On October 13 the following-named medical officers from Camp Crane arrived at Wilkes-Barré, and were assigned to duty by Dr. Miner, as noted: Capt. E. L. Hendricks, U. S. Marine Corps, and Lieut. C. F. Bahler, to Glen Lyon; Lieut. Joseph Goldstone, U. S. Marine Corps, to Bloomsburg; Lieut. G. T. Meek to Exeter, and Lieut. J. a.m. Aspy to Hazleton.
At a meeting of the General Committee held in the auditorium of the Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday, October 15, General Dougherty presented a report relative to conditions at Shamokin and Minersville (in the 3d District), where there were 4,000 cases of the “flu”. Col. Eyer reported on the work being done at the Armory to fit it for hospital purposes, and Dr. Miner stated that the Armory Emergency Hospital would be ready for the reception of patients at noon on the following day.
The Rev. John J. McCabe, of St. Joseph’s R. C. Church, Georgetown, told of conditions in Wilkes-Barré Township, where, he said, there were 80 cases of the disease. Dr. Hughes stated that there were about 585 cases in Newport Township and vicinity, and Richard Sheridan reported that there were possibly over 200 cases in Nanticoke.
On motion of the Rev. Mr. McCabe the Chairman named Dr. C. H. Miner, the Rev. J. F. Jedlicka and Dr. E. L. Meyers as a committee to confer with the Controller and Commissioners of Luzerne County, and the Directors of the Central Poor District, for the purpose of securing financial aid in fighting the epidemic. Controller Hendershot, who was present, stated that he would do everything in his power to co-operate with the General Committee in its work. James L. Reilly, Secretary of the Central District Poor Board, who was present, stated that he felt sure the Poor Board would co-operate with the Committee.
Frederick E. Zerbey, Superintendent of the Kingston Coal Company, offered the use of the ambulances of that company to convey patients from the west side of the river.
General Dougherty stated that the State would pay for doctors, nurses, tents, cots, blankets, sheets, etc., employed and used in combating the epidemic, but that all other service would have to be paid for with funds derived from other sources.
On October 16 the Hazleton Emergency Hospital was opened in the building of St. Gabriel’s High School, Hazleton, with Lieut. J. a.m. Aspy physician in charge and Miss Ruth B. Rae, Graduate Nurse, from the Department of Health, as chief nurse. (Later, Miss Rae was stricken with the “flu” and was succeeded as chief nurse by the Mother Superior of St. Gabriel’s, who was a professional nurse. On October 25 Lieutenant Aspy returned to Camp Crane, and was succeeded by Dr. J. W. Leckie as physician in charge at Hazleton.)
On October 12 the Armory Emergency Hospital at Wilkes-Barré was ready with four wards for the reception of patients. Lack of nurses, however, delayed the opening of the hospital until Wednesday, October 16, when, with Capt. E. L. Hendricks, U.S.M.C., as physician in charge, and Mrs. J. Pryor Williamson of Wilkes-Barré, Graduate Nurse, as chief nurse, the doors were opened at one o’clock p.m. for the reception of patients. During the afternoon six female and five male patients from Wilkes-Barré, Nanticoke, Parsons and Miner’s Mills were received, and on the following day eleven males and seven females were received from Wilkes-Barré, Edwardsville, Plymouth, Miner’s Mills, Maltby, Nanticoke and Forty Fort.
The sixth Emergency Hospital in the 5th District was opened on October 17 in the Pulaski School building at Dupont, Luzerne County, with Dr. W. S. Helman of Avoca as visiting physician and Miss Herman, Graduate Nurse, as chief nurse. (Dr. Helman was succeeded on November 9 by Dr. James S. Dixon, and Miss Herman was succeeded on November 19 by Miss Bessie Fadden.)
The seventh Emergency Hospital was opened on October 17 in the Washington School building at Nanticoke, Luzerne County, with Dr. Elmer L. Hinman in charge and Miss Olwen Williams, Graduate Nurse, as chief nurse. (Dr. Hinman returned to New York City on October 26, and was succeeded by Lieut. C. E. Yates.)