Episode 153: Shreveport's Worst Year - Tragedy, Survival and Saintliness

Louisiana Insider

In 1873, though little known throughout the state, the Shreveport area suffered one of the greatest tragedies in Louisiana history. The region faced what is recorded as the third largest Yellow Fever epidemic in the nation’s history. In the course of three months there was an estimated 1,200 victims, approximately 1/4 of the city’s population.

Cheryl White, a history professor at LSU-Shreveport, joins Louisiana Life Executive Editor Errol Laborde, along with podcast producer Kelly Massicot, in commemoration of the incident’s 150th anniversary. White tells about the mass grave, which contains the remains of approximately 800 victims, some never identified. There are many stories including the tragedy of five Louisiana-based priests who went to Shreveport to comfort the stricken and who became victims themselves. There is now an organized effort to have the Vatican canonize (declare to be saints) the priests.

It is a story that should have a center place in Louisiana history.