Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1888 Memorial - Decatur, AL
Posted by: 
Dulcimoore
N 34° 36.876 W 086° 59.915
16S E 500130 N 3830305
Many were sickened and thirty-five died, among them five doctors.
Waymark Code: WMBJ89
Location: Alabama, United States
Date Posted: 05/25/2011
Views: 2
Just as the town of Decatur was beginning to boom, yellow fever struck. Thirty-five died, five of them doctors. It was not known at the time that mosquitoes carry the disease, and standard procedure was to torch the town, but the State Health Officer declared it unnecessary.
TEXT OF MONUMENT
side 1 - front of monument:
"Memorial to the Five Doctors who Died While Combating Yellow Fever in Decatur
Dr. R.C. Bowman Died September 21, 1888
Dr. W.B. Black Died October 7, 1888
Dr. W.G. Gill Died October 15, 1888
Dr. R.V. Williams Died October 25, 1888
Dr. W.J. Young Died October 26, 1888
Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. - John 15:43"
side 2:
"Tribute to the Following: Funeral Directors, Grave Diggers, Ministers, Druggists of 1888 and Contributors of 1988-89"
side 3:
"Dedicated to State Health Officer Jerome Cochran who Rescued Decatur from the Fireman's Torch
To All Victims who Herein Lie"
side 4:
"Dedicated to the Decatur Doctors who Served and Survived Yellow Fever
Dr. Ben Cross
Dr. E.J. Covington
Dr. W. Buckley
Dr. John B. Sewell"
Date Created/Placed: 1988-1989
Address:
Decatur City Cemetery
Height: 10 ft.
Illuminated: no
Website: Not listed
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