The Canon City record with which is consolidated the Canon City cannon., 1918-11-07
Interesting Letter
from Mrs. Wilkinson

letter from Mrs. C. II. Wilkinson was
received by -.rs. T. NJ. Harding few
days aso, and will be eagerly perused
by the readers of The Daily Record.
Her account OF the outbreak of the
Spaniali influenza at Camp Zachary
Taylor. Louisville. KY, and the very
drastic. efficacious steps taken by the
military and civil authorities to dea,
with the disease cannot fail to arrest
atter..on. She says
100 So. Second ST., Louisville, Ky,
October % 1918.
My dear Mrs. Harding
| do not know when the campaign
for the Y. NJ. C. A. and Y. w. War fund
takes place, but from the papers
notice that you are on the committee
and it occurred to me you might be in
terested in knowing of phase of the
work which is more wonderful than
anything they have vet done. l refer
to the service rendered during the ep-
idemic of influenza.
We have thought of the Y. NJ. and
W. 90 INNS ChtCi AoA
the soldier. that is splendid work,
but this has been simply wonderful,
and in order to describe it l must give
you some idea of the conditions.
You may know that DIR. Wilkinson
WAS ordered for duty here at Camp
Zachary Taylor about ten days ago,
about two days after the appearance
of influenza in the camp.
1t is beautiful camp and someone
deserves much credit for planning
ample hospital room, though many Of
the wards were unfurnished The med
ical corps was nose efficient, every
precaution had been taken against the
epidemic-for two weeks before it
We're 10000 of them, were examined
twice every day-the physical condi-
tion of the men was splendid-then
one night like bolt out of clear sky
came calls from all sections of the
camp, every medical officer was called
for duty, the wards filled up to double
capacity, the quartermaster was re-
Questioned for supplies for the unfur-
nished wards and the men came faster
than Accommodations could be prepared
for them. The second or third day
1900 were admitted, the government
WAS iInplored for doctors and they ar
rived very slowly, finally every doctor
in Louisville was commanded to give
At lA,c x,fv xxf ltic 1af f1y
the dentists laid aside their work ex-
cept for emergency cases, and render
ed what assistance they could to make
the boys comfortable Doctors arrived
the second day when there was one
physician to about every 1000 men.
They worked night and day.
Then came the relatives of the sick
boys-they came to the Hostess House
and crowded it to capacity-all furn-
iture, except in the restaurant, was
packed away and the space given to
cots where the wife, the sister or
mother might sleep and be near her
dear one and constantly get news of
his condition. Tents were put up, doz-
ems and dozens of them, about the
main building for those who could not
be Accommodated in the building. All
porches were utilized except space
where sitting room was provided. The
y NJ G. A. did the same for the faith
ers and brothers. but most of the work
centered about the Hostess House.
Here the relatives were met by the
sweetest women and the kindliest
men-everything possible was done for
them. ! saw expensively gowned
Eomen and women with shawls over
rhedr heads sympathizing with each
sother. The wealthy man and the lab
,orer slept side by side as their sons
lay side by side in the hospital just
"a short distance away and all drawn
together by their common sorrow.
saw so much suffering but no tears
nor hysteria and it seemed to me that
much OF the composure was due to
the presence Of these wonderful men
and women OF the Y. w. and Y. NJ.
sf. A.. who were so helpful and kind
some of them working IL to 16 hours
each day in as grave danger Of death
there as they would be we're they fac
ing German shells.
Doctor Wilkinson says he is murh
impressed with the wonderful he.o. n
of the women in this crisis, also tie
efficiency of the medical staff and the
self sacrificing spirit OF everyone con