Cahill, Francis D.
From Salem Links and Lore
Francis D. Cahill, one of Salem's heroes, was a survivor of the battleship, the Maine when it was blown up in Havana Harbor in 1898. Cahill miraculously escaped death when, in the middle of the night, he was thrown from the ship, with 89 other sailors and floated until he was picked up by rescue boats. He was taken from Havana, to Key West, Fla. A delegation from the Enterprise Club of Salem escorted him home in April 1898. Francis was later given a big parade in his honor. He remained in the Navy until 1899, when he was honorably discharged. In 1902, however, Cahill re-enlisted into the service as an artilleryman.
See Also
- Vertical File in Salem Collection - Cahill, Francis
- "Salem's hero of the sunken battleship Maine answers Taps", Salem Evening News, April 1, 1927.
- "Blown up- Battle ship Maine completely destroyed" Salem Daily Gazette, Feb. 16, 1898
- Chronicles of Old Salem by F. D. Robotti, p. 88
