Spanish Flu Called
for Extreme Measures
by Pat Perry
Sonora, like so many
communities in the Fall of 1918, did not escape the deadly effects of
the Spanish Influenza that raged through the country. Each week,
The Union Democrat listed those who were sick, had recovered or
had died from the dreaded disease. The deadly cases would begin with
the flu and quickly turn into pneumonia. There was no medical cure
for the disease and the only way to possibly prevent it was to avoid
contact with any other person. It attacked young and old alike as
well as those in the prime of life.
Complying with the
request, the City Council adopted emergency Ordinance Number 77
requiring the wearing of a mask covering over the nose and mouth,
except when partaking of meals. The mask was to consist of at least
four-ply material known as butter cloth or fine-mesh gauze fastening
so that the mask or covering would firmly cover the nose and mouth.
The mask was to be not less than five inches in width and seven inches
in length. To show the seriousness of the situation, any person who
violated this ordinance was guilty of a misdemeanor and could be
punished by a fine of not less than $2.50 nor more than $10 or by
imprisonment in the county jail for a period not exceeding ten days,
or by both such fine and imprisonment.
The following
Saturday, November 9th, the health board closed all the
saloons in Sonora because “there exists in the City of Sonora an
epidemic of Spanish Influenza, a contagious disease, and the presence
of intoxicated men in the streets of Sonora and in the saloons and
other public
places, had become a menace to the public health and safety and
we deem it advisable, as a health measure to pass such measures as
will close the saloons of our city until the epidemic of Spanish
Influenza will permit their being opened/ "Marshal Doyle executed the
orders and Sonora was a dry town, so far as saloons were concerned.
Fortunately, the
epidemic passed and the quarantine was lifted. The restrictions
adopted by the health board were abolished and the people could now go
to church, lodges, theaters, and yes, the saloons were open again!
