The Spanish American. [volume] (Roy, Mora Co., N.M.) 19??-19??, 1920-02-14
Personal Mention
Flu Epidemic

An epidemic Of Influenza struck
Roy and vicinity suddenly last week
and has swept like a prairie fire all
over the mesa. Before many realized
it, there were dozen of families down
in bed with it and in dire need of as
sistance while many others were i'll
but one or more members were able
to care for the rest.
The local physicians we're swampec
with calls and soon called for help.
The Red Cross Ladies were the first
to respond. Many persons were in
credulous and failed to realize the
serious situation for some days but,
as it was forced upon them most of
these unaffected got busy helping the
helpless ones.
The H. Kennard family were the
first to require assistance and Mrs.
Fred S. Brown, Secretary and Mrs.
Irwin Ogden, Secretary Of the Home
Service Dept. went themselves and
ministered to them, doubtless saving
the lives of some as all six members
of the family were helpless and had
no care save what the doctor could
give on his visits.
When the seriousness Of the situa>
was made known volunteers were
numerous, but it was still grave
problem to minister to so many fam
lilies SO widely scattered. The Red
Cross ladies went at a systematic
manner and have been aided by the
school teachers, the Soldier hoys Of
the American Legion and many citl-
zens, while the Boy Scouts have been
on the Job from the first running er-
rands and helping in hundred ways.
Many autos have been placed at the
disposal of the cause which is being
managed from the Red Cross Hall and
an enormous amount of work has been
done and many lives saved thereby.
The two village Trustees and men,
bers of the Board of Health who
were in town and not i'll, r. Lopez
and Irwin Ogden, ordered quaran'
tine closing the Schools and all
Church, Lodge and other gatherings
and limited places of business to the
fewest persons practical to attend tC
the necessary business of supplying
the needs of the people, and forbade
more than IL persons to congregate
appointing an officer to enforce the
regulations, and urging all to comply
with the simple rules for preventing
the spread cf the disease. Isolation
of the s. K YVES iraN~aeti Al and re
strictions permit az who WI 70 MN
lister to them w.lhavt also being II
lated. EiE
DR.. jackson, Local Physician 40
the Board Of Health, has manage
the matter thus far very practicall.
and we are frankly proud Of our peo
pie who have so bravely risked in
fection and sacrificed for the commo'
cacso Of Humanity
- SOURCE Of the epidemic has beel
n as .cct Of some Investigation AM
r~~-s conjecture That it spread il
q crowd is almost an established fac
and the necessity for avoiding crowd
especially in closed buildings is EN-
phasized.
Only one death from the Flu ha
been reported to date, that Of Johnn
Johnson, 16-year-old son Of Jane
w Johnson, who died Monday after
noon after an illness Of but four days
Among the families who have bee
seriously i'll and have been aided b
the organization headed by the Re
Cross are H. Kennards, 6, Mr. Rob
erts and family, Nels Bensons, f. N
Bagwells, j. M. Johnsons, John Girls
wells, P. NJ. Hoopers, Sam Strong
J. N. Nutters, Sam 5trongs, Jack Ms
honeys, Mrs. Stafford, S. F. Davi'
Herbert Davis, and two younger boy
and families, Nels Wetterhus, A.
Herns. Mr.. Lyons, Tom Hughes, !
M. Liyingstons.
Other families i'll but not requlrn
assistance were Casey Whites, K. Y
Boulwares, ]. Al Robinsons, Mrs.
a Roy. P. L. Gums, j Floersheim
George Towers, R, A. Pendletons,
IT, Justices, Oscar Plunks, Geore
Towers. Mrs. Joe Mitchell, and MOI
ara being reported hourly
Many notable cases Of heroic wor
on the part Of those not i'll IN helpin
those who are reported and it is den
onstrated that calamity like tn
has its uses and one Of them is
break down The barriers Of selfshne'
that too often surrounds US in OF
scramble for personal interests.
Few cases are reported from Mil
or Solano and these are being care
for but the people are getting II
benefit Of our experience and will
ready to meet it if emergency arise