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Francis Thomas “Frank” Maddrix

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Birth	:	1848 Crisfield, Somerset County, Maryland, USA
Death	:	29 Mar 1899 At Sea
Burial	:	Crisfield Cemetery, Crisfield, Somerset County, USA
Coordinate	:	37.9835230, -75.8459740
Description	:	POPLAR ISLAND WRECK Funeral Of Frank Maddrix And Recovery Of Bodies Of Other Victims. [Special Dispatch to the Baltimore Sun.] CRISFIELD, MD., March 31. The remains of Frank Maddrix, who lost his life in the wreck of the Walter McGee on Wednesday, were buried at Crisfield today. The deceased was a member of the Junior Order of United American Mechanics and the Red Men, and his funeral was one of the largest ever seen in Crisfield. The Revs. C. T. Wyatt, J. P. Otis and G. H. Sheriff conducted the services. The remains of Fred Ford, another victim of the disaster, was recovered... Read More	POPLAR ISLAND WRECK Funeral Of Frank Maddrix And Recovery Of Bodies Of Other Victims. [Special Dispatch to the Baltimore Sun.] CRISFIELD, MD., March 31. The remains of Frank Maddrix, who lost his life in the wreck of the Walter McGee on Wednesday, were buried at Crisfield today. The deceased was a member of the Junior Order of United American Mechanics and the Red Men, and his funeral was one of the largest ever seen in Crisfield. The Revs. C. T. Wyatt, J. P. Otis and G. H. Sheriff conducted the services. The remains of Fred Ford, another victim of the disaster, was recovered and brought to Crisfield today. Ford was lashed to the mainmast by Captain Justis, and although his body was washed overboard, it was held securely by the rope. The body of George Heath, colored, was also recovered and taken to Salisbury for burial. The Baltimore Sun, Baltimore, Maryland, Saturday, April 1, 1899, p. 8 ________ POPLAR ISLAND WRECK Loss Of The Pungy Walter MoGee And Thrilling Experience Of The Crew. THREE BAY SAILORS PERISH. The Schooner Pounding To Pieces On The Shore—The Colored Cook Drowned In His Bunk—The Others Exhausted By Toil And Suffering—Graphic Story By A Survivor. [Special Dispatch to the Baltimore Sun.] Crisfield, Md., March 30.—Louis Somers, one of the survivors of the crew of the Walter McGee, which went ashore at Poplar Island yesterday, arrived in Crisfield today. There were six persons on board the vessel at the time of the disaster, all belonging to Crisfield. Of the six only three were saved. The lost and saved are as follows: The survivors: CAPT. ALFRED JUSTIS LEWIS SOMERS CHARLES T. MADDRIX The lost: FRANK T. MADDRIX FRED FORD GEORGE HEATH, colored. The lifeless body of Frank T. Maddrix was taken out of the rigging by Captain Howeth and Robert Harrison. The remains were cared for by Mr. George Usilton and were conveyed to Crisfield by brothers of the deceased. Mr. Maddrix, who was a respected citizen of Crisfield and a blacksmith by trade, leaves a family. He was fifty-five years old. He had recently been granted a patent on some kind of an oyster rake and was just about to begin the manufacture. He had on this vessel the iron, etc., necessary for the construction of the rake. Frederick Ford was a prominent young man of Crisfield and a nephew of Senator A. Lincoln Dryden, who is now at the wreck, hoping to recover the body. The shore is being patrolled, watching for the corpse to be washed up. The colored man, George Heath, was the cook on board the pungy. He is still lying in his bunk in the sunken vessel. Lewis Somers, one of the survivors, gives the following intelligent account of the disaster: "On Tuesday morning the McGee started from Baltimore with nineteen tops of coal and some iron on board. From the time we left Crisfield with loaf of scrap iron on board for Baltimore we met with nothing but a succession of misfortunes. The vessel leaked, and we had to scud before the wind twice. "On Tuesday night we anchored under Poplar Island. About daybreak the wind was at its height, and the schooner began to drag anchors. All this time we had been taking our turn at the pumps, and we felt quite exhausted. As long, however, as the vessel remained afloat we could warm ourselves in the cabin, for the flying spray was making ice on the rigging. A short time after sunrise the vessel struck about 400 yards from shore and began pounding to pieces. the beach was lined with people, but none of them could render us any assistance against the strong wind and heavy rain. "At this time some of the men began to pray. Although it was not bitter cold, we were almost stiff with cold. We manged, however, to launch the yawl, but a heavy sea at once filled it with water. It seemed as if we should never get the small boat free of water. Frank Maddrix was the first to succumb. He wrapped himself in the mainsail, partly reclining on the main boom, and from that position he never rose. Fred Ford had been assisting to bail out the boat. He rested for a moment and soon fell back, unconscious. His body was taken on board and lashed to mainmast by Captain Justis. Heath never came on deck at all and perished in his bunk. "At length we managed to get the yawl free and reach the shore. On landing Charles Maddrix and Somers became unconscious. They were carried into houses near by and were soon revived. The body of Frank Maddrix will be brought to Crisfield for burial. Search is being made for the corpse of Ford, which was swept overboard by the waves. The McGee is a total wreck. William Sheriff, the son of the Rev. G. H. Sheriff, of the Baptist Church, went to Baltimore on the McGee, but, luckily, missed the vessel on her return trip. The Baltimore Sun, Baltimore, Maryland, March 31, 1899, p. 8 ___________ A gravemarker has not been found for Mr. Maddrix. 2016-10-02

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is Francis Thomas “Frank” Maddrix's memorial?
Francis Thomas “Frank” Maddrix's memorial is located at: Crisfield Cemetery, Crisfield, Somerset County, USA.
When did Francis Thomas “Frank” Maddrix death?
Francis Thomas “Frank” Maddrix death on 29 Mar 1899 in At Sea
Where are the coordinates of the Francis Thomas “Frank” Maddrix's memorial?
Latitude: 37.9835230
Longitude: -75.8459740

Family Members:

Spouse

Amanda O. Tawes Maddrix

(1860 - 1920)

Children

Charles Thomas Maddrix

(1877 - 1951)

Clarence Wells Maddrix

(1886 - 1952)

Lake Sherman Maddrix Sr.

(1894 - 1956)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Crisfield Cemetery
Crisfield, Somerset County, USA
Coordinate: 37.9835230, -75.8459740

2. American Legion Cemetery
Crisfield, Somerset County, USA
Coordinate: 37.9833200, -75.8448700

3. Somers Cove Cemetery
Crisfield, Somerset County, USA
Coordinate: 37.9774900, -75.8535600

4. Asbury Cemetery
Crisfield, Somerset County, USA
Coordinate: 37.9748240, -75.8347100

5. Mariners Cemetery
Crisfield, Somerset County, USA
Coordinate: 37.9897003, -75.8308029

6. Union Asbury Methodist Episcopal Church Cemetery
Crisfield, Somerset County, USA
Coordinate: 37.9729100, -75.8344600

7. Sterling Plot
Lawsonia, Somerset County, USA
Coordinate: 37.9728760, -75.8321510

8. Nelson Family Cemetery
Crisfield, Somerset County, USA
Coordinate: 37.9915080, -75.8274930

9. Nelson Plot Jenkins Creek
Crisfield, Somerset County, USA
Coordinate: 37.9667230, -75.8485960

10. Sterling Plot
Lawsonia, Somerset County, USA
Coordinate: 37.9672470, -75.8315350

11. Somerset Memorial Veterans Cemetery
Crisfield, Somerset County, USA
Coordinate: 37.9905910, -75.8221237

12. Isaac Lawson Cemetery
Lawsonia, Somerset County, USA
Coordinate: 37.9745930, -75.8226510

13. James Lawson Cemetery
Byrdtown, Somerset County, USA
Coordinate: 37.9615640, -75.8425480

14. Peyton Road Cemetery
Crisfield, Somerset County, USA
Coordinate: 37.9685450, -75.8247400

15. Noah Ward Cemetery
Daugherty Town, Somerset County, USA
Coordinate: 38.0073460, -75.8433360

16. Byrd Family Burial Ground
Crisfield, Somerset County, USA
Coordinate: 37.9596290, -75.8405380

17. George Tyler Cemetery
Crisfield, Somerset County, USA
Coordinate: 37.9597717, -75.8394833

18. Cullin Cemetery
Lawsonia, Somerset County, USA
Coordinate: 37.9692760, -75.8207420

19. Byrdtown Cemetery
Crisfield, Somerset County, USA
Coordinate: 37.9589800, -75.8372020

20. Byrd Family Cemetery
Crisfield, Somerset County, USA
Coordinate: 37.9588710, -75.8371070

21. Lawson Cemetery
Byrdtown, Somerset County, USA
Coordinate: 37.9577020, -75.8345526

22. Cox Family Cemetery
Hopewell, Somerset County, USA
Coordinate: 37.9990000, -75.8120060

23. Daugherty Family Plot
Daugherty Town, Somerset County, USA
Coordinate: 38.0146320, -75.8359790

24. Thomas Evans Cemetery
Crisfield, Somerset County, USA
Coordinate: 38.0156630, -75.8441200