true in
regard to the Irish workmen who remained in the vicinity. They were not
permitted to approach other persons.
An
amusing incident has
been related, showing that even though the Irish immigrants passed
through a terrible experience, it did not dull their fun-loving
disposition, if the occasion presented itself. The bodies of the more
devoutly religious who died during the scourge were, in some instances,
taken to Vincennes for burial and on one occasion several friends
started to Vincennes with the body of a comrade. The coffin containing
the remains was placed in a one-horse cart, very common at that time.
Passing through or near Princeton the members of the funeral party
could not resist the temptation to drown their sorrows with a few
drinks, and when later they resumed their journey happiness had taken
the place of grief. But little attention was paid to the
cart as they walked by its side and all went well until they reached a
point a few miles north of Princeton, when the sudden realization came
to one member of the cortege that the cart was empty. The corpse had
disappeared. Search was instituted and on a hillside a mile or more
back, the coffin was found lying in the road where it had slid from the
cart in going up the hill. The unfortunate victim was reloaded and
eventually reached his final resting place at Vincennes.
Another
amusing
occurrence happened in Princeton during the epidemic of 1873. A few
days following the death of Mrs. Seabrooks. an itinerant German
butcher, who was accustomed to periodical sprees, suddenly fell on the
sidewalk on the west side of the public square one morning. The cry was
immediately raised that he had been attacked with cholera and for the
next few hours the poor fellow was given a wide berth. However, the
effects of his "jag" soon passed away and he sobered sufficiently to go
home. Such an incident as this, while amusing, serves to illustrate the
fear entertained by the public at large.
Henry
Blumm. a well known
farmer residing south of Princeton on the old state road, is the only
remaining member of a family which died from the effects of the cholera
epidemic of 1852. His father and two or three brothers and sisters were
victims and were buried on the farm which was situated near the old
Wabash & Erie canal, south of Francisco. Mr. Blumm was a baby at
the time and has no recollection of any member of his family. He was
taken and raised by a neighbor.
One
death is known to
have occurred in Owensville during the first epidemic, it being that of
a Mrs. Whiteman. of Princeton, who was visiting at Owensville. She was
stricken during the night and lived only a few hours.
C.
R. Howe, one of the
older residents of Princeton, was living at Owensville at the time of
Mrs. Whiteman's death and was sent to Princeton to notify relatives of
her death. Mr. Howe declares that Princeton was in a condition of great
excitement due to the death of a man named Woods, from the effects of
cholera. Mr. Howe came no farther than the end of the Evansville &
Crawfordsville railroad (Chicago & Eastern Illinois), which was in
process of construction. A crowd was gathered waiting for the arrival
of a train from Evansville. After looking at the first railroad train
he had ever seen. Mr. Howe returned to Owensville. being afraid to stay
longer in Princeton on account of the cholera.
In
1873 Gibson county was
not the only locality to suffer greatly from the disease.
At Mt. Vernon and throughout Posey county the epidemic was prevalent.
Hundreds fled to higher points away from the river. Albion, Illinois,
was a refuge for a great number and they remained until the scourge had
spent its fury. Other cities along the Ohio river also suffered
greatly, including Cairo, Illinois, Paducah and Henderson. Kentucky,
and Evansville. At the latter place, however, the death ratio was not
large.
For
the most part the
people of Princeton, fearing the disease, stayed at home and families
kept as much to themselves as possible. But little business was
transacted.
In
the preparation of
this article the writer has endeavored to record only well established
facts concerning the two epidemics of cholera which visited Gibson
county. The incidents related are largely reminiscences of people who
passed through them, or have data in support of the authenticity of the
incident related. A number of other stories concerning deaths,
privations and the excitement which prevailed have not been recorded
because they were unsupported by any reliable data. In many cases,
names of persons and families mentioned are correct, so far as the
memory of some old resident is not at fault. Every effort has been made
to guard against errors of this nature. The desire of the writer is to
perpetuate only the truth and keep fresh the memory of those upon whom
honor and glory reflects. Incidents concerning the conduct of any
person or persons which cast any other reflection are best forgotten.
No doubt these occurred, but it is just as true that buried in the
forgotten history of the past are many stories of heroic bravery and
sacrifice, enacted by men and women whose names are forgotten by mortal
man, but whose deeds are recorded by Him who "doeth all things
well." They have received their reward.
Source:
History of Gibson
County, Indiana : her people, industries and institutions.
Indianapolis, Ind.: B.F. Bowen & Co., 1914.
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