William A. Salisbury, 35, compositor, helped to save Archie O. Ramsden, 19, telegrapher, from drowning, Albany, Oregon, July 16, 1911. Ramsden became distressed 35 feet from a bar in the Willamette River and called to Salisbury for help. Although tired from a swimming race, Salisbury swam 80 feet to Ramsden and was seized by him. Salisbury struck Ramsden and dazed him but could not free himself from Ramsden’s grasp, and they sank together several times. Another man, responding to Salisbury’s calls for help, swam to the two men and, having forcibly separated them, swam to the bar with Ramsden. Salisbury, too weak to save himself, also was taken to the bar. 8203-1153
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8203-1153Obituary
Prominent in baseball circles in Oregon around the turn of the 20th century, William A. Salisbury died on Jan. 17, 1952. Salisbury, of Rowena, Ore., was one of the first players to pitch for the Portland Baseball Club at the Portland ball park. He pitched for the Portland club in the old Pacific Northwestern League in 1901 and the Philadelphia Phillies of the National League in 1902.
As a printer, he worked for The Dalles Chronicle for more than 30 years, as well as working in a number of print shops throughout the country. A veteran of the Spanish American War, Salisbury was born Nov. 12, 1976. He had lived in Rowena for the last 12 years of his life and had been a resident of the Mid-Columbia area for 25 years. He was a member of Billy Fields post of Spanish War Veterans and St. Paul’s Episcopal Church.
Among other awards held by the veteran ball player was the Carnegie Medal.
Services were conducted by the Rev. E. Ernest Tayler with burial in The Dalles IOOF Cemetery.
(Edited from obituaries provided by a family member.)