   William M. Savage 1891 - 1919 "Erected by Comrads of U.S.S. New Mexico Ship  Dallas Morning News Sept 12, 1919 "San Francisco, Cal., Sept 8---- A naval "board of inquest" met aboard the dreadnought Mexico, flagship Admiral Hugh Rodman, commander in chief of the Pacific fleet, in San Francisco Bay, today, to inquire into the death of three enlisted men and the injury of forty others in a fire which lasted for three hours aboard the battleship last night. The fire started in the rheostat room. The dead were: William Morton Savage, engineman, second class, A. Hilario and Gonzales Dizon, mess attendant, third class. Savages nearest kin is his mother, Mrs. Mary Bell of Whitewright, Texas. The mess boys lived in the Philippines. The fire started in the rheostatroom, presumably from a cigarett, according to A.F. Billy, chief gunners mate. It spread to the ice machine-room, where Hilario and Dizon were getting ice. Savage went to their rescue and after getting them out of the room was caught in a rush of water with which the compartment was being flooded. He telephoned to the deck, saying he could save his life if the water was turned off, according to Billy, but there was such a vast amount of water on the way that even when it was turned off the room was filled. Approximately 1,000 visitors on board when fire broke out were cleared from the vessel's side in half an hour and there was no confusion, Billy said." The Whitewright Sun Friday, September 19, 1919 pg. 1 BODY OF SEAMAN BURIED HERE SUNDAY In Vittitoe Cemetery, three miles west of Whitewright, rest the remains of William Morton Savage, who met death at his post on board the United States dreadnaught Mexico in San Francisco Bay, September 7th. The flag draped casket arrived over the Katy Sunday morning and was taken to the home of the decedent's sister, Mrs. J.P. Ownby, southwest of town. Sunday afternoon the remains were conveyed to Vittitoe Cemetery, where in the presence of one of the largest crowds that ever assembled at this county burying grounds, an impressive funeral service was held. Rev. I.E. Teague and Rev. W.J. Epting conducted the service, while recently discharged soldiers and sailors, clad in their uniforms acted as escorts and pall bearers. The story of youn Savage's enlistment, service and untimely fate was briefly told in the Sun last week, but in the columns of the big dailies of the country the circumstances of his tragic and heroic death has been chronicled in detail and at length. In the small room below the decks of the flag ship, in which Savage was trapped and suffocated by fumes from burning photograph films, he telephoned the perilous position of himself and two companions to the men above, who worked desperately to rescue the doomed men. This telephonic conversation is recited in full by one of the San Francisco papers and showed that Savage went to his death with calmness and courage that only the bravest of men could exemplify. As he described the progress of the fire and told how he was choking, he came to his last report: "It's pretty bad; so long." and fell in exhaustion. The San Francisco paper from which we quote says: "Savage was one of the most popular men on the flagship. He was twenty-eight years old and was serving his second enlistment with a perfect record. His enlistment was dated February 17, 1915. The bodies of the dead men were taken off the flagship by a submarine chaser acting as an ambulance boat. The bugler sounded "quarters" and the entire crew took their stations. As the crane lowered the the flag-draped caskets overthe rail and the band played "Nearer, My God, to Thee." Ship's Chaplain T.P. Riddle officiated at the brief ceremony. Mayor Rolph, visiting the ship to express the city's grief over the fatal accident, offered all civil honors and suggested that the bodies lie in state at City Hall for a day." The Whitewright Sun Friday, October 10, 1919 pg. 1 MOTHER RECEIVES CHECK FOR MEMORIAL MONUMENT Mrs. Mary Bell Savage, mother of William Morton Savage, who list his life in the fire on board the U.S.S. Mexico in San Francisco Bay, September 7th, is in receipt of a letter from the commander of the ship, in which a high tribute is paid to the character and distinguished service of young Savage. A check for $222.00, made up by the officers and men of the ship for a memorial monument to his memory, accompanied the letter. To the young man's mother and relatives and many friends throughout this section, this is an appreciated recognition of his worth and a fitting tribute to his memory..... Vittitoe Cemetery Susan Hawkins © 2024 If you find any of Grayson County TXGenWeb links inoperable, please send me a message. |