Durham - Fred
Source: Crawfordsville Weekly Journal Friday, 13 October 1899
The Journal recently made brief mention of the death of Dr. Fred Durham, who leaped from a transport while enroute from the Philippines and was drowned. He was a grandson of Isaac Montgomery, of this county, and a son of Thomas Durham, formerly of this place, but now of Topeka, Kan. His kinsman, A. H. Durham, of San Francisco, writing to relatives, gives the following account of his investigation of the sad tragedy: “At the adjutant general’s office I received most courteous treatment, and was given free access to the voluminous report of the court of inquiry which convened on board the Grant on the day following the tragedy. The findings of the court are made up in most part of depositions from different persons, and all are practically the same. From this report and other sources, I learned that as the result of a fever which attacked him soon after arriving at Manila, Fred was temporarily demented. The attending physicians thought it best to return him to the states. Accordingly he was transferred to the United States transport Grant, and, as a measure of precaution, two guards were placed over him. He made no attempt at self destruction until midnight, August 3, when he arose from his bed, brushed aside his guards, and springing to the rail of the ship, jumped overboard. Every effort was made to rescue him, but before a boat could be lowered he had disappeared. The court found that the guards had been most diligent and thoughtful of the patient under their care, and exonerated them of any blame in the distressing affair. In regard to Fred’s personal effects, they will be taken care of at San Francisco, awaiting orders from Washington.”
In speaking of Fred’s life, the writer says: “It is my earnest hope and prayer that the father and mother will both survive the shock and submit to the hand of fate which took the boy so near and dear to them, and find consolation in the fact that he lived an honorable, pure life, and died a noble death. His manner of death, considering attending circumstances, is indicative of the spirit of unconquerable pride which permeates every fiber of Durham.” - thanks to "S" for this one
Source: Crawfordsville Weekly Journal Friday, 8 September 1899
Isaac Montgomery has received word of the death of his grandson, Dr. Fred Durham, son of Thomas Durham, late of this county, but now of Kansas. The young man was attached to the medical department of the government and had been for some time with the troops at Manila. He was seized with a type of fever and was ordered home, taking transportation on the Grant with a large number of others. The transport arrived in San Francisco the other day and it was then reported that Dr. Dunham had lost his life at sea. When the transport was about five days out, Dr. Durham was missed and investigation developed the fact that no one had seen him for two days. It is supposed that while suffering from a return of his fever he became delirious and jumped overboard. He was a brilliant and promising young man and his death falls heavily upon his parents, who only a short time ago lost another son. - thanks to "S" for this one
Source: Topeka (KS) Daily Capital 14 June 1896 Sun p 12
Mr. Fred H. Durham of the hospital corps, US Army Ft Riley, Kan was transferred Wed to Ft. Yellowstone, National Park, Wyoming where he will spend the remaining term of his enlistment, two and a half years. He was met at Manhattan by his brother Mr. CB Durham and Mr. AD DIck of this city. ~~~transcribed by kbz
Source: Kansas Farmer & Mail & Breeze Topeka, KS Fri 29 Sept 1899 p 10
Capt. Joseph G. Waters has penned the following touching lines on the death of Fred H. Dunham (sic - _Durham) which occurred at sea while enroute home from the Philippines: Fred H. Durham, aged 26, rearaed in this city, the only son of Major and Mrs. Thomas W. Durham one of the oldest and most respected families; was recently drowned at sea on his oyage home from the Philippines. He was a hospital steward and after long service in Montana was ordered last June to the Philippines. The change of climate proved so extreme that it produced illness and temporary insanity and they sent him home in hope of cure. They placed him in charge of guards but during a night watch he brushed the guard aside and in his frenzy leaped into the ocean. He had been in the employment of the Capital and call the entire establishment to say with me, that he was a bright, clean, sterling lad of exceptionally correct deportment. On his last visit home with his hands in his mother's looking her square in the eye he told her he had never sworn an oath, used tobacco, drank liquor or gambled in his life and she knew it to be true. He was a brave boy; it was in his lineage to be brave His father, without orders, may have charged a rebel battery and captured it at Ft. Gibson but his son, doing, suffering and dying is as worthy to be called a brave soldier as is his sire. His death is one of the many tragedies of the war; of wrung hearts, great sorrows, untold tears and awful sacrifices, suffered in the home of America. Rachels weeping for their children, waiting the return home and agony of all agonies praying as the ocean devours. Such sacrifices, such deaths, are our princeliest endowment, and they get woven into the fiber of the flag and make it sacred. The death of this boy is exceedingly sad. His brother, Claude died two years ago. The home is without children. Major Tom and his good wife are indeed stricken and desolate. There can be no burial service. The sacrament of burial, a veritable heart's ease, can not be said over him. There can be no leave taking that their very heart break makes sweet. No, nor flowers, nor song, nor prayer. The great sun shines on their affliction. Their grief is that of the nation's as well and is for all who muster at its call. This thought will some time be a great solace. A brave boy has died for you and me and that boy was Major Tom's. It will be reunion next week and this is Sunday. His death is a patriotic sermon and it is fit just here to say these words in memory of a brave soul who has given up all his years, his hopes, his ambitions and what is dearer his affections; they should be said in honor of the blessed United States the common patrimony of all of us and they are said in all human kindness for the household who waits the boy the ocean will not surrender, no, never! ~~~transcribed by kbz