Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-07-28
Fifty Years Ago
In The Star

Despite the studies made during the
yellow fever epidemic Of 1878 and the
application of many
Yellow Fever precautionary meas
nr+hr.sk ures which y was be-
VutpreAA' lieved at that time
would be effective in preventing re-
currence OF the scourge, the Summer
of 1879 witnessed another visitation OF
the disease, appearing first in Tennes-
see. The outbreak began about the first
of July, and daily thereafter the
columns of The Star contain news dis
patches telling Of the spread OF the
plague in Memphis. In The Star OF
July "a, 1879. is printed the following
report:
up to noon yesterday seven yellow
fever deaths were recorded in Memphis.
In the afternoon 81 new cases were re-
ported and one death. The Cincinnati
Commercials special yesterday from
Memphis says: over 100 refugees
trudeed into the city from the country
today. thinking that free rations were
to be issued to the inhabitants. and
hoping to get a share. Nothing OF the
kind is contemplated. man named
Lonear shot the back part OF his skull
of because he could not induce his
father and mother to leave the city.
He said he preferred death to q three
months siege of the scourse. 1t Is
thought he will not die. The bridge
over the Nonconnah Greek, miles
south Of the city. WAS last nlsnt de-
stroyed by q squad Of citizens might
hawks, thus cutting OH communlca-
ton except by dirty roads. The Howard
Association met tonight to prepare LOT
the emergency. and 1t Is thought the
yellow fever will be declared epidemic
tomorrow or next day, for effort Is be-
ing made to establish q camp for poor
people near Huntsville. Ala. The rail-
road companies offer to transport the
poor free Of charge
AT q meeting Of the Tennessee
Board Of Health yesterday the subject
of quarantine was considered. as
patch was sent to Memphis ordering
that the rules OF the national board
he Immediately put Into force. Inc
following was sent to all towns In west
Tennessee: The State Board OF Health,
now in session. has declared quarantine
against Memphis for the whole State,
and it Is now being enforced. Adj
tional rules will be put into operation
tomorrow Gov. McCreery Of Louis
Vile has called q meeting OF the state
Board of Health. to be held In Frank
fort next Thursday. The meeting Is 70
sible invasion of Kentucky by yellow
fever. In Indiana quarantine has been
established against all boats ascending
the Ohio from below Cairo"
During the succeeding days OF the
week reports show the disease spread
ing to Alabama. Kentucky and In New
York two deaths occurred OF persons
who had sought refuge In that city
from Memphis. The following dispatch
from New York appears in The Star
Of July rs, 1879:
"The case Of yellow fever developed
Yesterday in the death of MRS. Johanna
Brennan. late of Memphis, and the TWO
cases sent to quarantine. have created
no little uneasiness in this community,
and some of the morning papers are
calling for rigid enforcement OF quaran-
tine law on the land side. It seems
MRS. Brennan came here from Memphis
last Tuesday with 10 others and took
rooms In tenement house where nve
other families were living. Mrs. Bren-
nan, who had been ailing since her
arrival, was 80 i'll on Thursday night
that her friends sent for DR.. Cocks.
He called ct the house without any sus-
picion of the nature Of the patients
disease. A brief examination OF her
satisfied him. however, she was suf1er.
ing from yellow fever. The inmates OF
the apartment then admitted that they
were refugees from Memphis. Mrs.
Brennan died yesterday morning and
the body was hastily buried"