The Spanish Influenza
by Kathleen Clayton
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The Blue Death, commonly referred to as the Spanish Influenza, spread like wildfire across the state of North Carolina in the fall of 1918,
eventually killing at least 13,000 North Carolinians. Winston-Salem was not spared. The November 9, 1918 Winston-Salem Journal reported
that a total of 159 residents of Winston-Salem had died during a five week period. During that time about 5,900 individuals in Winston-Salem
were stricken with the Spanish Influenza. Of those dead, the majority were single people between the ages of fifteen and forty-six years of
age.
The virus was deadliest among those whose immune systems were strongest, the young and the fit. The virus strain produced a violent
reaction in the human immune system. Some referred to it as a spit swapping disease, since it was transmitted via sneezing and coughing.
The virus struck suddenly. First there was a chill, then a fever with temperature from 101 to 103, headache, back ache, reddening and
running of the eyes, pains and aches all over the body and general prostration. Treatment options included rest in bed, fresh air, abundant
food, salts of quinine, calomel, aspirin, and some espoused the use of alcohol such as rum, scotch and rye. The term Blue Death was used
because, in the most severe cases, the lungs filled with fluid and their skin turned blue, as their respiratory system failed and their tissue was
starved for oxygen. Some individuals died within forty-eight hours of their first sneeze. The virus started in Spain in May of 1918 and involved
38 per cent of the population within a short period of time.
On September 14, 1918, the Winston-Salem Journal’s front page had a story by the Associated Press in Washington about the Spanish
Influenza. It provided a description of the virus, its treatment and prevention methods. Almost daily articles appeared in the newspaper from
then until mid November. The first significant report of local outbreaks occurred on September 20th with a headline, “SEVERAL CASES OF
FLU AROUND TOBACCOVILLE”. The short story that followed said, “Already we hear of several cases of influenza in this section we are
sorry to say. Mr. Henry Lineback is suffering with an attack of influenza. Hope he will be out again soon.” The next local news of the virus
was on October 1st, with a headline on page 6, “INFLUENZA SPREADING OVER WINSTON-SALEM”.
In early October officials in Raleigh were recommending schools and places of public gatherings like movie houses, church services and
Sunday schools, be closed. On October 6th, the Winston-Salem Journal reported on a Winston Salem Board of Alderman meeting held the
night before where various city officials and citizens expressed their views about the impact of the virus on the city and the measures that
should be taken to prevent further spreading of the virus. The headline on the front page reads “WINSTON-SALEM CLOSED TO COMBAT
THE SPREAD OF SPANISH INFLUENZA HERE”. Churches, schools, picture theaters and other places of public assemblage were closed until
Monday night when “further light might be had on the conditions”. The October 17th Winston-Salem Journal reported that Dr. R.L. Carlton,
the city health officer, he “urged that there be no excitement” and “no need for alarm”.
“In Winston-Salem, Dr. Wingate Johnson estimated that he worked between 30 and 40 hours at a stretch during the height of the epidemic.
He visited most of his patients in their homes as they were quarantined. Johnson would sleep for about four hours, call his nurse for a supply
of tongue depressors and medicine, and then start up again for a forty or thirty hour “day”.”
Established hospitals, local doctors and nurses were not the only ones involved in the efforts to aid the sick. The October 20th Winston-
Salem Journal reported that “Mrs. John W. Hanes had tendered her handsome residence on West Fourth Street to the Red Cross, to be
used as an emergency hospital.” The ambulance used to deliver patients to the home was driven by Mr. John G. Hanes.
Later that week there was an appeal in the paper for “Citizens having scotch or rye whiskey on hand which they are willing to donate to the
hospital are asked to make their donations the first thing this morning.” On October 26th the Health Committee of the Board of Alderman
ordered all stores closed at 4pm except grocery stores, meat markets and cigar stands which were to close by 7pm. The October 27, 1918
Winston-Salem Journal printed the results of a door to door survey of Winston-Salem, Southside, Centerville and Waughtown. The
superintendent of the city schools, Mr. R.H. Latham directed the survey. The results showed that 16.5% of those surveyed had been
affected by the influenza with the heaviest concentration being in “Southside and Centerville, south and west of the car line”.
Can you image the relief when the headline in the November 7th newspaper was, “COUNTY SCHOOLS TO OPEN NEXT MONDAY MORNING
AND CHURCHES ON SUNDAY”. The white schools, followed by the black schools, were re-opened after the school houses were cleaned,
well ventilated and medical inspections of the students completed by the Health Department. The same week a local mercantile wasted no
time in having “AN AFTER THE FLU SALE”.
The following figures were given in Dr. Carlton’s, Winston-Salem’s health officer, first report to Washington.
Oct 7 50 cases reported
Oct 8 90 cases reported
Oct 9 130 cases reported with one death
Oct 10 150 cases reported and one death
Oct 11 180 cases reported and two deaths
Oct 12 217 cases reported and two deaths
Oct 13 no reports
Oct 14 75 cases reported and two deaths
Oct 15 976 cases reported and three deaths
Oct 16 98 cases reported and five deaths
Oct 17 399 cases reported and seven deaths
If you ever see the cause of death as the grippe, a term for the flu, or pneumonia during the fall or winter of 1918-1919, it is likely that the
person died from the Spanish Influenza,