Selected Excerpt- The Spanish Influenza

Transcribed from original:

In the month of September 1918 there broke out in this country a terrible epidemic called the Spanish Influenza. People died of it daily by the hundreds in every large city. In one day Boston had over 6000 cases of persons afflicted and its death roll was augmented by 250 within the period of one day. It raged fiercely all through Massachusetts and Rhode Island, and the doctors were too few to attend all the patients. Baltimore sent to their relief 600 physicians who settled down chiefly in Boston and a few near by cities to battle with this giant disease. All their services diminished the number of victims but their knowledge and drugs could not banish the germs from prostrating the multitude. Schools, theaters, public libraries and even churches were closed to prevent infection and for several Sundays us: public services were held in the churches. Even in many places Catholics could not hear mass. Every day brought tidings that so and so and so and so were dead. Grief stricken and broken hearts were found in every street, avenue, lane and place. Mothers were lamenting the loss of a son or a daughter; children were weeping over the dead body of a fond mother or father. It was no uncommon thing to see two coffins taken together from one home to be consigned to the same grave. With the dreadful war against the (?) in full blast and now this plague, many believed the end of the world was close at hand, and like the wise virgins(?) began to trim their lamps and be ready should their earthly sojourns be cut short. It is at present abating in its violence- is the epidemic. (22 October), 1918.