W. B. Adams Gates

b. 25 January 1911, d. 18 March 1928
  • W. B. Adams Gates was born on 25 January 1911 in Texas.
  • Ellis Franklin Gates and Frances Ilene Adams appeared in the US federal census of 1 January 1920 in Eagle Pass, Maverick County, Texas, at 409 Ceylon Street. Other members of the household included W. B. Adams Gates, Mary Elizabeth Gates.
  • W. B. Adams Gates died on 18 March 1928 at age 17 in Eagle Pass, Maverick County, Texas.
  • He was interred at Eagle Pass (later Maverick County) Cemetery, Eagle Pass, Maverick County, Texas.
  • The following appeared on 19 March 1928 in The Dallas Morning News: (Eagle Pass, March 18) While trying to rescue his sisters, who were sleeping upstairs, W. B. Gates, 15, son of Dr. and Mrs. Ellis Gates, Eagle Pass, was burned to death in a fire which destroyed the home early Sunday.
         Dr. Gates rescued his daughter and baby by climbing down a tree which stood near the house.
  • The following appeared on 21 March 1928 in La Prensa: (Eagle Pass, March 19) On Sunday morning, the 18th, this normally peaceful town awoke to sadness and desolation because of what happened in a terrible event to an honorable family, whose, character and involvement, enjoy a special place of esteem in both neighboring towns.  We refer to the Gates family, composed until  yesterday, of the head of the family, Dr. Ellis F. Gates, his wife Frances Gates, and their three children, W.B., Susie, and little Frances, to which has transpired one of those catastrophes that leaves an indelible imprint on the victims and those that are bound by ties of affection and gratitude. At about three thirty in the morning, while preparing to leave on a hunt, Dr. Gates, his son W.B., seventeen years old and a friend, Larry Harper, without knowing what caused it, yelled that there was a violent fire in the upper part of the house where the children, Susie and Frances slept, accompanied by a maid.  Mrs. Gates had gone on a short trip to San Antonio, Texas.  The servant was awakened and alarmed and the Doctor rushed to the stairs which were burning but he was able to climb, receiving burns to the face, to help his daughters.  He yelled at W.B. to call the Fire Dept.  In great danger and difficulty Dr. Gates succeeded in bringing down all three that were on the second floor by climbing over the roof and down a tree on the other side of the house.  The baby and servant receiving only slight burns.  Meanwhile, the son, believing that his father and sisters were in great danger, sought to climb the stairs that were completely engulfed.  The stairs collapsed in raging flames and buried him.  The doctor searched in vain for his son along with many who had come to help, until someone found him in the rubble of the house that was reduced moments later to ashes.
         Moments after extinguishing the fire the mother arrived on the train from San Antonio and the scene that took place with the family, that moments before were happy, is impossible to describe for how terrible and heartrending it was. 
         All day the grieving family received condolences from many friends, countless from this city and also from Piedras Negras, in the home of E.R. Jones where they are temporarily lodged.  At six in the afternoon a funeral cortege was organized for the unfortunate boy, being one of the most well attended that had ever been seen, leading to the Episcopal Church situated in front of the Plaza de San Juan, received by the Rev. J.S. Moore on the portico.  At the church impressive ceremonies took place after which the cortege proceeded to the cemetery where the funeral rites concluded.
  • Last Edited: 18 May 2014