THE FLAGLER TRIBUNE
Bunnell, Florida
Thursday, January 6, 1921Saturday morning, New Years day, was rendered the saddest of all days to Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Hardesty of this city by the receipt of a wire from the naval hospital at San Diego, Calif. briefly announcing the death of their son, Robert Taylor Hardesty.
The telegram contains all the information that has up to the present moment been vouched saved the grief stricken mother, father and only sister and reads as follows:
San Diego, Calif., Jan. 1, 1920
Mrs. A. Hardesty, Box 14, Bunnell, Fla.Deeply regret to inform you that your friend Robert Taylor Hardesty, water tender, U. S. Navy, died at four thirty p.m., December thirty first,
Telegraph Naval hospital, San Diego, California immediately whether you desire the body interred by Navy with military honors of sent home.
If sent home all expenses of preparation and transportation will be prepaid. Navy cannot defray the cost of funeral after arrival, but War Risk Insurance, treasury department will, Washington, D. C., may allow one hundred dollars upon written application direct to that bureau.
Naval Hospital
The wire was received at 8:25 a.m. Saturday morning and Mr. and Mrs. Hardesty immediate wired for the body to be shipped home. The remains are expected to arrive today (Thursday) but nothing definite is known or will be known until the arrival of the body.
Robert T. Hardesty was 23 years old and the only son of Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Hardesty. His sister, Mrs. Mae H. Williams of Sanford was immediately notified and is with her parents. The young man entered in the Navy for the war and at its conclusion, reenlisted for three years. He recently wrote his parents of the anticipated trip around the world as planned by the Atlantic and Pacific fleets of the U. S. Navy, and was at the time in perfect health. The cause of his untimely demise is not known.
Thursday, January 13, 1921
The funeral of young Robert Hardesty, only son of Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Hardesty, who was scalded to death in an accident aboard the naval vessel of which he was a water tender, the accident happening several days ago in a California port, took place from the family residence Tuesday morning, Rev. Eads of the Methodist church officiating.
Interment was made in Espanola Cemetery in the family plot, a splendid brick vault being provided.
The following gentlemen acted as pallbearers: Messrs F. L. Byrd, Gus Pellicer, W. H. Gray, Major Lambert, George Moody and F. S. Crewson.
At the tomb a short funeral oration, the son “Rock of Ages, “ and the burial prayer were most impressively rendered and the mortal remains of the young man consigned to their last resting place amid real sorrow of the many friends and acquaintances of the heart broken mother, father and sister.
The aged parents have the heart-felt sympathy of the entire community particularly in the fact that the young man was swept out of this life in the bloom of youth and perfect manhood, was a loving and most dutiful son and brother and a sustaining hope for those who possessed naught else they could be so proud of.
The following letter is printed by request:
January 6th, 1921
My Dear Madam:
In reply to your telegram of January 5th you are informed that your son, Robert Hardesty, was admitted to this hospital from the U. S. S. Reno on December 22, 1920 suffering from severe burns involving the greater part of the body. He was given immediate medical aid abroad the shop to prevent suffering and was transferred to the hospital for further treatment. However, his burns were of so very sever a nature that he died at four-thirty p.m. December 21st.
Rest assured that every attention possible was rendered to him by the medical officer and nursing staff attached to the hospital, and I regret that he was unable to survive the shock.
His service to the Navy has been honorable, and I am informed that he was highly respected by all his officers and men who know him and his death is a great loss to the service.
With deepest sympathy, I am, Yours, very respectfully,
H. C. Curl, Captain (M.C.) U. S. Navy
