–353 Blanchard tally from State and locality breakouts below.

–212 Keating 1879, p. 101.

Florida (~137)

–127 Jacksonville. Aug-Nov Merritt. A Century of Medicine in Jacksonville… 1949, 40.

— 1 Key West. By Sep 13. “Several cases of yellow fever at Key West and one death.”[1]

— ~9 Milton. Civilian and Gazette, Galveston, TX. 11-3-1857, p. 3, c. 6.[2]

Georgia ( 1)

–1 Augusta, St. Mary’s Boarding House keeper, Aug 13. Near docked Spanish ship.[3]

–? St. Marys[4] Merritt. A Century of Medicine in Jacksonville… 1949, 38.

Louisiana (199)

–200 New Orleans. New Orleans Pub. Library. Yellow Fever Deaths…New Orleans, 1817-1905

–199 New Orleans June-Dec Carrigan 1961, p. 118; Keating 1879, p. 101;

–199 “ Sternberg 1908, p. 719; US M-HS 1896, p. 438.

— 35 “ Oct 12-18 Milwaukee Daily Sentinel, WI. 10-21-1857, p. 1, col. 4.[5]

New York ( 2)

–1 Brooklyn[6] Daily State Gazette, Burlington, IA. 7-31, 1857, p. 6, col. 1.

–1 Williamsburg, NY.[7]

Pennsylvania ( 1)

–1 Philadelphia. Daily State Gazette, Burlington, IA. 7-31, 1857, p. 6, c. 1.[8]

South Carolina ( 13) Sep-Nov

–13 Charleston Sep-Nov Keating 1879, 101; USMHS 1896, 438.

Narrative Information

Florida — Jacksonville

Merritt: “Between the eventful year of 1854 [yellow fever among other things] and the tragic year of 1857 the health of the community apparently was good….” [p. 37]

“The year 1857 will long be remembered as the year of the great pestilence. The residents of Jacksonville frequently had encountered reverses during these early years, but never had they been called upon to undergo the horrors that were to be their lot in the summer and fall of 1857. During the early summer, which was hot, rainy, and murky, ‘the pond’ between Jacksonville and LaVilla, about where Broad Street now is located, was first divested of its forest and undergrowth, and the sun was allowed to shine upon the morass….In August, soon after this change, a malignant grade of yellow fever broke out on the border of the pond and spread along the span of McCoy’s Creek, which was a dirty, stagnant little stream of water flowing through a low, marshy area.

“Dr. W. M. Bostwick, a prominent dentist in Jacksonville, remembered in later years that the disease started at Mr. Nathan Vaught’s house, which stood on a bluff just east of the intersection of Bay and Broad streets, and that it had been brought to Jacksonville by Mr. Caught on his return from a trip to St. Marys, Georgia,[9]….

“After the Vaughts, the McFall family became afflicted, and then the disease spread to the Currys, who lived close by on the banks of the creek. Residents of Jacksonville went out to this locality, then well beyond the limits of the town, to nurse the sick.[10] Soon the contagion spread, and by August 24 it had assumed true epidemic proportions.[11] Most of the residents fled from Jacksonville, leaving not more than five hundred persons in town. Grass grew up in the deserted streets, the steamers would not dock, and Jacksonville was isolated from the world. Except for one drugstore, there was an entire suspension of business.[12] This drugstore, founded in 1856 by Mr. E. P. Webster, was located at the corner of Bay and Ocean [end p.38] streets. Mr. Webster, affectionately called ‘Dr.’ Webster by the people of Jacksonville, kept his store open throughout the epidemic and furnished medicine and supplies free of charge to those who were unable to pay. Physicians and members of the clergy, aided by a few courageous citizens, remained to nurse the sick, to dispense food and clothing, and to bury the dead.[13]

“Some families suffered greatly. All twelve members of the Mott family had the disease, and nearly all of them died. The Turknett family, which had lost five sons in the scarlet fever epidemic of 1854, last the father of the family and another son as the result of yellow fever.[14]

“The Reverend W. W. Bours, rector of the Episcopal Church and one of Jacksonville’s best-loved citizens, returned from his vacation in New York in September as soon as he learned of the epidemic. On the boat with Mr. Bours were Dr. and Mrs. Baldwin, who also had been in New York during the summer. Mrs. Baldwin, who had served as a helpmate and constant companion during Dr. Baldwin’s early years in Jacksonville, contracted the disease and died on October 4.[15] Mr. Bours visited the sick daily, became ill during his ministrations, and succumbed on November 2.[16]

“By October 26 there was an early frost which, it was hoped, would bring the epidemic to an end, but these hopes were in vain. In late November Mr. W. W. Moore, editor of the Florida Republican, fled to Tallahassee and reported that ‘the sickness had not abated in Jacksonville’ and that ‘several of the leading citizens were lying extremely low.’[17]

“The freeze of November 20 controlled the mosquitoes and soon the epidemic vanished. On December 7 Dr. J. D. Mitchell wrote to the editor of the Florida News:

I am happy to inform you and your numerous patrons that the Yellow Fever which has been prevailing here to an alarming degree since August 24, has entirely disappeared. I would say to all who have been staying away on account of the epidemic that our town has never been in a more healthy condition than at the present time. Absentees are returning and business which has for the last three months been almost entirely suspended has put on a more cheerful and lively appearance.[18]

“It was reported that approximately six hundred persons in Jack- [end p. 39] sonville had the disease and that one hundred and twenty-seven died.[19] This high mortality rate, almost 20 per cent, was much greater than that of yellow fever epidemics which were to occur later.

“In Jacksonville, as in other cities of the South, facts relating to an epidemic were concealed as long as possible, for many felt that it was better to suppress the truth than produce a panic. Newspapers refused to admit the presence of an epidemic until it was impossible to ignore or deny it.[20] Nevertheless, the inaccurate and misleading editorials written during the epidemic by Mr. Joseph F. Rogero, editor of the Florida News, are disconcerting. The tone of the editorials indicates an intent to protect the business interests of the town and to promote tourist trade rather than a desire to present the facts. In his issue of the Florida News of September 26, about one month after the epidemic had assumed alarming proportions, Mr. Rogero wrote:

We have taken pains to make very general inquiry in reference to the sickness in town. We have seen all the physicians and are assured that our city and its environs are free from disease. Our worthy mayor, C. C. Gibbs, has for the last ten days made daily visits to all portions of the city and has added his endorsement to the above. Our friends abroad may rest assured that the reports of great mortality and sickness are fabulous. There is not now a serious case of illness here….[21]

“On October 10 Mr. Rogero stated:

Circumstances over which we have no control compels us to issue the News this week short of matter. Our office has for the last month been sorely afflicted by sickness….There are a few alarmists in our midst who seem determined at any cost to our town’s property to induce the belief both at home and abroad that we have yellow fever among us…The opinion of the united medical faculty of the town and that of gentlemen familiar with the appearance of the disease…permits us to say that there is not, nor has there been a case of yellow fever in Jacksonville….[22]

“No issues of the Florida News are available after this date until December 12, when Mr. Rogero, in an entirely different vein, admitted the truth: [end of p. 40]

After a suspension of a few weeks it affords us pleasure to once again doff our beaver and make our generous patrons a very low bow. Their indulgence is fully appreciated and we will endeavor in the future to make them our accustomed weekly visits — and will also made every effort to render ourselves more than entertaining — Every vestige of the epidemic which has for two months raged with such malignity and unabated fatality has at last disappeared….During the past two weeks we have been in the enjoyment of delightful spring-like weather….The effect of this has not been as many had feared, to cause the awful epidemic to rage in our midst again.

By none can such weather as we are now being blessed with be more fully enjoyed than by those that are recovering from attacks of the disease. Heaven grant that those who have passed through the ‘fiery furnace’ of the dreadful scourge may be fully restored to their former state of health, and long live to inhale the genial and balmy air with which they are at present being blessed. Jacksonville is at present as healthy as it ever was. Out citizens who absented themselves during the prevalence of the epidemic, have nearly all returned and every northern steamer is bringing hither the health seeking invalid as well as numerous other strangers whose missions are either those of business or pleasure.[23]

“Toward the end of December Mr. Rogero moved the Florida News to Fernandina…”[24] [p. 41]

South Carolina — Charleston

Oct 14 Charleston, SC report: “Madam Rumor — always busy in the affairs of other people — reports that fellow fever exists to almost an alarming extent in Charleston. What say our city cotemporary’s to this? If the snake is running at large among you, say so; let us avoid its coils if possible. The chills and fever so prevalent with us this fall, is enough without entailing upon us a worse calamity by visit’ng the city. Unless the rumor is false, we would advise our merchants, who contemplate laying in their stocks in Charleston, to postpone their visit lest they may bring off with them rather more than they had bargained for…” (Pee Dee Times, Georgetown, SC. “Yellow Jack.” 10-14-1857, p. 2, col. 3.)

Sources

Carrigan, Jo Ann. The Saffron Scourge: A History of Yellow Fever in Louisiana, 1796-1905 (Doctoral Dissertation). Louisiana State University, LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses, 1961. Accessed 3-11-2018 at: https://digitalcommons.lsu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1665&context=gradschool_disstheses

Civilian and Gazette, Galveston, TX. 11-3-1857, p. 3, col. 6. [Yellow Fever, Milton, FL] Accessed 4-25-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/civilian-and-gazette-nov-03-1857-p-3/

Daily State Gazette, Burlington, IA. 7-31, 1857, p. 6, col. 1. Accessed 4-24-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/burlington-daily-iowa-state-gazette-jul-31-1857-p-6/

Keating, J. M. A History of the Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1878 in Memphis, Tenn. Memphis, TN: Howard Association, 1879. Google preview accessed 3-16-2018 at: http://books.google.com/books?id=WEIJAAAAIAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false

Merritt, Webster. A Century of Medicine in Jacksonville and Duval County. Chapter Six, “The Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1857.” Gainesville, FL: University of Florida Press, 1949. Accessed 4-25-2018 at: http://ufdc.ufl.edu/UF00103093/00001/51x

Milwaukee Daily Sentinel, WI. [Yellow Fever, New Orleans] 10-21-1857, p. 1, col. 4. Accessed 4-25-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/milwaukee-daily-sentinel-oct-21-1857-p-1/

New Orleans Public Library, Louisiana Division. Yellow Fever Deaths in New Orleans, 1817-1905. Accessed 3-7-2010 at: http://nutrias.org/facts/feverdeaths.htm

Pee Dee Times, Georgetown, SC. “Yellow Jack [Charleston SC].” 10-14-1857, p. 2, col. 3. Accessed 4-25-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/georgetown-pee-dee-times-oct-14-1857-p-2/

Pee Dee Times, Georgetown, SC. “Yellow Fever at Key West.” 10-7-1857, p. 2, col. 5. Accessed 4-25-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/georgetown-pee-dee-times-oct-07-1857-p-2/

Pee Dee Times, Georgetown, SC. “Yellow Fever in New York,” 8-5-1857, p. 2, col. 6. Accessed 4-25-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/georgetown-pee-dee-times-aug-05-1857-p-2/

Sternberg, George M. (US Public Health Service, US Marine Hospital Service). “Yellow Fever: History and Geographic Distribution.” Pages 715-722 in Stedman, Thomas L., M.D. (Ed.) Appendix to the Reference Handbook of the Medical Sciences. NY: William Wood & Co., 1908. Google preview accessed 3-18-2018 at: http://books.google.com/books?id=3ezqX415M5wC&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_atb#v=onepage&q&f=false

The Intelligencer, Wheeling, WV. “Yellow Fever.” 8-14-1857, p. 3, col. 5. Accessed 4-25-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/wheeling-daily-intelligencer-aug-14-1857-p-3/

The Intelligencer, Wheeling, WV. “Yellow Fever,” 8-29-1857, p. 3, col. 5. Accessed 4-25-1857 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/wheeling-daily-intelligencer-sep-28-1857-p-3/

United States Marine-Hospital Service, Treasury Department. Annual Report of the Supervising Surgeon-General of the Marine-Hospital Service of the United States for the Fiscal Year 1895 (Document No. 1811). Washington, DC: GPO, 1896. Google preview accessed 3-16-2018 at: http://books.google.com/books?id=aTnxAAAAIAAJ&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_atb#v=onepage&q&f=false

[1] Notes: “The origin of the disease is from admitting seamen from Aspinwall.” (The Intelligencer, Wheeling, WV. “Yellow Fever,” 8-29-1857, p. 3, col. 5.) We use the date Sep 13 in that another paper, notes “The Key of the Gulf, of the 14^th ult., reports the health of the city as rapidly improving; there being no new cases of fever, and the old ones rapidly recovering.” (Pee Dee Times, Georgetown, SC. “Yellow Fever at Key West.” 10-7-1857, p. 2, col. 5.)

[2] “The Pensacola Observer says the yellow fever was introduced into Milton by a Mr. McLean…McLean’s wife and child were immediately attacked with yellow fever, and died. About nine deaths, altogether, have occurred.” (Milton is on the north end of East Bay, near Pensacola. It is indeed possible that a ship from New Orleans, Jacksonville or an infected area in the Caribbean could have brought yellow fever in.

[3] The Intelligencer, Wheeling, WV. “Yellow Fever.” 8-14-1857, p. 3, col. 5.

[4] On intracoastal waterway just north of Florida border.

[5] Notes there were 135 deaths in all, with 36 from yellow fever, all dying in hospital.

[6] “Philadelphia, July 28. Afternoon papers report mate of a vessel from Havana died in Swanson street from yellow fever. Vessel sent back to Quarantine. Fatal cases have also occurred in Brooklyn and Williamsburg, N.Y.”

[7] Ibid. Particulars concerning the Williamsburg death from another paper were that: “A case of yellow fever terminated fatally in Williamsburg on Sunday last, after an illness of four days. The patient, L. D. Cross, was a ship jointer, had been at work upon a vessel recently arrived from the West Indies. Characteristic symptoms attending a fatal case of this disease were present. Drs. Colt and Wade, the attending physicians, pronounced this a well marked case of yellow fever.” (Pee Dee Times, Georgetown, SC. “Yellow Fever in New York,” 8-5-1857, p. 2, col. 6.)

[8] “Philadelphia, July 28. Afternoon papers report mate of a vessel from Havana died in Swanson street from yellow fever. Vessel sent back to Quarantine.”

[9] Merritt footnote: “One authority believed later that the disease was brought to Jacksonville by smugglers from Havana, Cuba.”

[10] Cites, in footnote 9: T. Frederick Davis. History of Jacksonville, Florida and Vicinity. P. 105.

[11] Cites, in footnote 10: Jacksonville Florida News, 12-12-1857.

[12] Cites in footnote 11: “Reminiscences of Old Citizens.” 1-25-1876.

[13] Cites in footnote 13: “Reminiscences of Old Citizens, 1-25-1876.

[14] Cites in footnote 14: Record book of the Old City Cemetery, confirmed by inscriptions on the gravestones.

[15] Cites in footnote 15: Jacksonville Florida Times-Union and Citizen, 12-9-1898.

[16] Cites in footnote 16: Savannah Republican, 11-9-1857.

[17] Cites in footnote 18: Tallahassee Floridian and Journal, 1-28-1857.

[18] Cites in footnote 19: Jacksonville Florida News, 12-12-1857.

[19] Cites in footnote 20: “Reminiscences of Old Citizens.” 1-25-1876.

[20] Cites in footnote 21: American Medical Association Transactions, VII (1854), 542; De Bow’s Review, XV (1853), 593; and Martha Carolyn Mitchell, “Health and the Medical Profession in the Lower South, 1845-1860,” Journal of Southern History, X (November 1944), p. 428.

[21] Cites in footnote 22: Jacksonville Florida News, 9-26-1857.

[22] Cites in footnote 23: Jacksonville Florida News, 10-10-1857.

[23] Cites in footnote 24: Jacksonville Florida News, 12-12-1857.

[24] Cites in footnote 25: Fernandina Florida News, 2-10-1858.

1857 — June-Dec, Yellow Fever, Charleston SC, Jacksonville FL (127), New Orleans (199)-353