10/23/07 Boston Horse Flu

Yesterday we told you about the Great Epizootic of 1872, which impacted the entire nation, I'm Jeff Keane and I'll return in a moment with how this equine flu nearly left the City of Boston in ruins. With almost every horse in Boston struck with this debilitating equine flu the city was left extremely vulnerable, here's Becky with more on the tragedy. November 9th 1872 a fire broke out downtown in the thriving city of Boston. Fire crews were poised to act but were crippled by the massive equine flu epidemic, running wild, disabling all of their horse powered fire wagons. This sudden loss of horse labor found slow oxen and even the cities men hitching themselves up in an effort to slow the fires. With their exhausted mobility and lack of water, the great fire blazed on for almost 3 days claiming seven hundred seventy six buildings in the sixty-seven acre area. When the smoke began to settle it was apparent that the cities economy was charred along with the damp ruins, and Boston along with the entire nation was brought face to face with a startling fact. Horses were driving the nation and with out their four-legged transport America was left with virtually no power. This one hot, diseased event forced the nation into pursuing other power alternatives, which could not be rendered useless by the flu. Isn't it amazing how just one tragedy can completely change the face of a city and the future of an entire nation, I'm Jeff Keane.