I agree. It killed a lot of people because it’s a novel virus that we have no immunity to. But probably no deadlier than Asian flu or Hong Kong flu. I would guess that the population was much younger and healthier back then than today. So of course COVID-19 is killing all of those elderly patients in nursing homes. And others with preexisting conditions. That 28 years old teacher from SC who died recently turned out to be morbidly obese. I wouldn’t be surprised if she was diabetic.
https://www.visualcapitalist.com/history-of-pandemics-deadliest/
Also note Covid is not nearly the most contagious disease compared to other diseases.