The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-01-17
ALABAMA SOCIETY
 PAYS TRIBUTE 10
 DISTINGUISHED SON
General Harris Delivers Nota- bIe Address at Memorial Services Held for Gen
 eral GorgaS
By HUGH W. ROBERTS
 Washington Bureau The Age Herald

washington, January lh-iSpeclai'l l- Maj. Gen. Peter C. Harris, presiding to- night over the memorial services held by the Southern society of Washington in honor of the late Gen William C, Gorgas, former surgeon general of the army, related facts in the history of this distinguished Alabamian and his father. who was general of ordnance Of the southern army, which will be of in tense interest in all sections of Alabama and the south. General Harris address in part follows:
 Southern society of Washington has invited you here this evening to pay tribute to one of the most distinguished sens of the south, distinguished not only in the south, but throughout the union and over all the world. Every cvillzed nation has been benefited, either directly or indirectly. by his work and when fatally stricken in London last summer he was on his way to Africa to study yellow fever among savage tribes ana to make recommendation for the elimina- ton of the disease from the west coast of that continent where 1t has prevailed intermittently for 300 years
 "Willam Crawford Gorgas was the son of Josiah Gorgas and Amelia Gayle, the talented and beautiful daughter Of Judge John Gayle, an eminent jurist and statesman of Mobile.
 DISTINGUISHED FATHER
 Josiah Gorgas, the father of William Crawford, was graduated from the United States Military academy at West Point in 1S41 standing No. in his class, and was appointed second Ieuten- ant of the ordnance department at that time, and still, one of the scientific de- partments of the army. While yet young officer, he was granted leave of absence in order that he might go to Europe and make a study of foreign arms and arsenals.
 sIn the war with Mexico, he rendered distinguished service during the seize and capture of Vera Cruz. After the close of that war he served atW aterviiet arsenal and other arsenals in the United States as assistant ordnance officer un- til 1853, when he was placed in command of Mt Vernon arsenal, near Mobile Here occurred the first of a series or coincdences conn ected with the life tpf William Crawford Gorgas. I am not so sure that it was simply a coincidence. It may have been controlling factor in the sons life, for no doubt as a child he often heard stories of yellow fever epidemics, and very probably began early in life to search for some means of combating the disease.
 PERIL AND COURTSHIP
 ssThe surgeon at Mt. Vernon arsenal was young Dr, Gayle, son of Judge John Gayle, who had served his state as justice of the supreme court, speaker of the state house of representatives and governor. and the United States as mem Der of Congress and district judge Soon after the arrival of Lieut.. Josiah Gorgas at Mt. Vernon the city of Mobile was visited by a terrible epidemic of yellow fever, forcing many to flee. Miss Amelia flo la urith n nephew sought safety in the home of her brother Dr. Gayle. at Mt. Vernon arsenal, which was. at the time Tree from the terrible disease. There she be- came acquainted with young Gorgas. an acquaintanceship which soon ripened into love, resultin gin their marriage in December 1855. It then transpired that yellow fever, the disease he so success fully combated, was responsible Tor bringing together the mother and father of William Crawford Gorgas.
 'In 1855 Josiah Gorgas was promoted to the grade of captain, and in 1856 was ordered to command the arsenal at Charleston, S. C., serving there until 1860, when he was transferred to the command of Frankford arsenal. near Philadelphia.
 MOVES TO ALABAMA
 "In April, 1S61 he resigned from the regular army of the United States and moved with his wife and children to Alabama. Soon afterwards he was ap- pointed by President Davis chief Of ordnance of the Confectionery, a position which he filled with credit and distnc- tion during the entire period of the Civil war. Speaking of Gen. Josiah Gorgas, Gen. Joseph E. Johnston said: He ere ated the ordnance department out of nothing General Bragg said: T nave always asserted that you, General Cor gas, organized the only successful mli- tary bureau during our national eS,-- tence, and this is the more surprising as YOU had less foundation to go on than any other
 s'Soon after the close of the Civil war Gen. Josiah Gorgas was appointed heas easter. and afterward vice chancellor, oi the University of the South at Sewanee Tenn. where he exhibited the same ad- ministrative ability which had charac- terized his control of the ordnance de partment of the Confederacy.
 UNIVERSITY HEAD
 ssIn 1877 he was elected president of the University of Alabama at Tuscaloosa hut. his health failing. he resigned shortly afterward and the trustees. wsst great delicacy made him librarian ano his wife matron and provided home for them He died May 15, 1883, at Tus' caloosa, surrounded by his family ano friends.
 'FOlOWlng the uedln Ol Hei u"sDoio Mrs Amelia Gayle Gorgas was elected librarian, and for 20 years thereafter hel services to the university and her in fluence in the community and sta.' were such as to win for her the ad- miration and affection not only of th' family. the students and alumni of tht university. but of citizens throughout the state Added to her genius for friend ship and instinct for service Mrs. Cor gas possessed, in a rare degree, the dis tinctive charm and grace that charac terized the best social life of her gen eration. Her death, at ripe old age in 1913 was deeply mourned. and hel memory is still cherished by all wht know her or come in contact with her William Crawford Gorgas inherited iron his parents not only genius. but tha courteous and gracious manner and sym pathetic nature which won for him thu admiration and even affection of all wht Knew him,
 BORN IN MOBILE
 civilian Crawford Gorgas was borr October g. 1854 at the home of his ma