She took both babies, the dead one and my Mom, and put them in a carriage and walked to the ferry, rode from Camden to Philadelphia—then walked to Frankford.

Philadelphia, PA and Camden, NJ

Dear Mr. Hicks,

I was so interested in your parade “Spit Spreads Death” on 9/28/19. I would have been thrilled to attend but am physically handicapped. 

The story of the 1918 epidemic was always told at our large family gatherings by my Grandmother Sarah Jane Brubaker Anderson. Our family lost my Mother’s twin sister Augusta Anderson born on 4-14-17.

Fortunately, my Mom was spared. The family lived in Camden, N.J. at the time. 

When the baby died it was impossible to find someone to bury the body. My Grandmother spoke of coffins, boxes, etc. being stacked up on street corners and on porches. 

My Grandmother formerly had lived in Frankford and knew an undertaker there. She took both babies, the dead one and my Mom[,] put them in a carriage and walked to the Ferry (at Front + Market Sts. in Phila.). Rode from Camden to Philadelphia—then walked to Frankford.

She was so nervous, in addition to her grief, because of reports that you were not allowed to take bodies across state lines. People were admiring the babies on the ferry and that added to the distress. She left the body at the funeral home and went home to grieve. 

Through the years the family spoke about Augusta and wondered what her life would have been like and how she would have affected my Mom’s life.

My Grandmother was 4 ft’10″tall, very smart, strong, and bore 13 children. 

Thank you and the staff at the Mutter Museum for “spotlighting” this very sad time for all the people lost in the City, country, and the world. 

I am hoping to be able to come to the exhibit. Once again, my sincere thanks to you all.

Sincerely, 

Janice V. Williams, granddaughter of Augusta

Curator’s note: It would have taken Sarah Anderson at least two hours to walk the six miles from the ferry terminal to Frankford.