The U.S. today faces a new health challenge, but this is not new to our nation. One hundred years ago, or so, the challenge of unknown illnesses was almost routine. Today a primary recommendation is similar to one used then, isolation. The following is the story of one man in the era of quarantine.
It is not known when Charles Dyer first arrived in the new town of Flomaton, but in 1888 he married a local woman, Fannie Still, when they were both about thirty years old. Their home in the years that followed was a couple of blocks south of the railroad. For most of this time Dyer worked as a skilled blacksmith at Enoch Walker’s sawmill along the railroad near Wawbeek.
In 1895 Dyer became a bit of a celebrity. At this time the notorious bandit Railroad Bill was being pressed by the law after increased bounties were offered. While tracking the bandit, Sheriff McMillan of Brewton was ambushed and killed by Bill along the railroad just south of Flomaton. Soon after, a large posse was sworn in to track the killer and Dyer joined this group. While tracking the bandit with about fifteen other men in the swamps of Murder Creek near Castleberry, Dyer stumbled over the bandit’s hiding place. The two then exchanged several shots, one cutting the brim of Dyer’s hat. The bandit however again escaped.
In 1896 things changed for Dyer after Walker’s sawmill burned. Dyer moved his family to East Government St. in Pensacola while he worked at the port. As this job ended, Dyer moved his wife and children back to Flomaton; he then found a new job at the port. Unfortunately, near the middle of 1897, his shop burned - destroying everything. Dyer returned to his family as yellow fever struck Flomaton in October 1897. The first victim was F. McCurdy, owner of the general store.
The town then became isolated, passenger trains were even instructed to pass through with the windows and doors closed. The quarantine lasted until December. After not working for months, by December Dyer had spent a bit of time drinking. On the 13th, Dyer returned home with co-worker Lewis Faulk after a drunken outing. While there, Faulk made improper comments about Dyer’s wife. An argument arose, Dyer killed Faulk with buckshot. He was soon arrested and taken to Evergreen, but it seems charges were later dropped.
In June of 1899 Dyer told some of his story with a letter sent to his brother Romeyn in California.
“I received your welcome letter. Well I will tell you where and how I live. The state line betwean Ala. and Fla. runs East and West through Flomaton. I live in Fla as shown above. Mrs. Still is my wife’s mother. I have not had a steady job for two years. The man I used to work for had a sawmill five miles from heare on the Mobile R.R. Eight years ago I built a brass furnish for him. He got lots of work to do for other mills so I built an iron cupola and foundry and he bought out a machine shop after a fire in Mobile and we had a pretty good sized shop. I was his best man. He paid me $3.50 per day.
I turned out all kinds of mill and log cart supplies by the car load for the Southern Mill and Log Cart Co of Mobile. About two years ago everything he had burned down without any insurance. He is building up again here at Flomaton, but very slow. I am not working for him as I did not save one cent while working for him before. I forgot to tell you his name. It is Mr. Enoc Walker of Clinton, Ill. After the fire I went to Pensacola to work on a large building and wharfe for the L & N R.R. I had charge of the iron material shop. So I moved wife and little ones down there for nine months.
The work being nearly completed I moved them back to Flomaton again. Then I struck a good job in same kind of shop at a very large elevator that was building there. There was 800 carpenters and 200 machinists working at night and day. It is 600,000 bushel capacita. It has the longest conveyor of any elevator in the world, being 360 yards from vessel to elevator.
About the time it was completed, the shop burned down with about 400 tool boxes in it including two of mine whitch I valued at $300 dollars. All a totle loss. I tried to get some pay from the co. for them through neglet of night man but could not. It made me so sick that I quit. At that time there was a dredge boat, Ajack, and mud barges lying here waiting for calm weather to be towed to Key West to do some deep watter dredging for Fort Henry.
I went aboard of it and passed the examination and signed articles for $90 per month with a guarantee of six months work, but the out look for longer. I took all I had in Pensacola on board and went to Flomaton to make arrangements with my grocer to supply the family while I was gone. During the time I was in Pensacola, Flomaton had quarantined against Mobile on account of yellow fever, so the next morning when I went down town Pensacola had quarantined against Flomaton so I could not get back to Pensacola until after the yellow fevor was over, whitch was about two months. Well the dredge had left and when about half way to the Keys encountered a wind and rain storm. The tug, mud barges, dredge and all the crew was lost. Speaking of yellow fever, we had 109 cases and 11 deaths here. I nursed several cases and help burry 7. This leaves us all well. Love from us all. Write soon. Your loving brother. Chas H Dyer.”
Charles Dyer died before the end of 1899; he was only 40 years old. He was buried at the old Flomaton Cemetery. Whether his death was through violence or disease is unknown. But, his story speaks of this - he was brave, hardworking, protective, and helpful. He cared for others while not knowing if he would also become ill as pandemic faced the region. If asked, he would probably say that he acted only as a member of the community; a good guide for our modern times when quarantine may again be almost routine.
