October 3

The Spanish Flu

The epidemic now prevalent is known as the Spanish flu. It is spreading over the country very fast. The flu has hit Thurmont and Emmitsburg and perhaps 150 people in and about the two towns are suffering from the disease at this time. The superintendent of the Union Manufacturing Company in Thurmont stated that only twelve of his 45 employees reported for work Monday morning. Attendance in the schools has reduced almost one half; the children suffering from severe colds.

Francis Dotterer, age 28, of Catoctin Furnace died on Tuesday of the Spanish flu. He was ill for three days. He is survived by a wife and one child. Mrs. Fleet Gall of Thurmont, age 20, also died. She had been ill for a week with the Spanish influenza. Besides her parents she leaves her husband and infant, three weeks old.

Died In France

Word was received that Pvt. Jesse Pryor died August 7 somewhere in France. Some weeks ago word was received from France that Private Pryor was ill with typhoid fever, but nothing further was heard until the message left Sunday. Mr. Pryor is the first of 100 or more boys in France from the Mechanicstown district to die.

October 10

Martin Luther Hahn Killed In France

Martin Luther Hahn of near Emmitbsurg has been killed on the battlefields of France. Word was received by Hahn's grandmother, Mrs. Ovelman. The telegram stated that Private Hahn had been killed in action on September 17. Private Hahn, before being drafted into the service about a year ago, worked on the farm of his grandmother. He left for France several months ago. He had been in the thick of the fighting at Verdun at the time of his death.

Private Arthur Bentzel Dies At Camp Mead

Arthur Bentzel, of Emmitsburg, died at Camp Mead, Monday night, following a few days of pneumonia, which darted from an attack of the influenza. The first word of his illness was received at his home on Sunday, and his mother at once left for the camp to be at his bedside.

Victims Of Spanish Flu Rising Rapidly

During the past two weeks the Spanish flu has claimed many victims in the surrounding communities. Thomas Gingell, aged 25 years and residing near Emmitsburg, died at home Friday night of pneumonia. Besides his wife he is survived by two children. Harry Eyler, of Emmitsburg, died in his home on Friday night also of pneumonia. Besides his wife, he is survived by one child. Sophia Fleagle, whose twin sister died of pneumonia last week, died of the same disease at the home of her grandfather on Sunday. She was aged 15 years. George Izer died at Iron Springs last Saturday. He was 19 years old.

The effect on the public schoolchildren is becoming alarming, but 47 pupils out of the five schools in Thurmont reported last Thursday morning. Of the high school faculty only two teachers were present. The rest were ill.

Pastors of all the local churches have concluded to abandon all church services on Sunday hoping this would keep in check the spread of the disease in check.. Doctors in the area were reporting that they were averaging from 35 to 40 calls per day. On Monday morning, only 3/40 or more employees at the host or restructuring came to work.

Officials Consider Closing Schools To Prevent Spread Of Flu

After an informal conference on Saturday afternoon, county health and school officials decided that unless churches, Sunday schools and all public amusement places were likewise shut up tight, it would be useless at the present time to close schools in an effort to check the Spanish influenza epidemic. If the schools were closed, it was stated that the children would still mingle while playing and contract the disease just the same. The influenza is confined principally to the northern section of the county and it would be unfair to communities not affected by the malady to deprive their children of school privileges.

As the worst affected territories are in the northern section of the county, there has been discussion relative to stringent quarantine being established throughout the county in an effort to check the spread of the influenza, which now affects nearly a third of the county’s population.

October 17

First Cousins Killed In Action

Two Frederick County Yanks, residents of Emmitsburg, and first cousins, made the supreme sacrifice in France last month, according to telegrams just received by the families. Their names are Private Frank Elder, son of Mr. and Mrs. James Elder and Private Charles Gelwicks, son of Mr. and Mrs. Cornelius Gelwicks.

Private Elder met his death on October 11, according to the official notification of the War Department. Private Elder was the first Emmitsburg boy to enlist, joining Company A during one of the recruiting drives about the time that America entered the war. He is the third Emmitsburg boy to give his life.

Spanish Flu Death Rate Diminishing

Reports would indicate that the number of new cases of Spanish flu and the number of deaths resulting from it are diminishing, indicating that perhaps the worst is behind us. Whole families have been affected and many times neighbors have not been altogether willing to enter their homes and do any nursing. Local undertakers have reported that they have recommended that those who have died be buried without formal funerals so as to minimize the spread of the flu amongst mourners.

October 24

Spanish Flu Claims Three More Victims

Wilson Scott, of Fairfield, died on Sunday from influenza; he was 64 years old. His father was the late Dr. Oliver Scott and he leaves his mother and four sisters. Theodore Burdner, of Emmitsburg, died Wednesday of pneumonia. He was 65 years old and lived in Emmitsburg nearly all his life. For many years he was a fireman on the Emmitsburg Railroad. He is survived by three children. Thomas Gingell, age 25, died at his home near Emmitsburg. He is survived by his wife, Mary Weller, and two children.

Smokes For The Wounded

Wounded American soldiers in hospitals in France are receiving their smokes from the Red Cross. The smooth taste of tobacco helps the boys forget their pain and all of their troubles go up in smoke. Tobacco is the greatest essential for the comfort of our soldiers both on the line and behind. Within letters received from boys over there it appears that the Yanks cannot smoke the detestable stuff that the French smoke and American tobacco is received with open arms.

October 31

Bigamy Charge Against Women

Charged with being married without having obtained a divorce from her previous husband, Mrs. Frances Lillian Ridgers, about 38 years old of Emmitsburg, was arrested Tuesday afternoon by the Frederick County Sheriff and was held in her own recognizance for further hearing before the justice of the peace.

Husband number one is said to be Leanne F. Rogers of Hagerstown. Mrs. Rogers and Charles Ordway were married in Frederick on July 20 at the Methodist Episcopal Church. After a short honeymoon Mr. Ordway became a soldier in Uncle Sam's Army and is now in France. Recently it became known that she had not been divorced from her first husband and a warrant was issued for her arrest. She stated that she had separated from her first husband because he refused to support her.

The defendant said she received a letter from her first husband stating that he had obtained a divorce and that she was free to do as she pleased and he would do as he pleased. She has said she's supposed from the letter, which she has in her possession, that her first husband had secured a legal separation and then she married again. She claims that her first husband did nothing towards the support of herself, or their children, and left her to shift for herself.

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