by Ron Klodenski, ACM Industrial Survey Team member

Old local newspapers available through the Amesbury Public Library’s website let us look back at the 1918 influenza epidemic and see stark parallels between those dark days and our current coronavirus pandemic. One example is the acute shortage of trained medical personnel – then and now – and how doctors and nurses in 1918 stood on the front lines, exhausted and getting sick themselves.

When the second and most devastating wave of the 1918 influenza struck Amesbury in the fall of 1918, nurses were urgently needed for the Amesbury Emergency Hospital hastily established at the Y.M.C.A. (now the Lafayette Club on High Street).

Pleas for help

The first published requests for nurse volunteers were calm and business-like. Phrased formally and politely, notices stated that volunteers would be conferring “a great favor” or “can be of great assistance at this time.”

If there are any who have taken first aid instruction who would be willing to aid in the local work they would confer a great favor by notifying Mrs. E. B. Smith. (Amesbury Daily News, September 28, 1918, page 3.)

As we go to press the request comes to us very strong over the phone from our Emergency Hospital for more nurses. There are a number of cases that should be taken in if they only had nurses. It is possible that some of the ladies who took first aid instruction may be so situated they can leave their homes. They can be of great assistance at this time. (Amesbury Daily News, October 2, 1918, page 3.)

“There ought to be one hundred others...”

When the requests failed to bring out enough volunteers, the news editors appealed to reason. Just imagine, they said, how much more effective the emergency hospital could be if Amesbury women would “rise to the occasion, as they should...”

Cases that should receive hospital treatment were turned away last night because of the lack of nurses. If the women of the town rise to the occasion, as they should, tonight should see every case requiring hospital treatment receiving that treatment at the emergency hospital which has facilities to handle seventy five cases. (Amesbury Daily News, October 2, 1918, page 2.)

While acknowledging gratitude for those who did turn out to help at the hospital, the editorial writers wondered out loud how many others might be available to help, speculating that there “ought to be... one hundred others.” If only these women would come forward and enlist, they wrote, the hospital would be capable of providing treatment to alleviate “the suffering of many of the people of the town.”

Too much credit cannot be given these women whose devotion to the relief of the suffering made possible the opening of the hospital. If these women can thus unselfishly give their time to help nurse the sick then there are, or ought to be, one hundred others who can help in this department. The committee appeals to the women of the town to come forward and enlist in this work in order that the suffering of many of the people of the town may be alleviated through proper hospital treatment. Last night there were in this town cases of sickness where the afflicted ones were compelled to lay all night without, in some cases, any one to give them a drink of water. These cases begged to be taken to the hospital. The lack of nurses prevented their admission. (Amesbury Daily News, October 2, 1918, page 2.)

Resorting to stronger words

Officials and newspaper editors, still frustrated by the inadequate response to requests, resorted to inducing feelings of guilt among those still reluctant to pitch in. One news column scolded reluctant volunteers, pointing out how failing to volunteer might be characterized as cowardice and brutality. But the author softened his harsh tone and in the end attributed the lack of volunteers to ignorance about the gravity of patient needs and the belief that others would step up.

Fear among potential volunteers

Without daily updates or other means we enjoy today for understanding an unseen and deadly virus, many must have been gripped with fear. Anxiety throughout the Amesbury community certainly made individuals reluctant to expose themselves to the influenza danger.

Such fear wasn’t helped by frequent newspaper reports about doctors and nurses afflicted with influenza. On October 25, 1918, the Amesbury Daily News reported that Zelda La Verne Saunders, a student nurse at Anna Jaques Hospital in Newburyport had died “following an attack of influenza.” The same issue also noted, “The present epidemic of influenza has attacked the doctors and nurses to a degree not usual in attacks of this kind.”

On September 30, a news column warned that the town’s doctors were overworked, exhausted and themselves falling victim to influenza. “The only doctors in normal health are Doctors O. P. Mudge, H. G. Leslie, B. H. Young, J. F. R. Biron and J. W. Rand. These were worked to such an extent that it is doubtful how long they well be able to stand the strain.” Another column on the same page lamented, “The physicians of the town were not represented very largely [at the board of health meeting] because so many of them are on sick beds.”

Understandably, many potential helpers had their hands full at home or were becoming ill themselves.

... on calling on the individuals who had composed the [nursing school] class it was found that in each case they were themselves busy at their homes or with others aiding the sick. One sole individual was found who agreed to go to work the next morning to do all in her power but yesterday she herself was taken ill and this source of relief had to be abandoned. (Amesbury Daily News, September 30, 1918, page 2.)

Influenza second wave subsides

October 3 brought some hope, perhaps inspired by the success of the emergency hospital. Enough nurses had been recruited to allow a manageable nursing schedule.

With nineteen patients in the hospital last night every thing was working smoothly. During the day several local women volunteered for nurse duty and each ward had its necessary quota of nurses and helpers. In the late afternoon Miss Hatfield, a trained nurse, arrived from Boston coming direct from Pennsylvania. A little later Miss Crory of Brookline arrived, while not a trained nurse Miss Crory has had experience in first aid and other work and having friends in Amesbury she volunteered her services to the State Board of Health which sent her here.

There are at present nurses enough to take care of patients. It must be remembered, however, that many of these volunteers are neglecting their home duties at the humane call of the community. There is still need of adding to the force to relieve these women and to take care of possible additions to the number of patients. (Amesbury Daily News, October 3, 1918, page 2.)

By mid October, the situation had further improved. On October 19, the epidemic was “officially closed” and schools and theaters opened the following week. The emergency hospital was disbanded on October 26.

“Comparatively light” death toll

On October 29, it was time for the Amesbury Daily News to publish an “analysis” of the epidemic. It observed that influenza had killed 44 in Amesbury, which was 35 more than had died during the same period in 1917. This was a “comparatively light death toll,” said the analyst. Perhaps a population in the midst of World War I carnage was not shocked by 35 additional deaths in their town. Still, many were certainly terrified by what they were hearing while the epidemic raged locally and in the region.

“Comparatively light” may indeed be an accurate description of Amesbury’s influenza death toll. Rough calculations based on the numbers above show the peak influenza death rate in Amesbury to be lower than many U.S. cities. Amesbury’s 35 additional deaths, in a population of about 10,000, computes to about 0.35 percent. A chart of influenza deaths available from the National Museum of Health and Medicine and published recently in the New York Times shows that Amesbury’s peak influenza death rate was considerably less than Lowell’s (about 0.45 percent) and slightly less than New York City’s and Chicago’s (both about 0.38 percent).

Nonetheless, Amesbury’s citizens were grateful to those who volunteered during the darkest days of the epidemic.

The comparatively light death toll may well be credited to the splendid and prompt work of prevention, the doctors, the self sacrificing women and the various persons who labored to lessen the suffering. (Amesbury Daily News, October 29, 1918, page 2.)

The less severe third and final wave of the epidemic was still to come, however. On January 3, 1919, another call for nurses was published.

There were 13 new cases of influenza reported Thursday making thirty in all in town. There is a scarcity of nurses in town at the present time and experienced nurses would confer a favor to the public if they would leave their telephone numbers at the “Daily” office. (Amesbury Daily News, January 3, 1919, page 3.)

Other 1918 similarities?

It’s likely that additional and more striking similarities between 1918 and today can be found among the old newspaper pages available in the archive. Look for more articles on this topic here in the future.

Meanwhile, you can browse or search Amesbury local newspapers from 1849 to 2013 from home. Go to AmesburyLibrary.org, click Resources, then Downloads & Databases, then Amesbury Digital Newspapers. (Direct link: amesbury.advantage-preservation.com.)

Look up an Amesbury family name, location or event from the past. What you find might amaze you!

Learn more about the 1918 influenza epidemic

For more about the 1918 epidemic on a national level, read “History of 1918 Flu Pandemic” on the U. S. Centers for Disease and Control and Prevention (CDC) website. An article about the 1918 epidemic with a Boston focus is on the Boston page of the Influenza Encyclopedia published by the University of Michigan.

And a sincere note of thanks!

This post is dedicated to the front line personnel providing care to all those affected with the COVID 19 virus and working diligently to protect us all. Providing medical care requires knowledge, compassion, and courage – particularly during a time of crisis. We are grateful and say Thank You!

Please join us as we follow the guidance provided by our local leaders. For the latest information please visit the official web page of the City of Amesbury.