Flu claimed Boulder's only female WWI casualty

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Flu claimed Boulder's only female WWI casualty

By Silvia Pettem Sunday, January 6, 2008

In October, 1918, near the end of World War I, Klingler was a

young and beautiful Red Cross nurse caring for sick and wounded

soldiers at a hospital in Pittsburgh, Pa. Then she contracted

influenza and four days later suddenly died.

Boulder mourned along with the rest of her family. was the

city's only female World War I casualty.

The Klinglers had moved to Boulder from Pittsburgh, in 1906, when

was 15 years old. Two years later, at the age of 17, she was

described by the Camera as " five-feet five-inches tall, with a fair

complexion, large gray eyes, heavy dark eyebrows, and heavy dark hair

worn in a pompadour. " She was considered " of normal spirits and

disposition, " coming from a family where " love rules the household. "

At the time, the adventurous teenager had run away from home. She was

found the following day in Lafayette after a young man backed out of

plans to elope with her. Not one to sit around, dedicated her

life to nurturing others. When she was in her 20s, she moved to New

York, studied nursing, and graduated from the nursing school at

Columbia Hospital.

When the U.S. became involved in the war, 's only brother, ,

joined the Army and fought in France. most likely returned to

Boulder. If so, she would have joined her sister n and other

soldiers' sisters, wives, and sweethearts in rolling bandages,

knitting sweaters, and organizing fund drives from the first

headquarters of the Boulder Red Cross, located in the Hotel Boulderado.

Volunteers were recruited with signs on the city's streetcars that

connected downtown Boulder with Chautauqua as well as the Whittier and

Newlands neighborhoods.

's father, Frederick, was equally involved in relief work. In

addition to his duties as Boulder mayor and his role as civic leader,

he was chairman of the American Red Cross. The family lived at

" Ivycrest, " a prestigious home at 1040 Mapleton Ave.

In October, 1918, while was on duty at the Pittsburgh military

hospital, she could do little but provide tender loving care as the

flu epidemic claimed 20 million lives worldwide. In the United States,

more than half a million people died, accounting for more deaths than

suffered by U.S. troops in battle during World Wars I and II combined.

The consequences of caring for the sick at the time of the emerging

epidemic were unknown. 's death, at age 27, came just a few weeks

before the Armistice concluded the " war to end all wars, " but there

was no quick end to the even more devastating disease.

Information relating to 's death (which the Camera called

" disquieting news " ) arrived in three telegrams at her parents' home

in Boulder. Her mother took the first train for Pittsburgh and

returned with 's body. A private funeral was held at the Klingler

home. According to the Camera, " The family have the sympathy of all

Boulder in their affliction. " 's body was " tenderly borne " to

Green Mountain Cemetery where the rest of her family joined her in the

years to come.

Silvia Pettem's history column appears every Sunday in the Camera.

http://blog.mlive.com/grpress/2008/01/j_edgar_hoover_targeted_polio.html