[from “1918 Pandemic Influenza in Maine.” Maine Department of Health and Human Services.(edited for length and clarity)]*
Saturday, November 2
The influenza epidemic, which has caused so much suffering in Portland, has passed its climax, but it has left behind weakness and desolation. Many families which have always been self-supporting have lost their providers. Others are weakened by sickness so that they cannot at once resume their normal activities.
Thursday, November 7
The epidemic of influenza has hit some Aroostook towns pretty hard. In Caribou, the Knights of Columbus Hall was opened as an emergency hospital, with materials kindly supplied by citizens. Caribou has been unfortunate to have so few physicians at this particular time, and the few available are working day and night.
Monday, November 11
At 11 AM on November 11th, 1918, World War I officially ended, as the Armistice is signed with Germany. Worldwide, 10 million died from the war, 20 million wounded.
In 1 ½ years of combat during WWI, the U.S. Army lost 34,000. 24,000 of them died from the influenza during the 8 weeks in the fall of 1918. Nearly 3 times as many American soldiers died of influenza as died in action against the enemy. · Virtually all of the deaths among American sailors in WWI were from influenza – 5,000 of them. · In 1 ½ years of war, nearly 18 as many Americans died from the epidemic than from the war.*
Monday, November 18
Le Madawaska
La main de Dieu s’est abattue sur notre population. Grand est le nombre des familles quiont vu partir qui une mere, qui un pere, qui des freres, qui des soeurs. Les vides sont nombreux et le denil regne partout. Peu sont les familles qui n’ont pas ete eprouvees. Jamais un pareil fleau a visite notre pays.
L’epidemie semble avoir ete apportee ici par un train de soldats venu de la nouvelleEcosse. Le train parti avec un contingent de 500 (cinq cents) soldats tous en bonne sante arrive a Edmundston le 26 (vingt six) Septembre avec six soldats souffrant d’influenza.
Tuesday, November 19
Dr. Bristol stated that he firmly believes new legislation is needed by which the State Department is given greater power, and he will urge this upon the legislature that sits in January. He said, “At the present time, the State Department has no authority that will permit it to assume charge of a situation such as has faced Maine during the past few months.
“All the work that has been done has been in assisting the local boards. A law should be passed that would given the State Department full power to handle an epidemic of any kind without interference from a local board.
“Additionally, a number of physicians and local boards of health have not done their duty in making daily reports of disease.”
Tuesday, December 3
The appalling ravages of Spanish Influenza in this country are perhaps best realized by the statement recently made, that more deaths have resulted in little more than a month from this disease than our whole participation in the battles of the European War.
Our greatest danger now, declare authorities, is the great American tendency to forget easily and to believe the peril is over.
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