Beginning in 1918, a deadly flu hit worldwide and earned the
name, “Spanish flu,” because people mistakenly thought it originated in Spain. The
flu struck during World War I and decimated troops and civilians alike.
Between
1918 and 1919, the
pandemic killed at least 50 million worldwide, including about 675,000
Americans. In 1919 alone, Arkansas had about 450,000 cases of the flu and about
7,500 deaths. Unlike other flus, the “Spanish flu” often killed apparently
healthy, young people within only a few days.
In the spring of 1920, Arkansans were nervous. Communities
worked to combat any new outbreak and keep their residents safe. No one wanted
to see a repeat of 1919.
Fort Smith, particularly, had reason to worry. Flu cases
began to mount in the middle of January 1920, and while officials assured residents
there was nothing to fear, simultaneously they were planning their strategy to
deal with the epidemic. Dr. H.C. King, a local doctor, told a panel of
physicians with the Arkansas Board of Health, “I believe in locking the stable
before the horse is stolen. There may be no danger of the disease spreading
alarmingly, but necessary precautions should be taken before the disease gets
away from us.”
On Feb. 3, Fort Smith officials noted 119 new cases of the
flu. The next day, officials announced 90 new cases. Overall, there were 335
new cases statewide on Feb. 4.
Greenwood in Sebastian County was especially hard hit.
Greenwood’s health workers found themselves outpaced by the illness. Of the
town’s two doctors, one contracted the flu while caring for Greenwood patients,
leaving the other to deal with the mounting caseload. On Feb. 4, Greenwood
Mayor John McCord sent Dr. C.W. Garrison, state health officer, an urgent
request for nurses and doctors to care for the 200 cases in the town’s
hospital. Doctors rushed to Greenwood to aid in the care for the sick.
On Thursday, Feb. 5, the Little Rock City Board of Health
met to discuss the outbreak. The board thought imposing a citywide quarantine
was unnecessary, but by the next morning, conditions had worsened. Statewide,
there were 910 new cases of influenza. Fort Smith led the pack with 138 new
cases. Star City had 125 new cases, and Arkansas City had 100 new cases.
Alarmed, Little Rock and North Little Rock officials placed
the cities under quarantine. School systems, churches and all city theaters
shut down. Stores and businesses could remain open only if they left their
doors and windows open. Floor walkers in the store were ordered to make sure
customers did not bunch up into groups. Customers were asked to move quickly,
make their purchases and then leave.
Bible studies and indoor lectures were canceled. Streetcars
could only operate if all the windows were left open. Children were discouraged
from riding streetcars altogether.
Additionally, all houses with an influenza case had to be
placarded to announce the infection to the public and discourage visitors. Any
house that had a flu victim was required to notify public health officials
within 24 hours or risk a $25 fine. Funerals were now private affairs open to
the immediate family only.
Those seeking entertainment in Little Rock would search in
vain because all the theaters and pool halls were closed. Instead, people took
walks through the city. Main street was crowded with pedestrians, possibly
violating social distancing laws.
Fort Smith continued to see an alarming number of new cases.
The City Board of Health reported Feb. 9 the city had 107 new cases. The number
was down considerably from the previous Friday’s report but still cause for
concern. In response, the City Board of Health decided to become more stringent
in its quarantine orders.
Hotel operators were required to remove chairs from their
lobbies to prevent people from congregating. Coach Earl Quigley of the Little
Rock High School Tigers announced he was canceling the game between the Tigers
and Pine Bluff High School and possibly the rest of the season.
Pine Bluff followed suit and established a strict
quarantine. The city closed all public buildings except for grocers and meat
markets. The city also made it illegal for a child to be on the street without
a permit. More cities enacted quarantines Feb. 9.
Social life among college students at the University of
Arkansas in Fayetteville ground to a stop. University officials banned student
dating as well as any gatherings at soda fountains.
Meanwhile, Dr. Harrison Hale, a chemistry professor, thought
chlorine gas could be a solution to kill the flu virus. He observed towns with chlorine
gas factories seemed to have avoided flu outbreaks in 1919. Additionally, no
students or professors in the chemistry department caught the disease.
Perhaps,
chlorine was a good preventative against the flu, he thought. He invited
students to come inhale 1/1000th of 1 percent of chorine solution
daily for one week as part of his experiment. As many as 250 students signed up
for the experiment.
By Feb. 11, it was clear the quarantines were working. Fort
Smith, which had seen at least 100 new cases a day, had a dramatic drop in new
cases. The city reported only 53 new cases. Little Rock, which also had a fall
in new cases, decided to lift its quarantine at midnight Feb. 12. Schools, theaters
and poolhalls reopened. Even Fort Smith, where the flu epidemic had been so
horrible, lifted its quarantine Feb. 15.
By the time quarantines ended, the economic impact had
already been felt across the state. Theaters in Little Rock, for example, lost
an estimated $6,000 overall during the quarantine.
As Arkansans face a similar situation in 2020, it is
interesting to look at the past. The lesson from 100 years ago is that
sacrifice is necessary to keep communities safe. Quarantines and social
distancing worked in 1920 to reduce the spread of the flu and the likelihood of
death. Those measures, once again, will help keep Arkansas communities safe.
For more information on Arkansas history, call 501-682-6900 or
email state.archives@arkansas.gov. The
Arkansas State Archives is closed to the public as part of a widespread effort
to reduce COVID-19. Some research services are available by calling the
Arkansas State Archives or by visiting archives.arkansas.gov.
