Iowa
Old Press
Jackson Sentinel
Maquoketa, Jackson County, Iowa
December 1, 1881
SMALL POX EPIDEMIC
The state of affairs in Bellevue at this writing are even worse
than ever before so far as regards the small pox epidemic, which
seems to have taken a fresh hold on the afflicted town. Since our
last issue four deaths have occurred, viz: two in the Wagner
family, J. J. Farrington, and the Rev. Father Portz. At least
five new cases have broken out and we don’t know how many
more that we haven’t heard of. Three cases are reported in
the Remakel family which contains seventeen children. Surely our
sister town is in a very bad way, and the Timber City must have a
care or our community will fall into the grasp of the same
terrible small pox scourge. The Board of Health are making an
effort to reestablish the quarantine on mails and passengers and
Andrew is expected to co-operate with us. Our neighbors may
condemn us if they please, but our precaution and carefulness
must be exercised at all hazards.
[transcribed by K.W., May 2009]