Smallpox Scab Incident of 1893: A Strange Chapter in Celina’s History

In October 1893, Celina, Ohio, became embroiled in a bizarre incident involving a letter allegedly containing smallpox scabs sent from Muncie, Indiana. The letter, addressed to Celina Marshal John Woods, stirred widespread alarm amid an active smallpox epidemic. This article examines the facts surrounding the incident, as reported in contemporary newspapers.

The Smallpox Epidemic in Muncie

By October 1893, Muncie, Indiana, faced a severe smallpox epidemic. Reports indicated 145 active cases and 69 homes under quarantine, with 20 deaths attributed to the disease.1 The epidemic was sufficiently dire to require state aid, which had been provided for several weeks.2 The outbreak also prompted quarantines in surrounding areas, including in neighboring Ohio counties.3

Celina, Ohio, located near the Indiana border, took steps to protect its residents. These included quarantine restrictions to limit the movement of people between Muncie and Celina, which were enforced by Marshal John Woods.4

The Letter to Marshal John Woods

On October 26, 1893, Celina’s Marshal John Woods received a letter postmarked from Muncie, Indiana. The letter contained three scabs and a note, which read:

“We are glad you showed so much kindness toward sickness we had in our town. I will send you a scab off my face in my worst stage of smallpox. I will assure you you will have the smallpox in eight or ten days.”5

The receipt of this letter caused immediate concern. Reports in newspapers like The Fort Wayne Journal Gazette and The Indianapolis Journal framed the incident as a malicious attempt to spread smallpox in Celina, potentially as retaliation for quarantine measures.6,7

Public and Official Responses

The incident prompted outrage and fear in Celina and beyond. Marshal Woods’ enforcement of quarantine measures had likely drawn ire from residents of Muncie, where the epidemic was centered.8 The contents of the letter, passing through multiple postal handlers before reaching Woods, sparked concerns about potential infections along the mail route.9 Local and federal officials quickly launched an investigation to identify the sender.10

Newspaper accounts varied in tone, with some treating the incident as a serious biological threat and others as a tasteless hoax. For example, The Akron Beacon Journal described the sender as a “fiend,” while The Indiana State Sentinel suggested the scabs were likely “peelings taken from well-developed corns.”11,12

Investigative Findings

Subsequent investigations cast doubt on the claim that the scabs were infectious. Reports emphasized that hospitals in Muncie had strict protocols to prevent the release of smallpox-related materials. Mail from infected areas was disinfected with sulfur fumigation, making it highly unlikely for live smallpox viruses to survive.13

Moreover, similar letters had been sent to other towns, including Eaton, Hartford City, and Winchester, Indiana. These incidents followed a pattern suggesting the work of a prankster rather than an actual public health threat.14 Despite these findings, the psychological impact on Celina residents remained significant, as fear of smallpox transmission lingered.15

Marshal John Woods and His Role

Marshal John Woods was a central figure in the Celina community. Born on June 3, 1854, in Darke County, Ohio, Woods moved to Celina at the age of ten and dedicated much of his life to public service.16 As marshal during the smallpox epidemic, Woods played a crucial role in enforcing quarantine measures and safeguarding public health, making him a potential target for the hostility behind the letter.17

Woods’ later years were marked by declining health. He passed away on June 19, 1908, following a third stroke of paralysis. He was remembered in the Coldwater Chronicle as a “genial and kind-hearted man” whose death was deeply mourned by the community. Funeral services were held at Swamp College Church, with interment in the nearby cemetery.18

Conclusion

The smallpox scab incident of 1893 remains one of the more peculiar episodes in Celina’s history. While later investigations revealed the scabs to be non-infectious, the event reflects the era’s public health challenges, including the management of fear and misinformation. For Celina, this strange and alarming episode serves as a reminder of how local communities responded to crises, often under intense pressure and with limited resources.

Marshal John Woods’ leadership during this time was emblematic of the resilience shown by small-town officials confronting larger public health crises. His role in Celina’s response to the epidemic—and the letter that briefly brought national attention to his town—remains an integral part of Mercer County’s local history.

References

1. William G. Eidson, “Confusion, Controversy, and Quarantine: The Muncie Smallpox Epidemic of 1893,” Indiana Magazine of History, 86 (1990): 375.
2. “Smallpox Raging,” Akron Beacon Journal, October 27, 1893, p. 3.
3. “Feared in Darke County,” Cincinnati Commercial Gazette, October 28, 1893, p. 2.
4. “A Fiend in Muncie,” Indianapolis Journal, October 27, 1893, p. 2.
5. “Was It a Plot or a Joke?” Fort Wayne Journal Gazette, October 27, 1893, p. 1.
6. “Small-Pox Sent by Mail,” Akron Beacon Journal, October 27, 1893, p. 3.
7. “Mailing Alleged Smallpox Scabs Over the Country,” Indiana State Sentinel, November 1, 1893, p. 6.
8. Ibid.
9. Ibid.
10. “An Unknown Muncie Fiend,” Rushville Republican, October 27, 1893, p. 2.
11. Ibid.
12. “Those Celina ‘Scabs’ Not Dangerous,” Cincinnati Commercial Gazette, October 28, 1893, p. 2.
13. Ibid.
14. Ibid.
15. “Feared in Darke County,” Cincinnati Commercial Gazette, October 28, 1893, p. 2.
16. Coldwater Chronicle, June 26, 1908, p. 1.
17. Ibid.
18. Ibid.