Memoirs of a Newspaper Lady

Dail Butler was born near Medical Lake, Washington on February 26, 1900. Her mother died when she was three years old and her family moved to Renton, Washington. Her grandfather, James Wing Butler, farmed on the Whetstone and her other grandfather, Levi Watrous, had a saw mill operation on Jim Creek.

She married Cecil Laughery and moved to Dayton in 1923. His parents and all of his siblings lived in Dayton so they settled into life in Columbia County where they raised three boys and a girl.

One of Dail's passions was to write about the early history of Columbia County, some of the more colorful inhabitants and the Native Americans she met in her youth. Her grandfather Levi taught her some of the native language so she could communicate with the Cayuse and Palouse tribes.

Dail passed away in 1994 after spending most of her life in and around Columbia County.

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During the fall and winter of 1881, the town of Dayton was visited by an epidemic of small pox of unusual severity. Schools were closed, business was paralyzed. So serious did the contagion become that citizens were at their wits end to devise means to stamp out the disease and bring the town again to its normal condition.

A Board of Health consisting of 13 members was organized. The officers were: W.H. Kuhn, president, D.D. Burrell, vice president and treasurer, W.F. Jones, secretary; Dr. Pietrzycki, health officer.

One acre of ground was purchased and a pest house was erected. The sum of $400.00 was promptly given by business men to apply on the erection of the building. The County Commissioners helped to provide care for the sick. Of this serious epidemic, the Chronicle said on November 5, 1881 - "This fearful disease, which seems to be raging all over the Pacific Northwest and in portions of the northern states is in Dayton, without a doubt. The steps taken to prevent the spread of the disease are being ably taken care of by our citizens, who have organized an executive committee to enforce rules and regulations of the Board of Health.

So far, there has been 3 deaths in town. All patients are reported to be improving and it is hoped that the worst is over and no more deaths will occur. November 12, 1881 three deaths had occurred during the week ending on that date and two other cases were in a hopeless condition. Quite a number of families reported cases, families where the disease had not previously appeared.

The Chronicle said "There is no need for fear, while there is urgent demand for the strictest precaution." The epidemic continued to spread in increased numbers and virulence. The town was quarantined and orders were issued by the Board of Health, with the executive committee to prohibit any person or persons from

coming into or leaving town without permission of the Chief of Patrol, this to be enforced from 3 o'Clock P.M. on November 17th 1881. Second - That all business houses, offices and saloons be closed daily from 4 o'clock P.M. to 8 O'clock A.M. except drug stores, hotels, livery stables and restaurants and that the bars in the hotels be kept closed between 4 P.M.and 8 A.M.as in other business houses, to be enforced from 4 o'Clock P.M. November 17, 1881. 9

No one was permitted around town without a pass by the Chief of Patrol. Citizens of Dayton subscribed $900.00. General Tonnatt donated $100.00 to be used to help the prevention of the spread of the smallpox in this section. One dozen new cases were reported during the week ending November 18,1881and six deaths were reported.

The Postmaster of Dayton was unable to send out any mail between the 16th of November and the 1st of January 1882. Walla Walla was forbidden to accept any mail from Dayton and the mail piled up in the local office. All mail had to be disinfected before it left Dayton. The Chronicle reported "tubs full of asafoetida, gallons of carbolic acid, barrels of onions but not one scent for tribute!"

Total amount expended by the board of health amounted to $1,659. Cases in the hospital 123, in the County 44 - total cases 167. Deaths in town were 11 - in hospital 3 - in County 7 making 21 deaths in all.