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Yellow Fever raged through much of Florida in the spring of 1888, after the mayor of Tampa announced that the disease was present in his city. Alachua County placed guards at all rail and road entrances to the county, and an officer at the county line had authority to put off the train anyone without a health card or certificate. Nevertheless, Yellow Jack spread, reaching Jacksonville in July, then hitting Fernandina about August. In Fernandina, officials denied yellow fever was present, then called for state help when commerce stopped and looting began. He repeatedly denied yellow fever was in Fernandina, and so the Gainesville Guards were ordered to the stricken city. The guards, singing "We'll Hang the Yellow Jack to a Sour Apple Tree" boarded the Seaboard train for Waldo and Fernandina. Several guards died of yellow fever. Then, in September, yellow fever was declared epidemic in Gainesville. Fear was widespread, and families fled the city before a quarantine was set up and the county line sealed. No one will ever know how many persons died in Gainesville; many were buried in mass graves, and few records were kept.

"Staff officers Camp Perry, Fla. W.H.H. Hutton...Surgeon, M.H.S. [Marine Hospital Service]; John Guiteras...P.A. Surgeon, M.H.S.; H.D. Geddings...Asst. Surgeon, M.H.S.; W.F. McDowell...Steward, M.H.S.; C. Faget...M.D., Physician to Fever Camp; E.L. Posey...M.D., Sanitary Inspector."

Accompanying note: "Camp Perry, Fla. - Located on the bluffs of St. Mary's River, 38 miles north of Jacksonville, on the S.F.&W.R.R. Opened for reception of refugees August 22, 1888. Period of detention, 10 days. Total number received, discharged and sent away, over 1,000. Number who developed yellow fever after arrival, 36, all within the first 7 days. Number of deaths, 3. Not a case contracted in camp. Over 60 employes[sic] in camp, none acclimated, and not one has been sick. Every refugee improved mentally and physically while in camp. Five employes[sic] at hospital, none acclimated, and no case of fever."