Historians refer to it simply as Shreveport’s Yellow Fever Epidemic. For the uninitiated, the scourge became a grim wave of death, ultimately claiming the lives of one in four citizens, all within a 12-week period. Now 150 years later, city, civic and community leaders have joined forces with a series of observances within the months of August to November. And several of these commemorative events take place this weekend [Saturday, October 7, Sunday, October 8]. Once such event includes a significant contribution from a member of the Red River Radio family. More on that part of the story presently.
But first, LSU Shreveport History Professor Cheryl White offered us some context for the scale and importance of the epidemic in the history of Shreveport. “A hundred and fifty years ago this fall, Shreveport suffered the third worst epidemic of yellow fever in United States history. And it’s probably the single most transformative event in our history as a city.”
Prof. White explains that learning about the history of Shreveport can open one’s eyes to the suffering, along with the sacrifices made to help others, during the Yellow Fever Epidemic that swept through the city.
Doctor White literally wrote the book on the Shreveport Yellow Fever Epidemic.
Credit for the end of the epidemic falls to Mother Nature that provided an early frost in October, followed soon after by a hard freeze in November 1873, sending the mosquito population into dormancy. At the time no one knew mosquitos were the culprit for the spread of the disease. That discovery would not happen for another quarter of a century. The city opened a mass grave in what was then referred to as ‘city cemetery.’ [It was renamed Oakland Cemetery in 1905] which became the final resting place for more than 800 victims, becoming what we know today as Shreveport’s Yellow Fever Mound.
Professor White hopes the months-long observance events offer a renewed understanding of community. “And how we are faced with difficult situations, we always have a choice, you know. And the Yellow Fever Epidemic in Shreveport gives some remarkable examples of people who made heroic choices.” White is referring to the five Roman Catholic priests, two religious sisters and countless others who volunteered to help the sick, only to die alongside the 1,200 Shreveporters who succumbed to the yellow fever virus.
Longtime Red River Radio General Manager Kermit Poling is a symphony conductor, composer, and violinist. He accepted the daunting task of creating a symphony 2-years ago, for this year’s 150th commemoration of the epidemic. He first turned to Dr. White for guidance. From there, Poling’s research led him to a beautifully written letter, excerpts of which were published in the Shreveport Times newspaper [founded the previous year]. It was a letter written by the bishop of the five priests who had just lost their lives to yellow fever.
The words of that emotional eulogy served largely as Poling’s inspiration for his symphony. During our interview he quoted a portion of the bishop’s letter: “‘They’re going to heaven, you know. Inscrutable are the ways of the Lord. This is just how God works through all of us.’ And then at the very it is, in French, he says, ‘Goodbye my sons. You’re on my way to heaven.’ And he repeats ‘goodbye.’ And so that’s actually how the symphony ends. It’s just inspired by the words of the time.”
The choral symphony composed by Poling is entitled “The Angels Gathered” and will be performed at Holy Trinity Church this coming Sunday, October 8 at 5 p.m.
Several other commemorative events include a public symposium on Yellow Fever at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 7 at the LSUS University Center. Then at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, there’s a dedication ceremony of the yellow fever mass grave memorial at Oakland Cemetery, the event will get underway with Shreveport Mayor Tom Arceneaux.
