In 1878, thousands of refugees fled Cuba during the end of the Ten-Year War against Spain and with them took away the yellow fever. Despite government efforts in the United States, including the Quarantine Act for infected ships, New Orleans quickly fell victim to a yellow fever epidemic.
Several hundred miles north along the Mississippi River, Memphis was preparing for the disease.
City officials blocked all of New Orleans' cargo, but the business community pressured them to give in. It was not a good decision: by the end of the year, 5,000 people had died in Memphis alone.
In all, the Mississippi Valley counted 20,000 deaths.