The Portland daily press., 1885-04-20
YELLOW FEVER IN BIDDEFORD.
How the Disease was Brought mp the
SacO Many Years Ago.
Biddeford JOurnal.)

(blQde1oru JOurnal.)
Although located SIS we are, presumably in
one Of the healthiest portions Of the globe, we
are not proof against visitations of the most
deadly epidemics The winter of 1617-1S, the
first winter spent by Richard Vines on Saco
river, was signalized by terrible pestilence
which broke out among the Saco tribes. Its
exact nature has never been determined. 1t
was called the "plague," but was most likely
disease akin to small pox. The mortality was
fearful. Dead bodies were found lying on the
shores, in the woods-sverywhere Vines and
his men "boarded" with the natives, yet won
deriul as it may seem, they escaped without
harm. Says an old Nevertheless,
though the mortality was the greatest that ever
happened in the memory OF man, Vines and
his men, who lay in the cabins with these peo-
pie that died, not one of them ever felt their
heads to ache so long as they staid there" It
was undoubtedly filth disease, IS are all these
most deadly epidemics, and confined itself 70
the people whose physical condition was such
as to encourage it.
In 1735 the settlements upon both sides Of
the river suffered from the effects Of an epi-
demic disease which swept the whole northern
coast. Parson Smith OF Portland, wrote In his
journal, October 81, 1875: eve had a fast on
account Oh buO blCkubbhf WulCu DEOkm Oub ~
Kingston, and which is got as far az Cape Por-
poise, and carries off great many children
and Young persons, and alarms the whole
country" The next year it prevailed at Scar
boro, and proved almost universally fatal.
November 4, 1898, Parson Smith writes: "The
throat distenper is still e1ceeding bad in SGco."
We have no means Of knowing how many dfed
from the disease.
The yellow fever was brought into Saco river
By vessels from the West Indies, at least in
u ~ sr, Tn
1856, the whole number attacked by the disease
way 43, eleven Of whom died, as We gather
from the record of DR.. Aaron Porter, who was
then Biddsford's only physician.
In June, 1902, vessel came mp to the wharf
In Biddeford with the yellow fever on board,
but 1t not being known for several days. many
were exposed and fell victims to the disease.
It spread throughout both towns, and OF sixty
three cases, fourteen proved fatal. Those vEo
survived the fourth day generally recovered.
The following report on the sanitary condi-
ton of Biddeford at that time, we give yer
bdtinl ct HterGtins, from the original now In
possession of Horatio Herrick, Esq, OF Massa-
chusetts. The report as will be seen was made
in -eighty-four years ago, and was signed
by DIR. Porter of Biddeford and DIR. Shannon
OF Saco, who were known as among the most
eminent members Of the medical profession ct
that time:
Mr.. jerks:
Sir,-We wish you to communicate TO the Pub
prevailed in the town Of BiddefOrd for some time
past.
Port from Grenada (having lost lad on the xoy-
age) Within week after her arrival four Men
who had been on board the vessel were seized with
Fevers of very Malignant nature and all died. Many
other People of the town were board the vessel
but none Of them sickened. On the 9th Of July
two Women & since that time q number OF other
Persons have sickened and most of them with
Putrid Feyers, (none of them however were on
board the vessel nor visited those who had been
sick) The whole number of Deaths within the
town since the 9th of July Is eight grown Persons
making In the whole twelve with Putrid Fever.
There have also died two women with Decay,
one child with quinsy, and two children Probably
with worms, so that the whole number of deaths
within the town since the 11th Of June is IL Per-
sons.
We are happy to communicate to the Publick
that there is not at this time Sick Person within
the town, All those who have been sick. who have
survived the fever well and able to 90 abroad
every day. and we have taken the utmost care to
prevent the spreading of so malignant disorder.
AARON PORTER
RIcHD. @. SHANNON,
Biddeford, Aug't 28, 1902.
P.S. We wish the Printers in Boston to COM
municate the above for the benefit OF People and
Vessels passing thither.