The north Mississippi herald., 1919-07-11
SERC. JOE MARKETTE
SACRIFICED HIS LIFE
TO SAVE COMRADE

JOHH ~. mdFkSCCc OF water alley,
met his death Friday afternoon by
drowning in Lake Erie near Toledo,
Ohio.
Sergeant Joe was one of Water
Valleys very best young men and his
untimely death casts a gloom of sor-
row over the whole city and commu-
nifty He was honored and loved by
all, and faily idolized by his world of
young friends. His manly, genial
and unselfish nature made everyone
his friend.
On Saturday the family received
a telegram from Captain Thomas of
the 31st Balloon Co. announcing the
terrible news of Sergeant Markette's
death. Mr.. John Markette left that
night for Toledo and arrived there the
following day.
The body of the drowned man was
not found until about 10 a. m. Mon
day, although a score of boats had
been securing tile lake constantly
from the time of the accident on Fri
day up to the recovery of the body
by guardsman at 10 o'clock Mon
day morning. When discovered the
body was on reef about so feet
from shore. The guard recovered the
body and brought it to land and as
soon as prepared for burial the faith
er accompanying the remains to this
city arriving here Wednesday fore
noon. Funeral services were held
Wednesday afternoon at o'clock
at Oak Hill cemetery, Rev. ]. r. G.
Hewlett assisted by Rev. j. E. Hobson
and Rev. j. w. Dorman, conducting
the services after which the young
hero was laid to rest in the family lot
Joseph F Markette was the second
son of Mr.. and Mrs. John r. Markette
of Water Valley. He was 23 years
old, and was born and raised in this
city. He is survived by his parents
and two brothers, Roy and Ralph, and
one sister, Miss Minnie Maude; be-
sides many other near reatives in the
community.
About Thanksgiving time, in No
vember, 1917, Joe enlisted at Jackson
Miss. in the areo service of the army.
From jackson he was sent to New Or
| leans and a little later was transfer
red to San Antonio, Texas. Later
he was sent to Camp Richfield at
Waco, Texas, then to Fort Sill, Okla.
From Fort Sill he was transferred to
West Point, KY, then sent to Camp
Knox also in Kentucky where he be-
came member of the 31st Balloon
Co. and of which he was First Ser
geant at the time of his death. The
Balloon Co. under command of Capt.
Thomas were out visiting the larger
cities on recruiting service. The Co.
left Louisville, KY. for Toledo, for
the purpose of taking motion pictures
of the Wilfard-Dempsey fight. The
large balloon was secured by a steel
cable near where the fight was to take
place.
Friday afternoon about 2 O'clock
Sergt. Joe Markette, Pilot and Fred
Delevan, motion picture operator,
were in the balloon basket ready to
ascend and secure pictures of the
fight. Heavy surface winds caused
undue strain on the steel cable which
broke and released the balloon which
travelled upward to an altitude of a.
bout 5000 feet, heavy wind carry
ing the balloon north far out over
Lake Erie. When coming down to-
ward the water Sergeant Joe asked
his companion whether or not he
could swim, who answered that he
could not. Realizing that with the
weight of the two men in the basket
and at the speed at which they were
coming down, the weight and heavy
fall would sink the basket, then the
brave young hero ordered his COM
panion to remain in the basket where
one would have fair chance of floating
and when near enough to the water
Joe leaped out into the lake, thus un-
selfishly giving his companion a
chance for safety while he bravely en-
deavored to swim until possible help
might arrive. The wind blew the
big balloon along on top of the water
faster than Joe could swim and it
soon passed out beyond his reach and
aid.
Boats rushed out over the lake as
soon as the big glimp broke loose
from its moorings but it soon out
distanced the boats and was soon lost
TO sight. A large tugboat discovered
the balloon and succeeded in recov-
ering the man in the basket, also the
balloon but the big gas bag had to be
cut up in sections on account of be-
ing water logged before it could be
taken aboard the tug. The boat scout
ed around in the vicinity where the
balloon was found for several hours
but no trace of Serg. Markette could
be found. The balloon was recover
ed in Maumee bay and later the bay
was dragged with nets, hooks, etc. in
search for the body of Serg. Markette
but as stated above the body was not
found, however, until Monday fore
noon.
The whole city sympathizes with
the family in their great bereavement
and words are inadequate to express
our sorrow or give comforting solace
to the parents, sister and brothers in
the loss of their noble son and broth
er. Joe lived the life of true man,
and died hero, most glorious
death. When the annals of this great
war shall have been written-when
the names Of the heroes shall be re-
corded in history; the name of Serg.
Joseph F. Markette will be written
In