L.A. Plague of 1924 Was Known to Many

Re “Epidemics of Fear and Mistrust,” by William Deverell, Commentary, April 24: On occasions, as a witness to the Los Angeles bubonic plague of 1924, I have described the fear and terror to younger people or those from out of this state. I was 6 years old. My mother and I watched from the west bank of the Los Angeles River as city employees destroyed many homes and structures by fire on the east side of the river. It was an eerie sight to see the “sky high” flames at night and the reflections in the river as well as the shadowy figures of firemen running around the quarantined area.

With my mother and hundreds of others standing around us I felt fear, but not panic, because my mother had the utmost faith in garlic. Yes, she stuffed a bag with garlic and hung it around my neck. I’m not sure which spirits were warded off, but I have to assume that the smell must have kept the rats at a distance. Terror has always been with us, but we tend to remember the comfortable. Professor Deverell, I assure you the entire population of Los Angeles was fully aware of the plague and the concern and confusion about what to do about it.

Leonard Smith

Newport Beach