LIVING HISTORY
27
An El Paso newspaper shows how virulent the Spanish flu epidemic had
become, with the city banning funerals.
lifted as the health crisis seemed to abate. And then two days
later, the Armistice was declared, ending the war. Pistol shots
and whistles awakened El Paso residents early that morning,
and celebrations continued throughout the day, including a
parade attended by more than 8,000 people.
On the personal side, November was also a banner month
for Stephen Gladwin. He was promoted from private to corporal
on Nov 10 and on Nov. 28 celebrated his 22nd birthday.
What lay ahead was unknown. Would he return home to Fort
Pierce to civilian life? Would he continue his military career?
Those questions would never be answered. On Feb. 7,
1919, he began receiving treatment for the flu, apparently
the victim of a smaller wave early that year. Five days
later, at 8:30 p.m., Cpl. Stephen Nelson Gladwin died at the
base hospital. His death certificate attributed the cause as
influenza with acute bronchial pneumonia as a contributor
to his death.
The El Paso Herald reported Feb. 14 that services were held
at “the parlors of a local undertaking company,’’ and then the
remains were shipped by train back to Fort Pierce. >>
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Flu victims receive treatment in great numbers at Fort Riley, Kansas, during
the 1918 Spanish influenza epidemic.
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