Beckham County, OK - Deaths: William T. Knight, 1925
27 August 2008
Submitted by: delma25@pldi.net (Delma Tindell)

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KNIGHT, WILLIAM T.
(27 Aug 1925, Elk City Newspaper, Elk City, Beckham Co, OK):
Although he was unable to swim, William T. Knight, "Katy" agent at Carter,
jumped into a swimming pool in an effort to rescue his niece who was
drowning.  A few minutes later his lifeless body was taken from the pool.
The tragedy occurred Sunday afternoon.  A party had gone to the pool for a
swim and Miss Opal Woods, niece of Mr. Knight stepped off into deep water
and sank.  Knight, unmindful of that fact that he could not swim, plunged
into the water in an attempt at rescue.  M. R. Stephens, another member of
the party, was successful in reaching Miss Wood and bringing her to the
shore, but Knight had drowned before he was taken out.
Knight was agent for the Katy at Carter, was married and had a wife and
two children.
The funeral was held at Carter Wednesday afternoon at 3:30 and was in
charge of the Masonic order, Grubitz & Son of Elk City being in charge of
the arrangements.
A number of Elk City people who knew Mr. Knight, attended the funeral.
(27 Aug 1925, Sayre Journal, Sayre, Beckham Co, OK):
W. T. Knight, M. K. & T. Station Agent at Carter for the past fifteen
years drowned Sunday afternoon near 3:30 when he attempted to rescue Miss
Opal Woods, member of a swimming party in Laxton's Swimming pool four
miles east of Delhi, in Beckham county.
Mr. Knight was on the bank of the swimming place at the time Miss Woods
called for help.  Otha Stephens, the other male member of the party, was
away from the pool at the time preparing to enter the water, and hearing
the call for help rushed to the swimming place and Knight, who was
endeavoring to save Miss Woods, had himself gone under several times.
Mr. Stephens was successful in bringing Miss Woods safely to shore, but on
returning for Mr. Knight he had sank out of sight and his body was not
found for approximately fifteen minutes.  Mr. Knight could not swim.
All efforts to restore respiration was to no avail after the body was
recovered from the water.
Mr. Knight was well and favorably known throughout the county and
especially in the Carter vicinity where he had served faithfully and well
as their station agent for years.  He formerly lived in Mississippi and
his family was there at the time, according to word received at the
Journal office, and funeral arrangements were not completed until today
awaiting their arrival.
He leaves a wife and two sons, ages eight and twelve, respectfully, and a
host of old time friends to mourn his passing.
(27 Aug 1925, Beckham County Democrat, Erick, Beckham Co, OK):
Carter Man Drowns While Trying To Rescue Girl.
W. T. Knight, Depot agent at Carter drowned Sunday afternoon in a lake
near Delhi while trying to rescue a girl.
Mr. Knight and family, Miss Opal Woods, Mr. Stephens and other parties
were picnicing near Delhi Sunday afternoon, while Mr. Knight, Stephens,
Miss Wood and children were in bathing Miss Wood(s) stepped in deep  water
and was drowning when Mr. Knight tried to rescue her, and not knowing how
to swim began to drown.  Mr. Stephens then saved the girl and by the time
he got her to shore, he looked and saw Mr. Knight was drowning.  Mr.
Knight stayed on the bottom of the lake about 15 minutes before they got
him out.
Mr. Knight has been Depot agent at Carter for a number of years.  He
leaves a wife and two young sons to grieve his death.
(28 Aug 1925, The Carter Express, Carter, Beckham Co, OK):
The people of Carter and entire surrounding country were thrown into a
pall of sorrow late Sunday afternoon when the sad news was phoned into
town that Mr. W. T. Knight, one of the best and most popular citizens to
be found anywhere in this part of the country, had been drowned near the
home of Mr. and Mrs. T. O. Stephens, residing 12 miles southwest of
Carter.
As stated the accident happened at a swimming hole near the home of Mr.
and Mrs. T. O. Stephens.  Mr. Knight and family and his niece, Miss Mary
Knight and her chum, Miss Opal Woods, had just motored over to the
Stephens home, Mr. and Mrs. Stephens being close friends of theirs, and
all had gone down to the swimming pool except Mrs. Knight and Mrs.
Stephens.  The girls got into the water first and began wading around
while Mr. Stephens had stepped off a ways to put on his bathing suit, when
Miss Opal suddenly stepped off into a deep hole and went under.  The other
girl screamed and Mr. Knight who was standing on the bank fully dressed as
he never went in bathing himself, went right into the water to try to
rescue the drowning girl.  Not being able to swim at all he went down
himself as soon as he reached the deep water.  In the meantime Mr.
Stephens rushed up as quickly as possible and realizing the danger that
the girl was in he plunged into the water without taking time to remove
any of his clothing.  He soon succeeded in getting the girl out but being
handicapped with his clothing he was so nearly exhausted when he reached
the bank with Opal that he failed to get back to Mr. Knight before he had
gone down.  Another party heard the children's cries and came up about
that time and although they worked heroically it is thought several
minutes elapsed before Mr. Knight was found and carried out.  Other help
was secured and everything possible was done that could be to revive him
but all was in vain as he was too far gone.  As stated Mr. Knight never
went in bathing consequently he had never learned to swim so knowing this
as he did it makes his act the more courageous when, seeing that the
helpless girl was in so much danger he just risked all and went to her
rescue.
Miss Opal Woods, the sweet young girl who owes her life to the efforts of
Mr. Stephens, and her family are heartbroken over the death of one of the
dearest friends they ever had, Mr. Knight.
The following relatives came in from a distance to be present at the
funeral, all being from Mississippi:  Mrs. J. J. Knight, mother of Mr.
Knight; Mr. J. Knight, a brother; Miss Mary Elzie, a sister of Mrs. Knight
and Mr. Coleman Bennet, a brother-in-law.
Many friends of the family came in from distant points among whom were Mr.
and Mrs. Ed Kesler of Granfield, Okla., Mr. Chas. Crooks of Walters,
Okla., Loyd Gould and family of Frederick, R. H. Kingsolver and wife and
Miss Cordia Winsor, of Weatherford, and others from Elk City, Sayre,
Erick, Mangum, Sentinel and other points.
The funeral services were held at the home on Wednesday afternoon, Rev. A.
B. Carson, pastor of the Methodist Church here, conducting same.
After the funeral the remains were carried to the Carter cemetery where
the Masonic Fraternity conducted the burial service, Mr. Carl Allsup of
Willow had charge of this service.
The largest crowd was present at the funeral that we have ever seen
assembled at the Carter cemetery.
The floral offerings which came from all parts of the country were the
most beautiful we have ever seen, the grave of Mr. Knight, and their
little son Billie, who died several years ago, being covered with flowers.
The Express hereby extends to Mrs. Knight, and two sweet little boys,
Robert Allen and John, and other relatives, our sincere sympathy in the
loss of such a devoted husband and father.

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