Spanish Flu From a Hurricane Perspective

Old Bridge at Hurricane crossing Virgin River. (photo courtesy of Washington County Historical Society)

Spanish Flu killed nearly 50 million people between the years 1918 and 1920. It erupted during the turmoil of World War I which no doubt facilitated the spread of the virus. It did not discriminate, quashing large swaths of population all around the world, from New Zealand to Europe to the United States. It was one of the worst pandemics the world has ever seen.
 
The little town of Hurricane in Southern Utah was young during the pandemic, having only been settled twelve years earlier. My great-great grandfather, Charles Adelbert Workman, and his family were among the first settlers on the Hurricane Bench. He faithfully kept a journal, recording the town's reaction to the pandemic.
 

Family of Charles and Josephine Workman.

The year began like any other. In spring they began planting a large garden that included peas, watermelons, strawberries and currant bushes. Charles bought a new Ford car and they also saw his brother-in-law Henry off to war. They also experienced tragedy when their son, Eldon, was electrocuted to death. But in October, a pall of a different sort fell upon the town. On October 14, 1918 Charles records in his journal:
 
“The town has been quarantined for Spanish Influenza and I have been employed by the Town Board to notify travelers as they come into town to not put up at hotels. They are permitted to get supplies of gasoline, etc. but not to stop in town. There are no cases of influenza here yet but it is spreading through the country rapidly. The State Board of Health has ordered all public schools closed, and prohibited public gatherings in towns where the disease exists.”
 
The next day he writes: “Have been watching the road all day for travelers to notify them of the quarantine. Stayed in my car at the north east corner of town where the state road crosses the bridge over the north ditch this afternoon.” The next day he is at it again: “Have been enforcing the quarantine again today. Stationed in my car at our lucerne field gate. Made some repairs on the gate.” The next several days he writes that he is still on guard. Sometimes he goes on guard in the morning until early afternoon, and at other times his shift is from late afternoon until midnight.
 
The public order also affected their Sabbath worship service. Charles was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and as a devotee he attended church every week. On Sunday, October 20th he writes: “There have been no public meetings today on account of the order of the State Board of Health that no assemblies be allowed. The object is to prevent the spread of the Spanish Influenza. Thousands are dying with it all over the United States. I have been on guard again today to enforce the quarantine.”
 
On the 28th Charles explains the scope of the pandemic throughout the state of Utah and also in Washington County, of which Hurricane belongs: “I am still guarding the town to keep out influenza. There are thousands of cases of it in Utah and hundreds are dying. It is in every county in the state except Washington County. There are no cases in this county yet that we know of. It has spread all over the United States and to some extent in Europe and other parts of the world. Whole families die of it, and sometimes two or more of a family will die in one day. It begins like a cold, a high fever followed by a chill and coughing and sneezing. In the fatal cases it is followed by pneumonia of some other complication.”
 
As November comes a cold wind blows from the north. The quarantine guards set up a tent with a stove inside. Word comes that the first local residents are infected with Spanish Influenza. These families include those of E. N. Stanworth, William Ruesch and Albert Russell. By November 13th it is reported “about a dozen cases of the Spanish Influenza in town, but they are all getting along well.”
 

Home of Emanuel Nutter Stanworth in Hurricane, Utah.  Several members of his family were infected with Spanish Flu in 1918.  (photo courtesy of Washington County Historical Society)

On December 4th, Charles Workman is appointed as Justice of the Peace for the town of Hurricane. I find his first case interesting: “Fined S. B. Chipman $5.00 for breaking the order of the Health Board that requires everybody to wear gauze masks on the streets and in public places.” He also fined half a dozen men, including two relatives, for “breaking health regulations.” On another occasion he fined two people from Cedar City $5 each for going into town without permission.
 
The first death from Spanish Flu in Charles' account is recorded on December 21, 1918: “Horatio Pickett, my wife's father died this afternoon of influenza followed by pneumonia.” Horatio was 70 years old and living in St. George at the time. The diary mentions no funeral so perhaps they tried to keep it small to prevent spread of the virus.
 
The following day—a Sunday—Charles wrote the following: “Pres. Heber J. Grant [President of the Mormon Church] has designated today as a special day for fasting and prayer for the relief of the people from the scourge of influenza that is sweeping over the earth. It is one of the most dreadful diseases that the world has ever known. Hundreds of thousands of deaths from it have occurred and almost all parts of the civilized world have suffered from its ravages. There were no public gatherings [a.k.a. church meetings] today.”
 
From this point forward, life on the Hurricane Bench appears to have gradually returned to normal. On Sunday, December 28 the first church services were held since October.  Four days later on January 2 the schools reopened. There are only a handful of brief mentions of guard duty or someone breaking quarantine rules.
 
It appears that one of the last restrictions was that of allowing outsiders to stay in town. On April 15, 1919 Charles records one of his last entries relating to the Spanish Flu: “A number of [sheep] shearers came in today but I did not let them stay in town on account of the quarantine. They expect to begin shearing at Gould's in a few days.” ♠

President Heber J. Grant.