By Janice Kurbjun
Times staff writer
When the flu hit Carbon County 90 years ago, it wasn’t just any flu, nor did it hit under normal circumstances.
It started with usual symptoms, but when family members went to sleep at night not to wake the next morning, the flu strain of 1918 proved itself a deadly mutant.
Within hours of contracting the Spanish influenza, a victim could lose the ability to walk. Taking on a bluish tint to the face, patients would quickly begin coughing up blood gathered in the lungs, while some bled from the ears.
The virus often caused the nose, stomach and intestines to bleed. In some cases, the flu opened the door to pneumonia, whereby a patient died by drowning in his or her own bodily fluids. Nearly all of the Spanish flu’s victims were under the age of 65, while approximately half were aged 20 to 40, according to an article published in the Chicago Journal of Infectious Diseases. It usually killed in less than 24 hours.
“I had a little bird, it’s name was Enza. I opened the window, and in-flew-enza,” chanted children in the streets of post-World War I America. The flu was striking quickly. After the initial bite, a victim only had a day or so to live. Sometimes it was only a few hours. And, in contrast to its relatives, the Spanish flu primarily killed on its own.
Evolving every year, the flu is still often able to capture a few victims before the year is out. The most deadly cases hit the young and the old who are unable to keep their immune system strong long enough to fight the onslaught of pneumonia that moves in for the final kill after five or six days.
Spreading in a pandemic across the county and the world, facilitated by the movement of World War I troops, the Spanish influenza took up to 50 million lives worldwide. Carbon County was no exception.
After losing its hospital to fire in early 1918, Rawlins was in no shape to handle the pandemic virus that did nothing to hide its progress across the country. Despite the onslaught of the flu on the East Coast and its rapid dissemination west, the Rawlins Republican, the newspaper of the time, indicated no sense of worry, at least not until Oct. 10, 1918.
On that date, a notice to the citizens of Rawlins from Mayor C. H. Anderson closed all assembly places, including schools, churches and sidewalks in accordance with a national notice that read, “you are instructed upon appearance of the disease in your city to discontinue all public meetings ...” The schools were closed off and on throughout the end of 1918 and into the new year.
Oct. 10 also saw 40 cases of flu reported in Rawlins. According to a doctor’s report, the flu resembles a “very contagious kind of ‘cold.’” Many of the reports of death at the time indicated a rapid failure of a person’s immune system.
Bridget Hettgar of the Carbon County Public Health Office confirmed the speed of death. “They got it and were gone,” she said. “There was high mortality in a small amount of time.”
The Republican reported another 40 cases in Medicine Bow alone on Oct. 24, where a doctor from Casper was sent for care. Little Snake River Valley and Saratoga had a number of cases, but did not have “enough doctors to care for half of them,” the Republican reported.
In Medicine Bow, three of the four deaths that week happened in 24 hours or less. The school was being used as a hospital to accommodate the number of patients.
From October into the new year, the flu claimed people of all ages. The number of death reports on the front page of the newspaper averaged four or five each week.
“Mrs. Cluff had gone to bed in the evening feeling badly,” the Jan. 6, 1919, Republican read, “but her illness was not considered serious, and in the morning she was discovered dead in her bed.”
A cartoon in a U.S. Public Health Service official health bulletin read, “coughs and sneezes spread diseases as dangerous as poison gas shells.” Pertinent, since the country was mourning the death of its soldiers as well.
The health bulletins recommended collecting any mucous from coughing or sneezing on gauze, rags or paper napkins and sending them out to be burned. The suggestion mirrored the methods of sequestering the 17th century European black plague.
In November 1918, while the number of new flu cases was decreasing, the cases themselves were more severe. This report was ironically on the same front page that announced the world at peace.
Name after name after name appeared in the pages of the Republican during this time, announcing deaths. Increasingly, the flu was taking the working class of the county, a detrimental effect not only to families but to the economy. In the third week of December, the flu took two railroad workers, an auto truck driver in the oil fields and a sheep herder.
According to local historians Rans Baker and Dan Kinnaman, the flu wiped out a third of Carbon County’s population. “It hit entire families,” Baker said. “And there was no rhyme or reason as to why one died and another survived.”
Blame it on the birds
Researchers brought the Spanish influenza virus strain back to life in 2005 to study its behavior.
Rebuilding it from the tissue of an Alaskan victim buried in permafrost in isolated conditions, they hoped they could unearth some clues as to the flu strain’s evolution. The effort was partly to shed light on the past and partly to prepare for the future.
By piecing together biological functions of the strain, today’s researchers were able to discover that the Spanish flu may have actually originated with poultry. The strain likely spliced genes derived from the human virus with genes from the avian virus of the time.
Evidence outlined in a report published in Science on Oct. 7, 2005, suggested the virus may have jumped directly from birds to humans, similar to the cases of avian flu prevalent in eastern countries today.
The Spanish flu will likely not strike again, primarily because most people today have immunity to that particular strain of the virus. However, authorities consider a future pandemic virus likely, if not inevitable. Studying the 1918 virus enables the medical field to recognize and prepare for new flu strains that may pose a threat.
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Roofs take a beating
By Janice Kurbjun
Times staff writer
When Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow on Feb. 2, Carbon County residents may have wondered what six more weeks of winter would do to their roofs, especially if they are flat.
In what many call the toughest winter in 15 years, the snow, ice and wind that first breathed its icy breath across the county in October have pushed the limits of residential and commercial flat roofs.
Flat roofs trap snow, and while it takes seven or eight feet of snow to really press the structural limits of a flat roof, the melting process is what stresses its ability to withstand winter.
And so, in snowy areas of the county, residents often climb atop their house to remove snow in anticipation of spring.
Don Brinkman, director of maintenance for the city and a homeowner in Ryan Park, said he keeps his roof clear through the hired help of Eddie Gross. Gross said there are some homes in Ryan Park that currently stand under four feet of snow. Sometimes, the houses collapse under the weight of the snowflakes. “You have to watch it,” Brinkman said.
Flat roofs atop the city of Rawlins’ buildings see a lot of trouble from the melting process, according to Brinkman. The problem doesn’t arise until the sun comes out on a warm day, he said. Then, the snow begins to melt and flows toward the drains. When there is heavy snowfall, it doesn’t all melt at once, so what Brinkman called an “ice dam” forms when the melted snow freezes that night. The next day, the same thing happens. It occurs over and over until the roof has a solid block of ice covering its drains.
“Whoever says water can’t flow uphill is wrong,” Brinkman said. According to Brinkman, as the snow melts and hits the ice dam, it freezes again. Then the water becomes trapped and starts seeping under the plastic membrane protecting the roof from leakage. He believes this is the harshest winter since 1984 in terms of city roof care, since there has been a constant wind chill keeping the roofs from completely thawing and draining on their own.
Currently, the city’s Public Works building is in need of repair due to leakage of the type Brinkman talked about. Likewise, City Hall is having trouble keeping Rawlins City Manager Dave Derragon’s office dry. Hones Veterinary replaced its roof this year, but employees said they did not have significant trouble with it before.
New roofs are costly and often need repair more frequently in Wyoming than they do in other places. Brinkman said a new roof on a building the size of the Rawlins Family Recreation Center would cost $70,000. New guttering and a membrane replacement on City Hall might cause a $25,000 dent in the city’s budget.
“Flat roofs are bad in this area, yes,” Brinkman said with a laugh. “No doubt about it.”
Times staff writer
When Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow on Feb. 2, Carbon County residents may have wondered what six more weeks of winter would do to their roofs, especially if they are flat.
In what many call the toughest winter in 15 years, the snow, ice and wind that first breathed its icy breath across the county in October have pushed the limits of residential and commercial flat roofs.
Flat roofs trap snow, and while it takes seven or eight feet of snow to really press the structural limits of a flat roof, the melting process is what stresses its ability to withstand winter.
And so, in snowy areas of the county, residents often climb atop their house to remove snow in anticipation of spring.
Don Brinkman, director of maintenance for the city and a homeowner in Ryan Park, said he keeps his roof clear through the hired help of Eddie Gross. Gross said there are some homes in Ryan Park that currently stand under four feet of snow. Sometimes, the houses collapse under the weight of the snowflakes. “You have to watch it,” Brinkman said.
Flat roofs atop the city of Rawlins’ buildings see a lot of trouble from the melting process, according to Brinkman. The problem doesn’t arise until the sun comes out on a warm day, he said. Then, the snow begins to melt and flows toward the drains. When there is heavy snowfall, it doesn’t all melt at once, so what Brinkman called an “ice dam” forms when the melted snow freezes that night. The next day, the same thing happens. It occurs over and over until the roof has a solid block of ice covering its drains.
“Whoever says water can’t flow uphill is wrong,” Brinkman said. According to Brinkman, as the snow melts and hits the ice dam, it freezes again. Then the water becomes trapped and starts seeping under the plastic membrane protecting the roof from leakage. He believes this is the harshest winter since 1984 in terms of city roof care, since there has been a constant wind chill keeping the roofs from completely thawing and draining on their own.
Currently, the city’s Public Works building is in need of repair due to leakage of the type Brinkman talked about. Likewise, City Hall is having trouble keeping Rawlins City Manager Dave Derragon’s office dry. Hones Veterinary replaced its roof this year, but employees said they did not have significant trouble with it before.
New roofs are costly and often need repair more frequently in Wyoming than they do in other places. Brinkman said a new roof on a building the size of the Rawlins Family Recreation Center would cost $70,000. New guttering and a membrane replacement on City Hall might cause a $25,000 dent in the city’s budget.
“Flat roofs are bad in this area, yes,” Brinkman said with a laugh. “No doubt about it.”
Gillette: Best swimming you get
By Janice Kurbjun
Times staff writer
The Rawlins High School boys swimmers had their shot at glory. On Thursday and Friday, they’ll get that chance again.
A week and a half ago, the Outlaws let the conference championship slide through a grasp that just wasn’t tight enough. Only time will tell if the team’s spirit can recover going into the state meet scheduled for Thursday and Friday in Gillette.
What is for sure, however, is that Lander High School is poised to be ahead of the pack. Defending champions for 12 years running, Lander still has its depth and has not lost its speed.
According to Rawlins head coach Don Brinkman, the powerhouse has four qualifiers in every event. “That’s enough to gain them two in the top six and two in the bottom six at least,” Brinkman said. It’s tough to catch a team that attracts points like a magnet over paper clips.
Brinkman plans to take a team of eight to Gillette. His team is larger than Worland, Newcastle and Douglas, but the teams brought by Lander and Sublette should be substantial.
On the bright side, Brinkman believes his team has the potential to place third in the state meet. However, they could also place as low as seventh. Really, it depends on how hard the swimmers go and how the rival coaches arrange their teams.
Attracting the most attention on the Outlaws’ roster is Ryan Palmer, who “has all the potential” to be a state champion diver, Brinkman said. Palmer should also compete in the 50-yard freestyle as well as the 400-yard freestyle relay. He will join the DeMillard-Palmer relay team in the 200-yard freestyle relay, alongside his younger brother, Jimmy Palmer, and the DeMillards, Daniel and Eric.
Placing second his sophomore and junior years, Palmer goes into the state meet with “the highest degree of difficulty in optional dives of all my divers from my 32 years of coaching,” Brinkman said. That includes his two sons, both of whom walked away with state championships in their tenures at Cheyenne East High School.
Also diving on Thursday and Friday, Andrew Gile earned the eighth-place slot on the top 10 board at Rawlins High School, earning 235 points in the mock meet against Laramie last Friday. Jimmy Palmer also plans to dive in the event.
Keep an eye out for Daniel DeMillard and James Laux, two seniors who are expected to finish in the top six in their events. Daniel DeMillard should be entered in the 200-yard and 100-yard freestyle, while Laux should swim the 100-yard butterfly and the 100-yard backstroke. Though he qualified in the 500-yard freestyle with a time of 6:12.12 in the Laramie meet, he does not plan to swim it in Gillette.
Laux and Daniel DeMillard should be part of relays as well, with Daniel DeMillard in the 200-yard and 400-yard freestyle relays and Laux in the 200-yard medley relay, swimming backstroke, and the 400-yard freestyle relay as anchor.
Jimmy Palmer ought to be one to watch in the 50-yard freestyle, as he has elevated himself to be among the fastest on the team in the event. He currently stands right behind his brother and Daniel DeMillard. He should also appear in the diving event and as anchor in both the medley relay and the freestyle relay.
“He really stepped up this year,” Brinkman said. He pointed out that Jimmy Palmer just qualified for the state meet in the 50-yard freestyle, earning a time of 26.11 seconds in the Laramie meet.
The true colors should show for the Outlaws as they seek to finish in the top three. The swimming preliminaries begin at 3 p.m. on Thursday, while the diving preliminaries begin at 7 p.m. Finals for both should be held Friday, starting at 11 a.m.
Times staff writer
The Rawlins High School boys swimmers had their shot at glory. On Thursday and Friday, they’ll get that chance again.
A week and a half ago, the Outlaws let the conference championship slide through a grasp that just wasn’t tight enough. Only time will tell if the team’s spirit can recover going into the state meet scheduled for Thursday and Friday in Gillette.
What is for sure, however, is that Lander High School is poised to be ahead of the pack. Defending champions for 12 years running, Lander still has its depth and has not lost its speed.
According to Rawlins head coach Don Brinkman, the powerhouse has four qualifiers in every event. “That’s enough to gain them two in the top six and two in the bottom six at least,” Brinkman said. It’s tough to catch a team that attracts points like a magnet over paper clips.
Brinkman plans to take a team of eight to Gillette. His team is larger than Worland, Newcastle and Douglas, but the teams brought by Lander and Sublette should be substantial.
On the bright side, Brinkman believes his team has the potential to place third in the state meet. However, they could also place as low as seventh. Really, it depends on how hard the swimmers go and how the rival coaches arrange their teams.
Attracting the most attention on the Outlaws’ roster is Ryan Palmer, who “has all the potential” to be a state champion diver, Brinkman said. Palmer should also compete in the 50-yard freestyle as well as the 400-yard freestyle relay. He will join the DeMillard-Palmer relay team in the 200-yard freestyle relay, alongside his younger brother, Jimmy Palmer, and the DeMillards, Daniel and Eric.
Placing second his sophomore and junior years, Palmer goes into the state meet with “the highest degree of difficulty in optional dives of all my divers from my 32 years of coaching,” Brinkman said. That includes his two sons, both of whom walked away with state championships in their tenures at Cheyenne East High School.
Also diving on Thursday and Friday, Andrew Gile earned the eighth-place slot on the top 10 board at Rawlins High School, earning 235 points in the mock meet against Laramie last Friday. Jimmy Palmer also plans to dive in the event.
Keep an eye out for Daniel DeMillard and James Laux, two seniors who are expected to finish in the top six in their events. Daniel DeMillard should be entered in the 200-yard and 100-yard freestyle, while Laux should swim the 100-yard butterfly and the 100-yard backstroke. Though he qualified in the 500-yard freestyle with a time of 6:12.12 in the Laramie meet, he does not plan to swim it in Gillette.
Laux and Daniel DeMillard should be part of relays as well, with Daniel DeMillard in the 200-yard and 400-yard freestyle relays and Laux in the 200-yard medley relay, swimming backstroke, and the 400-yard freestyle relay as anchor.
Jimmy Palmer ought to be one to watch in the 50-yard freestyle, as he has elevated himself to be among the fastest on the team in the event. He currently stands right behind his brother and Daniel DeMillard. He should also appear in the diving event and as anchor in both the medley relay and the freestyle relay.
“He really stepped up this year,” Brinkman said. He pointed out that Jimmy Palmer just qualified for the state meet in the 50-yard freestyle, earning a time of 26.11 seconds in the Laramie meet.
The true colors should show for the Outlaws as they seek to finish in the top three. The swimming preliminaries begin at 3 p.m. on Thursday, while the diving preliminaries begin at 7 p.m. Finals for both should be held Friday, starting at 11 a.m.
Panthers head north
By Janice Kurbjun
Times staff writer
The lady Panthers head into uncharted territory on Thursday as they face teams in the regional tournament they haven’t seen this season.
With a 7:15 p.m. tip off on Thursday at Torrington High School, the game against the Hulett Red Devils should be a good one, as the teams are well-matched, Saratoga High School coach Amy Davis said. Not very big, the Devils pack a punch with their speed, which mirrors the assets of the Panthers.
Still, Davis expects a tough one. In order to advance, “we will have to play at the top of our game,” she said.
If her ladies move forward, they play at 3:45 p.m. on Friday. Davis anticipates meeting Arvada-Clearmont in the quarterfinals if the Panthers make it that far. If they don’t, their game is scheduled for 10 a.m. on Friday.
“They’re tough,” Davis said of Arvada. The 2A state champions last year, Arvada has all five starters returning to the tournament this year. “They and Southeast will be the toughest two teams,” she said. The Panthers met Southeast once in the regular season and lost. They can only meet in the final game of the regional tournament.
Saratoga will have to step up to overcome the odds. Three weeks ago, the team lost its center to a knee injury, which she had surgery on recently. As one of the top three shooters, the loss hurts the team. However, Davis remains hopeful. She has filled the position and altered her strategy and her players’ positions to accommodate.
The Panthers go into this tournament youthful and inexperienced. Four freshmen, one sophomore, one junior and one senior make up this year’s regional team, forming a total of three who have seen playing time in the final tournament of the season.
“It’s a little to our disadvantage (to not have an older team),” Davis said, “but then again, it may be to our advantage... (the team) won’t know what to expect.” The Panthers go into the tournament with the philosophy that what they don’t know can’t hurt them. They plan to just play basketball to win.
Times staff writer
The lady Panthers head into uncharted territory on Thursday as they face teams in the regional tournament they haven’t seen this season.
With a 7:15 p.m. tip off on Thursday at Torrington High School, the game against the Hulett Red Devils should be a good one, as the teams are well-matched, Saratoga High School coach Amy Davis said. Not very big, the Devils pack a punch with their speed, which mirrors the assets of the Panthers.
Still, Davis expects a tough one. In order to advance, “we will have to play at the top of our game,” she said.
If her ladies move forward, they play at 3:45 p.m. on Friday. Davis anticipates meeting Arvada-Clearmont in the quarterfinals if the Panthers make it that far. If they don’t, their game is scheduled for 10 a.m. on Friday.
“They’re tough,” Davis said of Arvada. The 2A state champions last year, Arvada has all five starters returning to the tournament this year. “They and Southeast will be the toughest two teams,” she said. The Panthers met Southeast once in the regular season and lost. They can only meet in the final game of the regional tournament.
Saratoga will have to step up to overcome the odds. Three weeks ago, the team lost its center to a knee injury, which she had surgery on recently. As one of the top three shooters, the loss hurts the team. However, Davis remains hopeful. She has filled the position and altered her strategy and her players’ positions to accommodate.
The Panthers go into this tournament youthful and inexperienced. Four freshmen, one sophomore, one junior and one senior make up this year’s regional team, forming a total of three who have seen playing time in the final tournament of the season.
“It’s a little to our disadvantage (to not have an older team),” Davis said, “but then again, it may be to our advantage... (the team) won’t know what to expect.” The Panthers go into the tournament with the philosophy that what they don’t know can’t hurt them. They plan to just play basketball to win.
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