Yellow Fever Memorial at Martyrs Park

In August, 1878, fear of death caused a panic during which 30,000 of 50,000 Memphians fled this bluff city. By October, the epidemic of yellow fever killed 4,204 of 6,000 whites and 946 of 14,000 blacks who stayed. With some outside help, citizens of all races and walks of life, recognizing their common plight in these devastated, bankrupt community, tended 17,600 sick and buried the dead. As a result many of them lost their lives, becoming martyrs in their service to mankind.