The story of his death appeared in The Gastonia Gazette on Friday, May 9, 1902.
THE YORKVILLE TRAGEDY.
Some Further Particulars of the Tragic Drowning Last Saturday - Story of Young Morrow's Heroism.
The Enquirer of last Wednesday gave some particulars of the tragic death of the three young cadets there last Saturday which will have an interest for many of our readers, especially those portions dealing with the brave taken part by Mr. Marshall Morrow, of Gastonia.
Writing of the tragedy editorially, the Enquirer says:
In telling the story of the tragedy of last Saturday at Black's pond there has been no effort to go beyond or color the facts. The thing is too awfully terrible to warrant such liberty. But no one who reads the details in another column, can fail to be impressed, amid all the surrounding gloom, with the brilliant jewels of noble manhood which there came to light. There is no other way to put it than that young Nichols and Lindsay offered up their lives on the altar of what they conceived to be their simple duty. Captain Stephenson and Mr. Black did all they could, and no more can be reasonably expected of any man. With young Marshall Morrow, it appears to have been not only a matter of ability; but willingness to do, and his magnificent work commands the universal homage that it will receive. If there is any blame to be meted out on account of any part of the whole distressing tragedy, it will have to be placed by others. The Enquirer has hunted as diligently for blame as for merit; but has been able to locate no blame whatever.
From the full account which appeared in its news columns we make the following extracts:
Within a short time after their arrival the cadets were in the water. They had been duly cautioned as to the character of the bottom by Mr. Fred Black, who is one of the owners of the mill property and who had gone to the place to see the boys enjoy themselves. Captain Stephenson instructed them as to the dangers. Those of the boys who could swim well, struck out at will, wherever they liked. Others tried to keep on the side of safety. Presently Cadet Nichols, who was walking along the dam slipped into the water, and disappeared from sight. He knew but little about swimming and was helpless. Cadet Morrow, who is a good swimmer, happened to be near, and seizing hold of his struggling companion pulled him from the water. The incident occuped but a minute; but Cadet Nichols was pretty severely strangled, and it was some little time before he could get rid of all the water he had swallowed. Nearly all the boys saw the accident and most of them were much impressed with it; but as they had been in the water only a short time, they were not yet ready to give up. Cadet Nichols took a seat on the bank to rest, and by direction of Captain Stephenson, at the suggestion of Mr. Black, those of the boys who were not good swimmers, sought a safer portion of the pond.
Shortly after the change of the majority of the bathers to the new location, two boys swam across the channel to the shallow water on the opposite side, and Cadet Stevens undertook to follow. Some of the boys wer watching and others were not. Stevens was a strong active young man, who though able to swim only a few strokes had in some way created the impression that he was at home in the water, and nobody was dreaming of an accident. He struck out boldly across the channel; but presently he went under, and a moment later everybody began to realize the seriousness of the situation and there followed a period of wild excitement.
Nichols, who since his own narrow escape a short time before, had been resting on the bank, went plunging headlong to the rescue, and Lindsay, with the exclamation, "Boys, Stevens is drowning!" on his lips did the same. A moment later - it was all within the same half minute - the three helpless boys were struggling in twelve feet of water. Then came Mr. Black, six feet tall and a powerful swimmer; but hampered by his clothes. He got into the deep water, succeeded in seizing Stevens and raising his body above the surface; but after a moment Stevens slipped away, and Mr. Black disappeared from view. The troubled water on the surface indicated the commotion below. After what seemed an age, Mr. Black came slowly up, and with difficulty crawled to the bank. He was utterly exhausted and half drowned; but at once commenced stripping himself with a view of going back to the boys.
While Mr. Black was struggling in the water, Cadet Morrow was running about the bank hunting for a plank. After what seemed an age, but was in reality only a minute or two, he launched it over the spot where the boys went down. Then, single handed he dived, brought up the body of Stevens and floated it to the edge of the channel. Here he was met by Captain Stephenson, who had walked out in his clothes, and Mr. Black, who had recovered sufficiently to again be of assistance, and together the three bore the body to land. With the assistance, and under the direction of Captain Stephenson, the other cadets resorted to the usual expedients for the resuscitation of the drowned. Cadet Morrow returned immediately to his plank, and a few minutes afterward succeeded in recovering the body of Nichols, with which was repeated the same process as in the case of Stevens. The body of Lindsay was more difficult to find; but Cadet Morrow brought it up also after Mr. Norman Black had gone down for it twice without success.
As to how long the bodies were in the water could not be definitely ascertained. Mr. Black does not think it was longer than fifteen minutes from the time the first cadet went down until the last one was recovered. Cadet Morrow thinks the time was much shorter than that; but is not able to give a definite statement. Captain Stephenson is also very doubtful as to the time, and so are all the others who were questioned on the point.
"What I did," said Mr. F.C. Black, referring to the tragedy "amounted to nothing. I didn't accomplish anything. But the efforts of that young fellow Morrow were most remarkable. He can swim like a duck; but his pluck, courage, discrimination and devotion to duty are superior to his swimming. I have never before seen anything like the work he did under such trying circumstances."
Mr. T.J. Nichols, father of one of the drowned boys, happened to be in Yorkville when the news reached here. He hurried to the scene and worked until the doctor informed him there was no hope, when he broke down. Capt. and Mrs. Lindsay, the parents of another one of the boys, were also on the spot. Scores of people who had previously contemplated the dreadful situation in awed silence, shed tears freely in the presence of parental grief.
Carefully and tenderly the bodies of the dead boys were removed to Yorkville. Those of Nichols and Lindsay were at once taken to the homes of their respective parents, and that of Stevens to the K.M.M.A. barracks, where it remained until about 12 o'clock Saturday night, when Mr. and Mrs. Stevens, accompanied by their son and other relatives and friends, came for it with a special train from Kershaw. From here, the body of young Stevens was taken to Rock Hill, where his mother lives, for interment.
The funeral of young Nichols took place on last Sunday afternoon at 2 o'clock.
The services were conducted at the residence, six miles northeast of Yorkville by Rev. W.A. Hafner, and the interment was in Bethel Cemetery. The funeral of young Lindsay took place from the Presbyterian church on Sunday afternoon at 4 o'clock. Rev. W.G. Neville conducted the services. Young Stevens was buried in Rock Hill at 5 o'clock, Rev. Dr. J.H. Thornwell conducting the services. All the funerals were largely attended, the K.M.M.A. being represented by one-third of the corps at each.
At the Kings Mountain Military Academy Monday morning, the following was published as "Special order No. 10:"
For heroic and meritorious conduct manifested and shown by Cadet Morrow on the 3rd instant, in his successful efforts to recover the bodies of his drowned comrades, he is hereby promoted to the rank of third lieutenant of Company A.
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