Martin Massey, 10 years old, was one of seven deaths caused by Bubonic plague in Pensacola, Florida. Martin, who died on September 3, 1920, was the last victim to die from the plague outbreak that lasted from May 31 until September 3, 1920. There were ten cases of Bubonic plague during that time. It was never determined where the plague came from or how it had reached Pensacola. The first case of Bubonic plague in North America was diagnosed in Chinatown, San Francisco in March 1900.

The disease is transmitted from fleas that bite plague infected rats and then bite humans. The best protection from this disease is early and accurate diagnosis and treatment, and the extermination of rats and the removal of any rat infested buildings. Rats are known to travel on ships and railway cars and will go wherever they need to in order to obtain food.

The city of Pensacola, with the assistance of the Public Health Department, instituted a rat-proofing ordinance, as per the mandate of the Surgeon General, and began the process of rat-proofing the city by July 8, 1920. The swift response of the Public Health Department and the quick action by the city to eradicate the rat population, is a key factor in the city's avoidance of an actual Bubonic plague epidemic.

Researched and written by Cathy Dewey, HIS 3002 Methods and Materials, University of West Florida, fall 2012.