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Four Ladies and Four Men Victims of Gulf’s Treacherous Undertow. 7 Bodies Recovered.
John T. Price, One of Palacios’ Most Prominent
and Beloved Citizens, Gives His Life in an Effort to Save Nothing has ever happened in Palacios that seems so appalling as the drowning of one of our leading citizens, Mr. John T. Price and seven of our B. Y. P. U. campers, yesterday. The accident happened in the Gulf, some 25 miles from Palacios. Quite a party of our visitors, accompanied by Mr. and Mrs. John T. Price, left early Thursday morning for an outing to the Gulf, at a certain point often visited by excursionists. On reaching the destination at the point of land where boats usually stop, the crowd in a most happy mood bounded out of the boat and rushed into the water which appeared to be about knee deep, but an “undertow” caught one of the party, and pulled her down, when someone rushed to her rescue. This party was also caught, and still another, and then another, until eight lives were lost. It seems that our Mr. Price lost his life more from heart failure than from water in trying to save others. The dead are as follows: John T. Price, Palacios, Drue Cumbie, Grace Cortney [Courtney], Mrs. B. Mayes, J. E. Dyke, Miss Iona Hodges of Breckenridge; Miss Vie Buster, of Jacksonville and Archie Bryant of Abilene. Mr. Cumbie’s body, at this writing has not been recovered. The following were rescued by faithful companions: Mildred and Guy Caldwell, J. J. Morgan, Mary Morgan, Kate Sayle, Mable Darden, Lucille Cortney [Courtney] and Pearl Bryan. With all of this heart rending circumstance, the B. Y. P. U. officials and our citizens want to emphasize that this accident did not happen in Palacios but some 23 or 25 miles out at Green’s Bayou. The majority of our citizens have always looked upon bathing in the Gulf a dangerous proposition on account of its mighty under-current which is liable to catch the bather at any moment. But may our Father in Heaven temper the sorrows of the loved ones who have lost their dear ones. Our united prayers go up for them.
The Palacios Beacon, Friday, July 22, 1921 |
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PALACIOS, Texas, July 22--Seven bodies of B. Y. P. U. delegates, drowned yesterday have been recovered. The body of Drue Cumbie has not been recovered. The bayou is being dragged today for the body of Cumbie. HOUSTON, Texas, July 22--Eight persons were drowned and three others near death were rescued when 15 delegates to the Baptist Young People's Union annual state encampment at Palacios, forming a bathing party, were caught in the undertow of the Gulf of Mexico at the mouth of Green's bayou, 22 miles from Palacios, at 5 o'clock Thursday afternoon. The bathers were members of a sailing party of 31 that left Palacios at 2 o'clock for a sail on Matagorda Bay. The party was composed mostly of delegates from Breckenridge.
The dead are: A part of Palacios citizens and encampers are trying to recover the other bodies. The bodies of John Price, Miss Iona Hodges and James E. Dykes were the three recovered. Mr. Price lost his life in a vain effort to rescue Miss Hodges. The three who were rescued were taken from the water by Guy Caldwell and Adam Garney of Breckenridge. Caldwell rescued his sister, and Garney rescued Miss Mary Morgan of Breckenridge and a young lady whose name has not been learned. They effected the rescue by diving into the water and swimming back to the boat with the young women. Of the 16 who were in bathing five stayed near the boat and were not caught in the under current. These five were young people as were the 11 who did not go in bathing, remaining in the boat. As soon as news reached the encampment every doctor in town hurried to the scene of the accident, but could render no assistance as all who were caught in the under current had been dead several hours. The accident brought gloom to the encampment, which had been in season since July 12, with 3,000 delegates in attendance.
The Brownsville Herald, Friday afternoon,
July 22, 1921 |
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Breckenridge, Texas, July 22: Six of the eight
victims in the drowning near Palacios, Thursday, were from this
section, five lived in the city and the sixth, ARCHIE BRYANT,
was a relative of MRS. C. M. CALDWELL and lived at Abilene.
MISS IONA HODGES
had her twenty-first birthday at Palacios last Sunday.
ARCHIE BRYANT resided at Abilene where he
was a student in Simmons College.
Dallas Morning News,
July 23, 1921 |
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Palacios, Texas, July 21.--Eight persons were drowned, three near death and a number of others had narrow escapes this afternoon at 5 o'clock when a party of bathers from the Baptist Young People's Union encampment here were caught in the undertow while bathing in the Gulf at the mouth of Green's Bayou, about twenty-two miles from Palacios. The tragedy, which marked the closing day of the encampment, has thrown a pall of sadness over the gathering. Among those who perished was John E. [T.] Price of Palacios, who lost his life while trying heroically to rescue Miss Iona Hodges of Breckenridge.
The dead are: Only three bodies have been recovered tonight, those of Mr. Price, Mr. Dykes and Miss Hodges. The three that were rescued were taken from the water by Guy Caldwell and Adam Garney of Breckenridge. Caldwell rescued his sister, Miss Mildred Caldwell, and Garney rescued Miss Mary Morgan of Breckenridge and a young lady whose name has not been learned. They effected rescue by diving into the water and swimming back to the boat with the young women. Of the sixteen who were in bathing, five stayed near the boat and were not caught in the undercurrent. These five were young people, as were also the eleven who did not go in bathing, remaining on the boat. Caught in Undertow. It had been planned to end the encampment, which is an annual affair, attracting Baptist from all over the state, on next Sunday, but plans were changed this week and today was made the close. The party of bathers was enjoying a farewell swim when suddenly the undertow began drawing them out into the bay. That it was too powerful, even for adults, was shown by the fact that three of the victims were grown. John E. [T.] Price made heroic efforts to save Miss Hodges, but was swept with her out into the bay. While it is not known here tonight, it is believed James E. Dykes and Mrs. Mayes of Breckenridge also were trying to save younger members of the party when they, too, were overcome. The bodies of the three recovered are in Palacios and efforts are being continued tonight to find others.
Comanche Chief, Comanche, Texas, July 29,
1921 |
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“I of great men reached and kept is literally as well as figuratively true of him. He gave his best without stint or thought of the physical exertion or mental strain to the limit of his endurance. He had no patent right to success, it came as a result of most painstaking effort. His genius was his capacity for hard work and stick-to-it-iveness. With his very careful, conservative mental action went a most radical activity when once a plan was formulated. Not that he always was right, for sometimes even his best laid plans were frustrated or his calculations miscarried, but he never whined nor talked of bad luck. If John T. Price had a rare genius for business, even more is it true of his genius for friendship, discernment of the higher values and capacity for appreciation of the best. The courtly gentleman, ever thoughtful of the pleasure and comfort of those about him, especially the aged—the devoted husband, of his married life most truly it might be said, “the twain were one.” The loss to the town, community and county is irreparable. To whom shall the young look for such worthy examples of clean, high-minded, simple living, unswerving fidelity, active loyalty, a foe to sham and hypocrisy. A nature so reserved and shy that it is almost a breach of confidence to more than touch on in a general way his many benefactions. Among the lowliest or highest, small or great, obscure or prominent, no needy went away empty-handed and every worthy cause that was for the betterment of the community or the individual had wholehearted, active support, but he thoroughly believe that he should not let his right hand know what his left hand did. The manner of his death was a fitting climax to the vicarious life he lived—“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” His religion was described by James: “Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this; to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction and to keep himself unspotted from the world.” The consolation in his going is the hope that this wonderful spirit shall yet live among us reincarnated in the lives of many young people. John T. Price shall not have lived in vain nor died in the hey-day of his usefulness if “the torch is caught from his failing hands.” John T. Price was born in Yell County, Arkansas, February 26, 1875, came to Dallas County in 1877. He grew up on a farm in Erath County with the ordinary advantages of country school in one term in Stephenville. He started his business career at the early age of 15, most of the time as a helper in the lumberyard. Since coming to Palacios had extensive lumber interests, but several years ago his physical condition warned him that he must have less office work so the yards at Collegeport and Bay City were sold and he had more time in the open air, when he built up one of the most carefully selected herds of Brahma cattle in the states. He married Miss Opal Dean Cates at Tiptonville, Tennessee, December 22, 1904. They lived in Stephenville until May 23, 1906, when they came to Palacios to make their home. He united with the Presbyterian Church in this city about five years ago. He died in a vain attempt to rescue Miss Ione Hodges from drowning at Green’s Bayou, July 21, 1921. He leaves behind his widow, a most worthy helpmate, his father and mother, Mr. and Mrs. T. A. Price, Miss Dora and Mr. Joe Price, of Stephenville; Robert L. Price, Palacios and Mrs. Yeager, of Blessing. The funeral was from his late residence Sunday, July 24, at 4 p. m. Dr. M. M. Wolf, of Houston, one of his most intimate friends conducted the simple service. The body lay in state in a mahogany casket on the east porch for an hour before the service. Almost a constant stream of people, seeking a last farewell look at the strong, genial, familiar face, passed during the hour. Masses of beautiful flowers, mute tributes of love and esteem for the dead and sympathy for the living, banked the wall and floor about the casket. The active pallbearers were Messrs. Barnett, Wolf, Hayes, R. J. Sisson, Hoffman and Pridgen. The honorary pallbearers were Messrs. Farwell, Lipscomb, Ruthven, Dawdy, Hill, Campbell, Sartwelle, Wagner, Culver, from Matagorda; Sutherland, Bay City …[paper torn]
The Palacios Beacon, Friday, July 29, 1921
Price-Farwell Home |
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The Almighty Father in His infinite love and mercy has called to His long home in the silent halls of death, our friend and benefactor, Mr. John T. Price; and, Since he was a citizen honored and loved by everyone, generous and kindhearted, sympathetic and sincere; possessing the noblest impulses and performing the most serviceable deeds; and, since he was the friend of the widow and orphan, the benefactor to public and private enterprise, the servant in the spiritual and civic life of the neighborhood— Camp Palomar feels a deep sorrow for his passing and extends to the bereaved relatives the tenderest sympathy.
J. E. Abney, Dale Hill, Tom Brown. |
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An expression in Memory of John T. Price Bon-Voyage Our Co-Worker John T. Price has passed away, having left us by life's wayside on July 21, 1921. He was drowned in the waters of the Gulf of Mexico in the Pass cut through the Matagorda Peninsula called Green's Bayou Cut, where a swift tide and undertow existed; a life spent in the effort to rescue his friends from a like fate--with him went into the waters seven others. God only can fill the vacancy in our hearts caused by this sorrowful event. Seer, fellowman, master of men and circumstances, devoted with the intensity of a single consuming passion to the promotion and extension of the community life, the upbuilding of mankind and touching hands with the afflicted, that life might be considered more worth while; naive and strict in his character, humorous and entertaining as a man among men; his influence was felt throughout the County and State as a conservative force in business. This tragedy takes from our Board and our co-workers one of the most efficient and dependable members, one who made a place which it seem impossible to adequately fill, either in this institution or the community. This record indicates as it only can, by those of us who were so intimate with him, that the place in our hearts and association of interests can only be filled by the grace of God and the love of Jesus Christ our Lord and Master. This, as a resolution of respect, to that man of us and to his family, at the meeting of the Board of Directors of Palacios State Bank, held in its office on Wednesday, at 10:00 A. M., August 3, 1921.
Palacios Beacon, September 16, 1921 |
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There came to Palacios fifteen years ago a
strong, purposeful looking quiet young man and his bride. He had
charge of the lumberyard, where the present Grant lumber yard now
stands. In the rear of the yard was an unused small building in
which lime had been stored, this was cleaned up, a few windows cut
in it, some shelves and a window seat, a pine table, bed and a two
burner stove, a few dishes and the John T. prices were housekeeping
and at home to the many new friends they soon began to make in
Palacios, as well as old friends who came to the Encampment and were
entertained most hospitably, as they have been each summer of years
since. Very soon the energy, industry and thorough going business
methods of Mr. Price began to make themselves felt in the business
circles of the community. The free range looked like an opportunity
and before and after closing hours he was in the saddle taking care
of his cattle.
The body of Mr. Cumbie was the last recovered.
Those of Mr. John T. Price and Miss Ione Hodges, the young lady for
whom he so nobly gave his life in an attempt to rescue, were
recovered soon after the accident while five other bodies were found
during the night. Six of the bodies were shipped home to bereaved
[families] Saturday morning. Mr. Price was laid to rest in Palacios
Sunday afternoon, his funeral was largely attended from the whole
county. On Monday morning Mr. Cumbie’s remains were shipped to
Bronte, Texas, the home of his aged father and mother. His grief
stricken wife, brother and sister, who remained here until his body
was recovered accompanied him.
