Ottr Catlwli& Heritage in Texas
fever has never again visited Galveston. The epidemic of 1867 was the last and the worst, 1,150 persons died out of 18,000 in the city. 6 The Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word had endeared themselves to the people of Galveston for all time by their spirit of sacrifice and devotion to suffering humanity. Before the epidemic was over the unselfish devotion displayed by the Sisters and the efficiency of the service at the new hospital had won the admiration of all classes. Flake's Bulletin observed in its editorial page in August, "We everywhere hear the deportment of the Sisters and the Reverend Father Chambodut spoken of in terms of praise.. . . The Rev- erend gentleman and these good women are greatly praised by those Protestants best qualified to express an opinion." Testimonials of appre- ciation came, with substantial contributions for the Charity Hospital from the grateful citizens of Galveston, and even persons in San Antonio and as far as New York. In gratefully acknowledging the gifts from San Antonio the Sisters made a significant promise that was to be realized before long. They told the donors that they "cherished the fond hope of yet proving their gratitude by extension of their Order to the City of San Antonio.m Taking Over tl,,e City and Marine Hospital. Since 1847, Galveston had maintained a city and marine hospital. It had been the custom to lease the City Hospital to a private individual who collected the income and managed the institution during the term of the lease, the city paying for the hospitalization of its own patients. After the great epidemic of yellow fever the town found itself in debt and decided to take over the manage- ment of the hospital. The mayor made a trip to New Orleans to find out how that city managed its hospital and on his return appointed a com- mittee to study the problem and make recomm,endations. In the spring of 1868 the committee made its report to the City Coun- cil. It condemned the old system of leasing the City Hospital and made its own recommendation of the faculty of the medical college. It recom- mended that the Sisters of Charity be entrusted with the care and nursing of the patients; that six physicians and surgeons of acknowledged skill give "their daily gratuitous attention" to the patients; and concluded by declaring, "We cannot, with the assistance of the medical faculty ..• [and] the philanthropic aid of the Sisters, who have so nobly tendered
6 /bid., I 3-20. 7 Qnoted in Diamo,,d Jubile,, 19.
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