A Second Wave

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A patent-medicine manufacturer tries to capitalize on the influenza epidemic, in this advertisement from the Hobart Gazette of Nov. 22, 1918.

George Sauter had the good fortune to be among the first 3,000 of Camp Custer's men, and the first of Hobart's soldiers, to be formally (and honorably) discharged from the service after the war's end. He came home on November 17. His army buddy, Fred Rose, Jr., remained at camp, hoping that he too would soon be a free man.

The town itself would soon be less free. The Spanish influenza had briefly receded, but now a second wave was bearing down. Over 30 new cases were reported on November 20 alone. Cautiously, Hobart's health officer, Dr. Clara Faulkner, re-imposed a partial quarantine, banning only "special meetings and dances." Schools, churches and "regular meetings" could operate as usual for the moment, but Dr. Faulkner pleaded with the townspeople to avoid crowds and to keep homes well ventilated and all public places clean. (Conditions were worse in Gary. There, schools and theaters had been closed again, the quarantine "tighter than ever.")

The Hobart town board had to postpone its regular semi-monthly meeting again — this time for lack of a quorum; too many members out with the flu. The newspapers' social columns became a litany of illness. Children, adults, whole families were laid low. Most recovered; some did not. Little Joseph Smelter died of influenza on his eighth birthday. Blanche Mellon died at 32 years of age, leaving a "truly heart broken" husband and six children — four of them sick with influenza. A 62-year-old woman, who some 20 year earlier had lived in Hobart, died of influenza at her home in Chicago, and was brought back to her former home for burial in the Hobart Cemetery.

As November drew to a close, the Gazette gave voice to a sense of helplessness: "Influenza has invaded dozens and dozens of homes in this vicinity during the past two weeks, and in instances every member of the family have been afflicted. It seems that few homes escape the disease this year, quarantine or no quarantine. No one seems to be immune. Whether one is careful or not careful, apparently makes no difference."

Thanksgiving was celebrated quietly.


Sources:
♦ 1910 Census.
♦ "Clamp Again Placed on All Special Meetings and Dances." Hobart News 21 Nov. 1918.
♦ "Death of Mrs. J.E. Mellon." Hobart Gazette 29 Nov. 1918.
♦ "Deaths." Hobart Gazette 29 Nov. 1918.
♦ "Local and Personal." Hobart News 21 Nov. 1918.
♦ "Local Drifts." Hobart Gazette 22 Nov. 1918.
♦ "People Must Be Careful." Hobart Gazette 22 Nov. 1918.
♦ "The Conditions Bad." Hobart Gazette 29 Nov. 1918.